With a mission to revolutionize healthcare accessibility in South Africa, Welo Health bridges the gap between technology and human care by offering on-demand healthcare services through a network of gig nurses and doctors.

Leveraging innovative solutions, the platform delivers services directly to homes and workplaces, providing a seamless experience that prioritizes convenience, affordability, and quality care.

Zanele’s journey to becoming a healthcare changemaker is rooted in her upbringing and experiences in South Africa.

Growing up in a community where access to basic healthcare was a challenge, she witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by families needing timely medical attention.

These early experiences planted the seeds of her passion for solving systemic healthcare issues.

Her passion for providing access to healthcare globally led her to merge technology with the human touch, creating innovative solutions to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.

Under her leadership, Welo Health has achieved significant milestones, such as being chosen as one of the Top 50 HealthTech startups in Africa for two consecutive years.

The company has also attracted funding from notable investors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Zanele is also committed to empowering African youth through her NGO, Innov8, which provides math lessons to rural schools in South Africa, aiming to uplift communities and inspire the next generation.

As the co-founder and CEO of Zeraki, a leading educational technology company based in Kenya, he is revolutionizing how education is delivered and managed across the continent.

By leveraging the power of technology, Nyangolo aims to address systemic challenges in African education, including inequitable access to quality resources, inefficient data management, and outdated teaching methodologies.

Nyangolo’s academic journey began at Harvard College, where he pursued a degree in Engineering Sciences and graduated cum laude.

His time at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions not only provided him with a strong technical foundation but also instilled a profound sense of social responsibility.

This commitment to using his skills for social good has been a driving force behind his professional and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Before founding Zeraki, Nyangolo gained valuable experience across finance, banking, and education sectors.

He worked with global and regional organizations such as Citibank, Equity Bank, and the Equity Group Foundation.

Nyangolo’s vision for education reform took shape with the founding of Zeraki. 

The company is focused on creating innovative solutions to empower schools, teachers, and students.

Through its digital platforms, Zeraki provides tools that improve efficiency, support data-driven decision-making, and enhance the learning experience for students.

The company’s flagship product, Zeraki Analytics, is transforming how schools collect and analyze data, enabling educators to make informed decisions to improve student outcomes and optimize school operations.

Meanwhile, Zeraki Learning is making quality educational content accessible to students, bridging the gap between learners and vital resources.

Under Nyangolo’s leadership, Zeraki has expanded its reach across multiple African countries, ensuring its tools benefit students and schools on a large scale.

Born and raised in a multicultural environment, Mélanie’s journey reflects her passion for leveraging finance as a tool for social and environmental transformation.  

Mélanie is the co-founder of Melanin Kapital, a pioneering climate fintech platform that empowers African SMEs to transition toward sustainable, green practices.

Under her leadership, Melanin Kapital has transformed from a traditional crowd-lending platform into a dynamic hub that combines access to affordable green credit with carbon offset solutions.

The platform harnesses advanced climate data to evaluate and support SMEs, addressing critical challenges such as financial inclusion and climate resilience in emerging markets.

The company’s mission is both ambitious and impactful: to enable 1 million African SMEs to access $1 billion in green credit while reducing 50 million tons of CO₂ emissions by 2030.

Mélanie’s work not only bridges the financing gap for businesses but also accelerates Africa’s progress toward achieving its climate goals and building a sustainable future.

Her focus is rooted in solving the dual challenges of financial exclusion and climate vulnerability faced by African SMEs.

Traditional financing systems often overlook these businesses, leaving them unable to scale or adopt eco-friendly practices.

Mélanie is addressing this gap by creating an ecosystem that integrates finance with sustainability.  

Her innovative approach to merging climate action with financial technology has earned Melanin Kapital recognition as a leader in Africa’s green transition.

The platform also supports the global carbon market by helping SMEs monetize their carbon reduction efforts through carbon credits.

Mélanie Keïta’s exceptional contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including being named in Forbes 30 Under 30 (2021).

She is the founder and CEO of Ecobarter, a social enterprise transforming waste management in Nigeria by enabling individuals and households to live waste-free.

Through her innovative initiatives, Rita is at the forefront of tackling the mounting waste crisis in Nigeria while empowering marginalized communities.

