Forbes Africa has selected Africa’s 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs under 30 years of age in a number of key fields that drive economic
growth in Africa.
Forbes Africa readers nominated hundreds of entrepreneurs and a panel of judges from across Africa decided on the final 30, favouring entrepreneurs with fresh ideas. Forbes Africa further took into account the size and location of each entrepreneur’s business, as well as the difficulties they encountered.
1. Bheki Kunene, 27, founder Mind Trix Media
Capetonian Bheki Kunene has created eight jobs and a profit with his creative design agency based in Gugulethu, Mind Trix Media.
2. Rupert Bryant, 29, co-founder ISP Web Africa
Rupert Bryant left school at 14 and started running his own web development company in Cape Town. At 16 he started a JV with a friend and became co-founder and COO of Web Africa, one of South Africa’s biggest internet service providers.
3. Julie Alexander Fourie, 28, Founder iFix
Julie Alexander Fourie started iFix in 2006 from his dorm room at Stellenbosch University, helping friends repair faulty Apple products. Today iFix employs 40 people and services all Apple products and Samsung smartphones at branches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
4. Ludwick Marishane, 25, Founder Headboy Industries
Marishane launched Drybath, a waterless bathing lotion, with his company Headboy Industries. He was voted the best student entrepreneur in the world by the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation and Google named him as one of the most intelligent young brains in the universe.
5. Doug Hoernle, 25, Founder Rethink Education
Upon leaving UCT, Doug Hoernle founded Rethink Education, in an effort to make current technology more useful in the schooling system, particularly in high school.
Rethink Education has distributed math and science content to more than 500,000 South Africans and is launching in Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe.
6. Max Hussman, 29, Founder Elegance Group
Born in Accra, raised in Germany, and settled in South Africa, Max Hussman runs an aviation business through Elegance Group, which includes Elegance Air, sport consulting and aviation consulting.
