Edith Chekwube Ezema (Plant Scientist and Organic Farmer) 📸Edith Ezema Africa has 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, with the agriculture sector accounting for 35 per cent of the continent’s GDP, while employing more Africans than any other sector. So why does the continent spend a staggering US$78 billion of scarce foreign currency on food imports each year, with some countries such as Zimbabwe, Guinea and Sudan exceeding 100 percent of their annual foreign currency receipts? As countries across sub-Saharan Africa grapple with the challenges of sustaining high levels of economic growth, plunging commodity prices, and the effects of climate…
Author: Admin
Wissal Ben Moussa (Founder, Sand to Green) Sand to Green Co-Founder & Chief Agricultural Officer, Wissal Ben Moussa, is well-known for her Moroccan startup which says it can transform a patch of desert into a sustainable and profitable plantation in just five years. Following an article about Wissal, published by The Africa Business Index, Gautier de Carcouët (Co-Founder & Chief Finance Officer) at Sand to Green) proudly corroborates: “Behind this portrait, Wissal is also: 👉 An extraordinary agronomic success, with the creation of a productive farm run using agroecology at the gateway to the desert, where nothing grows. 👉 dozens…
JOLIE 101 The Jolie Filtered Showerhead removes chlorine, heavy metals & other contaminants from your shower water — to improve your skin, hair and wellbeing. According to the vendor, Jolie will give you your best skin and hair guaranteed, and if after trying it out you are not pleased, — though, they promise you will — you can return your Jolie for a full refund within 60 days. Price: $165
For her: The Sweetheart Carryon The vintage-inspired Sweetheart Carryon cabin luggage will glide gracefully with you through your journey, while refining your look from door to door. Its crisp white and tan body opens to lift your spirits with a botanical print of foliage, flowers and birds. Demure on the outside, passionate on the inside. Price: $850 For him: The Rimowa Cabin Twist One of the most iconic luggage designs of all time is now available with a twist. The RIMOWA Original Cabin Twist in silver and brown is made from high-end anodised aluminium, accented with eye-catching colour-matched details, such…
Toyin Sanni (Founder & CEO, Emerging Africa Group) Despite global economic upheavals and statistics that show a nose-dive in funds available to startups in Africa, these Venture Capitalists, who announced their funds early in 2023, continue to be bullish about opportunities in the African tech sector: Source: Afridigest • Aduna Capital – Surayyah Ahmad Sani, Sanusi Ismaila• Afri-Venture Capital Company – Nasir El-Rufai• Black Ostrich Ventures – Ajani Windsor-Areago• Emerging Africa Group (Emerging Africa Technology Fund) – Toyin F Sanni and Toni Sanni• Plesion Capital – Ben Finlay
(L-R): Belal EL-Megharbel (Co-Founder & CEO, MaxAB) and Daniel Yu (Founder & CEO, Wasoko) Kenya’s Wasoko and Egypt’s MaxAB have just announced that they are in merger talks, signing preliminary terms which could signal that the largest merger ever in African tech may be in the horizon. Both Wasoko and MaxAB operate in the same B2B e-commerce space, offering informal ‘mom & pop’ retailers (their major clients) an app that ensures they can re-order essential goods (such as rice, flour, and soap), and have the items delivered within a few days. The two companies also offer financing that enables merchants order goods…
Ampersand, founded by Josh Whale, is Africa’s first electric transport energy company, and it has just raised US$19.5 million in funding, with which the company aims to deliver thousands more electric motorcycles in the coming months. The venture capital round was led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) and is joined by Acumen and Hard Edged Hope Fund. In addition, the fast-growing company secured a US$ 7.5 million debt facility from Cygnum Capital’s Africa Go Green Fund. This round also includes a successful S.A.F.E. round with investors such as Alphamundi VC, Societe Petrolieres du Rwanda, TotalEnergies, EIF and Beyond Capital Ventures…
Bayo Omoboriowo (Founder, Mad House by tikera) In a bid to support creative founders and startups in addressing Africa’s pressing challenges, Bayo Omoboriowo (personal photographer to former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari) has conceived the Mad House by tikera – an incubator, accelerator and research institute dedicated to empowering creativity-led ventures and transforming their ideas into tangible products and industries. Mad House by tikera is currently running the Lens-Based Incubation Programme (LensBIP), with a chance to win up to USD$10,000 in seed funding. The Lens-Based Incubation Programme was established to develop the art of crafting creative ideas and converting them into…
Tosin Oshinowo (Founder, Oshinowo Studios) It has been a brilliant 2023 for Ọshinówò Studio (a top architectural firm in Lagos offering international architecture, architectural design and build, studio design), celebrating 10 years in business, and including a name change from CmDesign Atelier to Ọshinówò Studio. Lantern House, ADIDAS flagship in Lagos 🎥@tosinoshinowo Led by founder, Tosin Oshinowo, the Studio completed the Lantern House, ADIDAS flagship in Lagos, while Tosin herself curated the second Sharjah Architecture Triennial in the UAE. In 2024, Ọshinówò Studio look forward to completing its projects for Goethe Institut and UNDP in Lagos, as well as…
Toluwani Precious Ogunbiyi SDG and sustainable food systems advocate, Global Youth Ambassador, and AgTech enthusiast, Toluwani Precious Ogunbiyi, has just thrown up an extremely innovative project for scrutiny. She says: “Can you imagine making paint from cow dung? 🎨🐄💩” The following video outlines the outstanding benefits of this latest eco-friendly innovation, already in use across India, from construction sites to cosmetics. 🎥 via Toluwani Precious Ogunbiyi Ms. Ogunbiyi’s lucid line of thinking goes like this: “First thing that excited me about this innovation is the fact that it offers an extra source of income for farmers! Most times, cow ding…