With a background in geosciences, Rita’s interest in sustainability stems from her understanding of the critical intersection between the environment, technology, and human well-being.

She founded Ecobarter in 2018 to solve the persistent issue of waste mismanagement in Nigeria.

The enterprise addresses the growing environmental degradation caused by improper disposal of recyclable materials such as plastics, cans, and paper.

Ecobarter operates through a technology-enabled platform that allows households to schedule doorstep pickups for their recyclable waste.

In exchange, users earn points based on the weight and type of waste they contribute. These points can then be redeemed for cash, essential products, or services, creating a circular economy that incentivizes sustainable living.

Rita’s work goes beyond waste collection, having spearheaded the development of Nigeria’s first indigenous Reverse Vending Machine (RVM).

These automated devices issue instant credits to reward consumers for recycling used beverage containers, such as plastic bottles and cans.

This groundbreaking innovation not only enhances recycling infrastructure in urban areas but also encourages public participation in environmental conservation.

Her initiatives empower internally displaced women and informal waste pickers, providing them with income opportunities, skills training, and dignified working conditions.

Nigeria generates millions of tons of waste annually, much of which is improperly disposed of, leading to environmental pollution, public health hazards, and economic losses.

Rita Idehai is determined to change this narrative by creating a culture of responsible consumption and recycling.

Her groundbreaking efforts have earned her national and international recognition, including the Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award (DAAYTA), 2024.

As the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Winich Farms, an agritech platform launched in 2020, he is on a mission to revolutionize the agricultural supply chain in Nigeria and beyond.

His efforts are driven by a commitment to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, enhancing food security, and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

Attai holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, Nigeria.

During his university years, he co-founded Attai’s Beans, a business focused on processing and repackaging beans for consumers.

This experience gave him firsthand exposure to the inefficiencies plaguing Nigeria’s agricultural supply chain.

He witnessed how farmers struggled with market access, fair pricing, and financial inclusion.

Inspired to create lasting solutions to these challenges, he set his sights on building a platform that would directly connect farmers with off-takers, reducing reliance on intermediaries.

Winich Farms was born out of Attai’s vision to address critical challenges in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The platform connects smallholder farmers directly with retailers, processors, and large-scale buyers, eliminating middlemen who often exploit farmers.

By streamlining the supply chain, Winich Farms ensures that farmers receive fair prices for their produce while reducing food waste and inefficiencies.

Under Attai’s leadership, Winich Farms has built a network of over 4,000 agents across 16 states in Nigeria, enabling farmers to reach a broader market.

The startup has also introduced digital wallets and debit cards for farmers, promoting financial inclusion and empowering them with access to credit and insurance services.

Attai’s innovative approach and leadership have garnered both national and international recognition. Some of his notable achievements include:

In October 2024, Winich Farms raised $3 million in pre-Series A funding. This milestone underscored the platform’s growth potential and impact, with the funds earmarked for expanding order fulfillment centers and enhancing technological infrastructure.

With over 13 years of experience in executive leadership, her career has spanned key roles across data analytics, consulting, and SME development, cementing her as a leader committed to economic empowerment and the sustainable growth of black-owned businesses in South Africa.

Currently, Susan serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Edge Growth Solutions, a division of Edge Growth, which specializes in Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD).

Edge Growth’s mission is to help companies build sustainable value chains by investing in SMEs that are vital to economic and social development.

Since her appointment as CEO in September 2023, she has focused on developing tailored programs that empower SMEs, particularly those that are black-owned, which face unique challenges in accessing funding, scaling operations, and achieving longevity.

Her strategic vision aims to tackle the systemic barriers limiting SME growth, from limited access to capital to market entry challenges, helping these businesses contribute meaningfully to the South African economy.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree in Information Systems from the University of Cape Town and an MBA from Wits Business School, where her research focused on identifying success factors for black-owned SMEs in South Africa.

This academic foundation in systems, business strategy, and enterprise development has been instrumental in shaping her approach to SME growth and economic inclusion.

Her deep knowledge of data and analytics, honed during her time as Executive Head of Data and Analytics at Standard Bank, gives her a unique perspective on harnessing insights to drive measurable impact in the SME sector.

Before joining Edge Growth, Susan was the Managing Director at Oyana Consulting, where she championed grassroots SME acceleration.

