Africa's Business Heroes

Rahet Bally is a platform for mothers providing financial, physical, social and intellectual support services both online and in-person.

Founded in 2018, MarketForce is a technology company based in the US, Kenya, and Nigeria. It operates an asset-light business model, providing a comprehensive B2B commerce and fintech platform, 'RejaReja', empowering African merchants to digitize their inventory sourcing, ordering, payments, and access financing. The platform also enables merchants to resell digital financial services like airtime and bill payments. MarketForce is operational in five Sub-Saharan African markets, serving over 200,000 merchants and 50 consumer brands.

East Africa Fruits Co. is a prominent distributor of fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains, serving a diverse clientele that includes retailers, wholesalers, local vendors, cafes, hotels, and exporters. Founded in 2013 and based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the company sources its produce from smallholder farmers, providing essential services such as cleaning, sorting, packing, and marketing. By facilitating connections between sellers and buyers, East Africa Fruits Co. supports smallholder farmers with crop planning tailored to market demands. The company is dedicated to increasing the availability of fresh produce to meet growing consumer demand both locally and internationally. In its pursuit of growth, East Africa Fruits Co. aims to become a leading producer and exporter of fruits and vegetables, with plans for significant expansion in the coming years.

MeMeZa is a social enterprise based in Diepsloot, South Africa, founded in 2012. The company focuses on developing public safety solutions, offering a range of products designed to enhance security within communities and educational environments. Its offerings include personal alarms, community alarm systems, lipstick pepper sprays, and pendant trackers. MeMeZa aims to improve safety through innovative technology and community engagement, addressing the growing need for effective safety measures in various settings.

Gebeya is a Pan-African freelance talent marketplace company headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Founded in 2016, it specializes in providing specialized industry-specific training in software engineering, design, and digital services. Gebeya connects businesses with skilled African talent through its platforms G-Talent, G-Subscription, and G-Made. Its mission is to contribute to Africa's digital transformation by leveraging global job opportunities for African talent.

Helmis an NPO that provides organization-leading inclusion solutions and promotes participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life. Helm provides comprehensive advisory and coaching services for institutions, professionals, and governments. Helm enables ease of policy and strategy integration towards the effective and sustainable inclusion of Persons With Disabilities in the workplace, marketplace, and events.

Coliba operates in the waste management sector in Ghana, focusing on recycling plastic waste to combat pollution in West Africa. The company utilizes web applications and mobile platforms to facilitate the separation and valuation of waste, allowing users to schedule pickups from their homes conveniently. Through a network of waste pickers and digital solutions, Coliba provides comprehensive services that include plastic waste collection, sorting, processing, and the establishment of recycling hubs. Users can monetize their waste by receiving payments for the materials collected, while Coliba ensures compliance with sustainability standards. This innovative approach not only promotes recycling but also generates revenue for individuals and addresses the pressing issue of plastic waste in the region.

Shonaquip Social Enterprise provides posture support and seating services, assessment, device selection, fitting, and customization, technical support and maintenance, community based outreach seating services, wheelchair repair and refurbishment services, and training programs.

Save Our Agriculture (SOA) is a sustainable farming enterprise that specializes in poultry farming, first-generation agriculture, and the development of small-scale aquaponics systems. The company offers agricultural services, focusing on producing fruits, vegetables, and fish, aiming to provide clients with access to fresh produce at competitive prices.

MunyaxEco is working in solar energy as well as energy efficiency sectors by selling and installing environmentally friendly and high-quality equipment.

Founded in Nigeria in 2017, Releaf operates as an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of various agricultural products such as cassava, palm oil, ginger, cashew nuts, fish, maize, cocoa, kola nuts, yam, and sesame seeds. It also provides extension services to smallholders, acts as a buyer for their products, and converts raw materials into factory-grade inputs.