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Katlego Maphai

African Changemaker

Katlego Maphai

Katlego is a South African fintech entrepreneur passionate about creating opportunities for African entrepreneurs.

He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Yoco, an African technology company revolutionizing the payment landscape for small, medium and micro enterprises in Africa. Launched in 2015, Yoco is building tools and services to help small businesses get paid, run their business better, and grow.

The fintech offers card payment acceptance, software-driven business tools and working capital for SMEs. Yoco is on a mission to break down barriers and create access so that more businesses can participate in the economy and thrive by establishing new markets; building business tools and financial services that work for entrepreneurs. Katlego’s previous work involved venture development at Rocket Internet, helping to set up Jumia in Nigeria in 2012. His earlier career was in telecoms, media and technology management consulting at Accenture and Delta Partners.

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Zandile Mkwanazi

Zandile is an award-winning social entrepreneur who dreams of empowering 10 million women and girls with tech and coding skills by 2030.

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Rachel Sibande

Rachel is a Malawian technology expert, computer scientist, social entrepreneur, and innovator.

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Strive Masiyiwa

African Changemaker

Strive Masiyiwa

Strive Masiyiwa is a prominent Zimbabwean businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

He is best known as the founder and executive chairman of Econet Group, a telecommunications and technology company in several African countries. Masiyiwa played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the telecommunications industry in Africa by introducing mobile phones and wireless services to the continent. He is also the founder of Cassava Technologies.

 

Apart from his business ventures, Masiyiwa is recognized for his philanthropic efforts. He established the Higherlife Foundation, which focuses on providing educational scholarships, healthcare support, and leadership development programs to young Africans. He has also been actively involved in initiatives to improve access to education and technology across the continent. Masiyiwa’s entrepreneurial achievements and contributions to society have earned him several accolades and honours, including being listed on Forbes’ list of Africa’s billionaires. He is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential business leaders and a champion for social and economic development on the continent.

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
President Joseph R. Biden has announced more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from food insecurity and crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.
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Getnet Aseffa

African Changemaker

Getnet Aseffa

Getnet is an Ethiopian computer scientist enthusiastic about making a breakthrough in the capability of AI systems to think, learn and create and use cutting-edge technology to help leapfrog Africa into the future.

He is the Founder of iCog Labs, a renowned AI and Robotics Research and Development Company based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As the Founder of iCog Labs, Getnet has been pivotal in fostering innovation and technological advancement in Ethiopia and beyond. His leadership and expertise positioned iCog Labs as a prominent player in the AI and robotics industry, not only in Ethiopia but also on a global scale.

 

Under Getnet’s visionary leadership, iCog Labs has emerged as a hub of innovation, research, and development. With a mission to harness the power of AI for social impact, iCog Labs has spearheaded numerous projects and initiatives, transforming various sectors and improving lives across the country.

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
President Joseph R. Biden has announced more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from food insecurity and crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.
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Damilola Olokesusi

African Changemaker

Damilola Olokesusi

Damilola is an exceptional entrepreneur, a visionary leader, and a true inspiration to many.

She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Shuttlers, a transportation technology company based in Lagos, Nigeria. Shuttlers provides a platform that offers convenient and reliable shuttle services for commuters in major cities. The company aims to solve transportation challenges in urban areas by providing a shared mobility solution that is affordable, efficient, and comfortable. Damilola is also UNCTAD’s etrade for Women Advocate for Anglophone Africa, where she is contributing to building a more gender-inclusive digital economy in developing countries.

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
President Joseph R. Biden has announced more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from food insecurity and crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.
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Alloysius Attah

African Changemaker

Alloysius Attah

Attah is a Ghanaian agtech entrepreneur passionate about helping African farmers grow their wealth.

Having experienced firsthand the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Africa while growing up in Ghana, Attah helped co-found Farmerline Group in 2013. Farmerline works with agribusinesses to empower smallholder farmers in Africa via mobile technology. These shop owners, usually the first point of knowledge for the farmers, are used by Farmerline to distribute educational material.

