Across Africa, a new generation of founders is building beyond traditional business models, creating companies that address mobility, financial inclusion, technology, media, legal services, education, consumer brands and social impact. Their ventures reflect a generation increasingly focused on building for African realities while competing on a global stage. From emerging technology companies to creative and social enterprises, these ten founders are among the young African entrepreneurs worth watching as their businesses and influence continue to grow.
1. Damilola Olokesusi | Co Founder and CEO, Shuttlers
Damilola Olokesusi is the co founder and CEO of Shuttlers, a Nigerian technology driven mobility company focused on making professional commuting more efficient through shared corporate transportation. Having built the company around one of Lagos and Abuja’s most persistent challenges, mobility, Olokesusi has helped position Shuttlers as a notable player in Africa’s urban transportation ecosystem. She has also represented English speaking Africa as an eTrade for Women Advocate, reflecting her wider influence in advancing women led digital entrepreneurship. Shuttlers has previously raised seed funding and continues to explore opportunities for expansion across African cities.
2. Adesuwa Omoruyi | Co Founder, Accrue
Adesuwa Omoruyi is the co founder of Accrue, a financial technology company focused on simplifying cross border payments for Africans. Her journey into entrepreneurship began with small business ventures while she was at university before moving through teaching, marketing and technology roles. At Accrue, Omoruyi became increasingly central to shaping the company’s direction as it evolved towards solving the challenges Africans face when moving money across borders. The company’s experience across Nigeria, Ghana and the United States reflects the growing opportunity for African fintech founders to build financial infrastructure around the continent’s increasingly interconnected economies.
3. Isaya Yunge | Founder, GOODSAM Technologies
Tanzanian entrepreneur Isaya Yunge has built his career around technology, education and digital inclusion. As founder of GOODSAM Technologies, he has moved into the hardware space with a vision of creating technology products designed around African users. In 2025, GOODSAM announced its smartphone, positioning it as an indigenous African technology product designed for students, farmers, creators and entrepreneurs. Yunge’s entrepreneurial journey also includes co founding SomaApp, a scholarship matching platform that has helped thousands of African young people access educational opportunities. His combination of technology, education and inclusion makes him a founder to watch as Africa’s digital economy expands.
4. Dayo Adedeji | Founder and CEO, Dynasty Africa
Dayo Adedeji is the founder and CEO of Dynasty Africa, a creative and marketing agency built around influencer marketing, digital media and brand growth. Adedeji has been instrumental in developing Dynasty Africa’s approach to influencer led marketing at a time when the industry was still emerging across Nigeria and the wider continent. His work has increasingly attracted international attention, including Dynasty Africa’s 2025 Cannes Dolphin Award recognition and his inclusion in the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 Class of 2026. His growing profile reflects the commercial power of Africa’s creator economy and the opportunity to build globally competitive agencies from the continent.
5. George Omoraro | Founder and CEO, RAGE Media Group
George Omoraro is the founder and CEO of RAGE Media Group, a diversified media, advertising and communications business with ambitions extending beyond Nigeria. His entrepreneurial vision centres on using media, advertising, technology and creative platforms to strengthen African brands and position African talent and businesses for greater global visibility. Under his leadership, RAGE has expanded its operations and capabilities across areas including digital marketing, public relations, branding, media, technology and production. Omoraro’s focus on building an interconnected African media and communications ecosystem makes his continued expansion one to watch.
6. Penelope Brooke Thompson | Founder and President, African Centre for Technical Training
Penelope Brooke Thompson is the founder and president of the African Centre for Technical Training, an institution focused on developing technical and vocational skills for Africa’s industrial transition. With a background spanning economics, finance and major infrastructure projects, Thompson has built ACTT around the need for a more skilled, job ready African workforce. The centre’s model combines technical training with technology and practical skills development for artisans, technicians and creatives. Her work places vocational education at the centre of Africa’s economic transformation and addresses one of the continent’s most important long term challenges: building the human capital required to support industrialisation.
7. Denis Asamoah | Co Founder, FORVR MOOD
Denis Asamoah is the co founder of FORVR MOOD, the luxury lifestyle and fragrance company he built with beauty entrepreneur Jackie Aina. Launched in 2020, the company began with home fragrance products before expanding into fine fragrance and establishing itself within the increasingly competitive global beauty and lifestyle market. Asamoah has played a central role behind the business, bringing an entrepreneurial and operational perspective to a brand built around self care, fragrance and cultural representation. FORVR MOOD’s evolution demonstrates how African heritage and global digital influence can be translated into a consumer brand with international reach.
8. Serisha Barrat | Founder, Lawyered Up and Attora
Serisha Barrat is a South African technology entrepreneur and the founder of Lawyered Up, a legal technology company focused on making legal services and business compliance more accessible. Her work has evolved into Attora, an AI powered legal matching platform designed to help users explain their legal needs and connect with appropriate attorneys. Barrat’s approach combines technology with the practical challenges faced by startups, SMEs and individuals navigating complex legal systems. With Attora expanding the vision into a technology enabled legal marketplace, Barrat is positioning herself at the intersection of artificial intelligence, legal infrastructure and inclusive access to professional services.
9. Dr Khadija Owusu | Founder and CEO, AKAYA Foundation
Dr Khadija Owusu is a British Ghanaian medical doctor, international speaker and social entrepreneur who founded the AKAYA Foundation to support the development of young African women and girls. Her work began with The Like Her Project, a school outreach initiative focused on education, health and confidence building, before evolving into AKAYA as a broader platform for developing the next generation of African female leaders. Owusu combines her medical background with advocacy around equity, education, leadership and female empowerment. Through AKAYA, she is building a social impact organisation centred on ensuring that African girls have the confidence, opportunities and resources to shape their futures.
10. Maya Horgan Famodu | Founder and Managing Partner, Ingressive Capital
Maya Horgan Famodu has become one of the most recognised young investors backing Africa’s technology ecosystem. As founder and managing partner of Ingressive Capital, she has built an early stage venture fund focused on technology companies across Africa and backed businesses including Paystack and Carry1st. Her influence extends beyond investment through Ingressive for Good, which supports technical training and talent development for African youth. The World Economic Forum notes that Ingressive Capital has realised seven exits, while Famodu has also been recognised as a two time Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree. Her work continues to place capital, networks and global visibility behind the next generation of African technology founders.
Methodology
This selection considers founders demonstrating entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, sector relevance, growth potential and broader influence within Africa and beyond. The list spans technology, mobility, fintech, marketing, media, education, consumer brands, legal technology, social impact and venture capital, with emphasis placed on founders whose businesses or institutions are addressing significant market opportunities and contributing to Africa’s evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
