16. Samuelle Dimairho, 27, Zimbabwe
Co-founder: Chengetedzai Depository Company Limited
Chengetedzai Depository Company Limited is Zimbabwe’s first central securities depository for the capital markets with securities’ deposits that have peaked at over $7 billion and trade settlement now in excess of $2 billion. The company turned in $1.5 million in revenue last year.
17. Joey Friedman, 26, South Africa
Founder: LA Group of Companies
Lounge Around, part of the LA Group of Companies, is a premium furniture hire company that services prestigious events. The company specializes in boutique furniture rentals and supplying custom-made furniture and decor for a diverse range of events including exhibitions. The company supplies events like the Vodacom Durban July, DStv Delicious Festival and Tourism Indaba, as well as Winnie Mandela’s funeral and the 2014 presidential inauguration. The company has grown revenue by 1,200% in four years, employs 105 people and owns a 90,000sqm warehouse.
18. Zuko Tisani, 25, South Africa
Founder: Legazy Technology Conferencing
Legazy is a company that supports startups in South Africa in their quest to disrupt. The company partners with the world’s best to up-skill, invest in and collaborate with South African startups. Legazy raised $1 million to host the Web Summit technology conference in South Africa.
19. Gisela van Houcke, 27, DRC
Founder: Zuri Luxury Hair&Beauty
Zuri Luxury Hair&Beauty is a hair extensions brand. Their extensions are made with 100% human Remy. Their products include lace wigs, extension bundles, closures and lace frontals. By end 2016, she had sold hair worth over $100,000 across the DRC and Rwanda online and raised $75,000 of equity financing to set up a holding company in Hong Kong, which launching a supply chain office in Guangzhou with three employees. The company then opened its first store in Kinshasa.
20. Bidemi Zakariyau, 28, Nigeria
Founder: LSF|PR
LSF|PR which started as a fashion PR agency has diversified into corporate, consumer and lifestyle brands. It’s clients include Philips, Rémy Cointreau, Godrej, William Grant and Sons, Brown-Forman, ARM, AfriOne, and Ventures Platform. The company has 8 employees.
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