Feel Free Read How we made it in Africa: Learn from the stories of 25 entrepreneurs who've built thriving businesses DOC
From the founder of the award-winning website (www.howwemadeitinafrica.com) comes the stories of 25 entrepreneurs who've built thriving businesses. * Be inspired by the experiences of Africa’s most dynamic entrepreneurs* Gain insight into the continent’s business opportunities* Find the courage to make your own dreams and ambitions become a realityDiscover why Ken Njoroge is building a billion-dollar pan-African digital payments company (it is not because he wants to drive a Ferrari); Find out how Jean de Dieu Kagabo grew a Rwanda-based industrial group from a simple product: toilet paper; And be inspired by the extraordinary tale of Hassan Bashir who created a booming insurance company from nothing but grit and persistence.Each entrepreneur’s story is told in an honest and sober manner, not shying away from the mistakes made and the considerable hurdles they had to overcome. And there were many tough times: from being betrayed by long-time senior managers to losing vast sums of money because of poor market research. Pursuing their business ambitions also had a toll on their personal lives: one entrepreneur was too broke to afford diapers for his baby, while another had to sell her house to keep the company alive.MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS1. Ken Njoroge (Kenya): The long, hard journey to build a billion-dollar company2. Tseday Asrat (Ethiopia): A modern twist on Ethiopia's coffee culture3. Tumi Phake (South Africa): Flexing his entrepreneurial muscles to exploit a gap in the health club industry4. Monica Musonda (Zambia): Instant noodle pioneer5. Hassan Bashir (Kenya): An insurance company created from nothing but grit and persistence6. Ebele Enunwa (Nigeria): A $50-million food and retail empire7. Tayo Oviosu (Nigeria): The entrepreneur who traded in his Silicon Valley life to bring mobile money to unbanked Nigerians8. Navalayo Osembo (Kenya): How to make a Kenyan running shoe9. Jean de Dieu Kagabo (Rwanda): Rwandan industrialist always hunting for the next big business idea10. Addis Alemayehou (Ethiopia): Serial entrepreneur bringing the world to Ethiopia11. Kasope Ladipo-Ajai (Nigeria): Nigerian cooking made convenient12. Chijioke Dozie (Nigeria): Leveraging past experiences to disrupt the banking industry13. Sylvester Chauke (South Africa): Marketer with a passion to take African brands global14. Yoadan Tilahun (Ethiopia): Showing Ethiopia how to throw an event15. Mossadeck Bally (Mali): West African hotel group built on an appetite for risk16. Jennifer Bash (Tanzania): Adding value to everyday staples17. Jesse Moore (Kenya): Thinking out of the box to power over 600 000 homes with solar energy18. Twapewa Kadhikwa (Namibia): How one hair salon became a group of companies19. Jacques de Vos (South Africa): Growing a high-impact tech business one problem statement at a time20. Nana Akua Birmeh (Ghana): Architect breaking glass ceilings in Ghana21. Nelly Tuikong (Kenya): Kenyan beauty brand taking on global behemoths22. Dr Hend El Sherbini (Egypt): From a small Egyptian family business to a London-listed healthcare giant23. NJ Ayuk (Cameroon): A lawyer on the road less travelled24. Polo Leteka (South Africa): The investor who spots opportunity where others see risk25. Ashley Uys (South Africa): Diagnostic hustlerABOUT THE AUTHORJaco Maritz is CEO of media company Maritz Africa, publisher of the award-winning pan-African online business publication How we made it in Africa. Jaco holds a BA in Information Science from the University of Stellenbosch. He started his career at South African media company Media24, working on the online offerings of some of the country's most well-known newspapers. He went on to become editor of TradeInvestNigeria, after which he founded Maritz Africa.When not building Maritz Africa, Jaco enjoys investing in other businesses, playing chess and boxing. He is a regular speaker on business in Africa.
