South Africa’s youngest, most promising entrepreneurs
Forbes has published a list of the 30 most promising entrepreneurs under 30 in Africa – including six faces from South Africa.
According to Forbes, the lost was compiled by looking at nominations from Forbes Africa readers and its editorial team, with the final selection coming from a panel of judges from across the continent.
The top 30 were selected from a short list of 150 entrepreneurs, taking into account the winners’ business size, location, struggles and determination.
Of the 30 entrepreneurs, six are from South Africa, five from Kenya, five from Nigeria, three from Uganda, two from Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Ghana, and one each from Mali, Malawi, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
The chosen 30 are not ranked or listed in any specific order, and hail from all sectors of society, with a strong showing from tech minds.
17 of the companies headed by these entrepreneurs are either tech-based or are enabled through technology in some way (such as through apps or online platforms).
South Africa’s most promising young entrepreneurs:
Bheki Kunene, 27, Founder of Mind Trix Media
Bheki Kunene
Kunene is the founder of Mind Trix Media, a creative design company based in Gugulethu, Cape Town. According to Frobes, Kunene had it tough, being falsely accused of murder and also suffering a skull fracture in a car accident. He beat the odds, and managed to build a powerful company, which earned him a place on the list.
Doug Hoernle, 25, Founder of Rethink Education
Doug Hoernle
Hoernle founded Rethink Education, focusing directly on the high school market. To date, Rethink Education has distributed math and science content to more than 500,000 South Africans and is launching in Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe, according to Forbes.
Julie Alexander Fourie, 28, Founder of iFix
Alex Fourie
Fourie started iFix in 2006 from his dorm room at Stellenbosch University. The company helps repair broken and faulty Apple products, and now employs 40 people across the country.
Ludwick Marishane, 25, Founder of Headboy Industries
Ludwick Marishane
Marishane developed the DryBath product, which provides a waterless way to stay hygienic. The product was developed by Marishane while he was in high school and he later released the product through his company, Headboy Industries.
Max Hussmann, 29, Founder, Elegance Group
Max Hussmann
Hussmann runs an aviation business through Elegance Group, which includes Elegance Air, sport consulting and aviation consulting. He was born in Accra and grew up in Germany, but now lives in South Africa, where Elegance blossomed.
Rupert Bryant, 29, Co-founder of ISP Web Africa
Rupert Bryant
Bryant dropped out of school, and started running his own web development company at the age of 14. At 16, he became the co-founder of Web Africa, one of South Africa’s biggest ISPs.
The full list of 30 entrepreneurs can be found on Forbes.
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