 

The partnering shops use the startup’s Mergdata, a proprietary AI technology platform for supply chain intelligence, to digitize the farmers they serve and to generate the data the agritech needs to predict the demand for farm supplies. Under Attah’s leadership, Farmerline has grown into a successful enterprise, working with over 200,000 farmers across Africa. The company has won several awards and recognition for its innovative approach to agriculture and technology. On his part, Attah has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, among other accolades.

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
President Joseph R. Biden has announced more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from food insecurity and crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.
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Barbara Mutabazi

African Changemaker

Barbara Mutabazi

Barbara is a Ugandan entrepreneur and tech leader passionate about promoting gender equality in tech.

She is the Founder of Women In Technology Uganda (WITU) and a leading figure in the African tech ecosystem. WITU provides young women and girls in Uganda from underserved communities with practical skills, tools, and work opportunities to become innovative technologists, leaders, and entrepreneurs equally participating in and influencing African economies.

 

Through WITU, Barbara is empowering women and girls to participate in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields by providing mentorship, training, and networking opportunities. She has also founded other initiatives, such as Hive Colab, a technology hub in Kampala that supports tech startups in the region. Barbara’s contributions to the tech industry in Uganda and beyond have been truly inspiring. She has been recognized as one of the leading young entrepreneurs in Africa and has received numerous awards for her work in promoting gender equality in tech

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
President Joseph R. Biden has announced more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from food insecurity and crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.
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Yahya Bouhlel

African Changemaker

Yahya Bouhlel

Yahya Bouhlel is a young Tunisian computer scientist and tech entrepreneur with a mission to build a sustainable, scalable and affordable educational platform in the Middle East and Africa.

He is the Co-Founder and CEO of GOMYCODE, a Tunisian-based edtech startup bridging the skills gap between the existing educational infrastructure and digital skills needed in today’s global job market. Founded in 2016, GoMyCode has successfully placed 80% of its students through a job placement program and has facilitated career changes, upward mobility, and diversified income streams for thousands of graduates.

Through Yahya’s leadership, GoMyCode has become a leading coding boot camp, empowering individuals with in-demand tech skills and helping them to pursue fulfilling careers. Yahya’s vision, leadership, and commitment to making tech education accessible to all have not gone unnoticed, as he has won several awards and honors.

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
President Joseph R. Biden has announced more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from food insecurity and crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.
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Rosalia Joseph

African Changemaker

Rosalia Joseph

Rosalia is Namibia’s first female Medical Entomologist and an experienced Public Health Researcher.

She currently serves as the Regional Coordinator of PAMCA – Women in Vector Control Control (WIVC), Central and Southern Africa. Women in Vector Control is an initiative that strengthens the role of African women from all spheres of society in combating vector-borne diseases, which are endemic to sub-Saharan African countries. At WIVC, Rosalia is leading efforts to implement effective vector control strategies to reduce the incidence of malaria in the region. She is also the ALMA country lead in Namibia for Malaria Youth Army champions and a member of the Roll Back Malaria Youth Workstream.

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
President Joseph R. Biden has announced more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from food insecurity and crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.
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Ibrahim Sagna

African Changemaker

Ibrahim Sagna

Ibrahim Sagna is a Seegalese entreprenuer, institutional platform builder , technology enthusiast and prolific private investor.

As the Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, he has been instrumental in driving growth and innovation in the region, investing in and supporting some of the most promising technology companies in West Africa. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Sagna’s expertise and leadership have been instrumental in the success of several businesses in the region.

 

He has been a key player in developing and implementing mobile payments and banking solutions across Africa, paving the way for greater financial inclusion and economic growth. Sagna’s commitment to innovation and excellence has earned him widespread recognition and respect in the industry. He is a trailblazer and pioneer, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible and driving change for the better

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
President Joseph R. Biden has announced more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from food insecurity and crises affecting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.