Under her leadership, Oyana Consulting achieved remarkable growth for clients by focusing on community-based enterprises and providing these businesses with the tools and resources needed to thrive in competitive markets.

Her work at Oyana underscored her belief in the transformative power of SMEs and the importance of nurturing these enterprises to build a resilient economy.

Susan’s journey has been marked by achievements and accolades that underscore her commitment to economic development.

She has been recognized for her thought leadership on platforms like the SuperLead Podcast, where she has shared insights on entrepreneurship, leadership development, and the keys to succeeding as an entrepreneur.

Focusing on addressing the pervasive issue of local security in Uganda, Kirigwajjo’s work integrates traditional communal practices with modern technology to provide affordable and accessible security solutions for vulnerable communities.

Kirigwajjo co-founded YUNGA (Youth United in Neighborhood Groups Against Crime), a local digital security network that connects neighbors and the police through a unique physical device, mobile app, or SMS service.

This solution serves as a modern response to the ‘ten-household model’—a traditional African practice where communities alert each other to emergencies through various means, such as beating drums.

With YUNGA, Kirigwajjo and his team have created a network that enables households within a 20-kilometer radius to alert and receive alerts from each other during security breaches, emergencies, or even health crises.

This localized, low-cost security network has provided a lifeline for communities that would otherwise struggle to afford conventional security systems.

YUNGA has been widely implemented across Uganda, connecting nearly 1,000 households in over 30 communities and helping to prevent more than 130 incidents of break-ins and related crimes.

The impact of this innovation is not only immediate but transformative, fostering communal trust and safety by empowering neighborhoods to take collective action against crime.

Kirigwajjo’s approach to leveraging grassroots cooperation with cutting-edge technology has made YUNGA a model for affordable security in resource-limited settings.

In July 2023, Kirigwajjo’s contributions were internationally recognized when he was jointly awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation alongside South African biomedical engineer Edmund Wessels.

This award, shared for the first time between two innovators, highlights the groundbreaking and practical impact of Kirigwajjo’s work.

The Royal Academy of Engineering’s recognition underscores YUNGA’s potential to revolutionize security solutions across Africa, where Kirigwajjo envisions scaling the network to reach 32,000 households over the next two years.

Kirigwajjo’s work embodies the spirit of innovative social engineering, creating accessible solutions for everyday challenges in Uganda and beyond.

Through YUNGA, he has not only enhanced the security of countless families but also reinvigorated the notion of community-driven safety—a timeless tradition now redefined through technology.

Currently serving as the Managing Partner at Unconventional Capital (Uncap), leading a €30 million fund dedicated to pioneering new financing approaches tailored for early-stage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.

Uncap, which specializes in providing non-dilutive, revenue-based financing, seeks to unlock funding for high-potential African entrepreneurs who have historically faced barriers in accessing traditional venture capital.

Through this innovative model, Esther is working to empower SMEs that are often overlooked by traditional financing, bridging crucial gaps in the region’s investment ecosystem.

Previously, she served as the Investment Principal at Uncap in its Munich and Nairobi offices.

Before her tenure at Uncap, she held the role of Executive Director at the East Africa Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EAVCA).

Under her leadership, EAVCA grew its influence, launching initiatives that strengthened East Africa’s private equity landscape and supported cross-border investment strategies.

She spearheaded the establishment of EAVCA’s first regional office in Uganda, further demonstrating her commitment to creating a cohesive investment ecosystem within East Africa.

Esther was also instrumental in scaling EAVCA’s thought leadership platform, encouraging dialogue on the role of private equity in regional development, and fostering an environment conducive to investment in East Africa’s emerging markets.

She began her career in business coordination and management, where she gained foundational experience as the regional coordinator at the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE).

Her background also includes extensive experience in business management and coordination, which has given her a broad understanding of African markets and the unique challenges they present to entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Esther’s influence extends beyond her direct professional roles; she has consistently advocated for women in leadership, financial inclusion, and innovative funding models.

Her commitment to advancing these causes has earned her recognition in Kenya’s business community and beyond.

In 2018, Business Daily Africa honored her as one of Kenya’s Top 40 Under 40 Women, celebrating her leadership, visionary approach, and contribution to expanding the boundaries of traditional finance in Africa.