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- Ibukun Awosika – An African Start – Up Icon
An African Start – Up Icon: Firstbank Chairman, Awosika Speaks With CNN On Breaking The Glass Ceiling Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and renowned entrepreneur spoke with CNN’s Zain Asher on how she launched into Entrepreneurship before she turned 26. Awosika who is also the first female chairman of Nigeria’s premier financial institution, Fi… Read more
- An African Start-Up Icon
- The Tea Business
The Tea Business From the year-round plantations in Kenya to the centuries-old bushes in Malawi, the continent has a rich and growing tradition when it comes to crafting the perfect brew known as Tea. Millions of African’s rely on this on a daily basis to get by and I know YOU do too hence our interest in the potentials this business has in Africa. In 2012, former corporate executive Swaady Marti… Read more
- New Face Of The Travel Retail Industry
- New Way To Get Around
- The Business Of Comics
Research shows that Arts, Entertainment and Recreation contributed an estimated 0.26% to real GDP in Q1 2016, higher from 0.24% recorded the previous year and 0.18% recorded in Q4 2015. SMEs in this sector recognize the potential here hence their increased conne… Read more
- SMEs Making Apps and Food
SMEs Making Apps and Food Did you know that with a population of over 170 million, mobile penetration of 75% percent and IT contribution of 10% to the GDP, Nigeria is fast becoming Africa’s go to economy for new tech startups to step into. A lot of opportunities can be found in every sector… Read more
- Life In An App
Life In An App! Research shows that the best health care in Nigeria is available in private and non-profit medical facilities. These facilities still typically fail to meet international standards sometimes, due to challenges around inadequate funding, technology or personnel… Read more
- Church Goes Digital
Did you know that researchers say the number of African Christians will reach more than 1.1 billion by 2050. To meet the need of this expected growth, African churches have embraced the Digital world for admin, data and communication solutions in readiness for what the future holds. Created in 20… Read more - So Much About Coconut!
African Start – Up: A FirstBank SMEConnect Initiative, in partnership with CNN. So Much About Coconut! Did you know that Nigeria can currently boast of 265,000 metric tonnes of coconut production, coming in at the 18th position of the world coconut production country index? As a country that is best… Read more
- Want a Slice of Pizza?
African Start – Up: A FirstBank SMEConnect Initiative, in partnership with CNN. Want a Slice of Pizza? Chef Mbinina, the CEO of Gastronomie Pizza, the first fast food chain in Madagascar is a man of humble beginning. At the time he started his business in 2001, pi… Read more
- Going Natural
African Start – Up: A FirstBank SMEConnect Initiative, in partnership with CNN. Going Natural The story of Michelle Ntalami brings to mind the 16th century English proverb that says “Need taught him wit”. In 2012, Michelle was faced with hair breakages and stunted growth due to regular applications of sul… Read more
- Lemon to Lemonade
Life Gave Them Lemons, They Made Lemonade! Did you know that the first mention of lemonade is found in ancient Egyptian writings? This is proof that Africa has since been in the forefront of agriculture and its entire value chain. Nigeria is not left out with the CEO of a… Read more
- End Hunger
African Start – Up: A FirstBank SMEConnect Initiative, in partnership with CNN. End Hunger! Did you know that ZERO HUNGER is No. 2 on the list of 17 Sustainable Development Goals agreed upon by world leaders at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on September 25, 2015? … Read more
- Design That Food
Did you know that Google created a food app to mimic the RIO Olympics which has recorded over 4 million interactions from the start of the tournament to date? Did you also know a lot of design is going into the way businesses handle actual food? That is how five African resta… Read more - The Bicycle Revolution
Did you know that transportation contributes a paltry 1.41% to Nigeria’s GDP compared to 12.7% in South Africa and 5.1% in Kenya? This startling revelation shows the huge potential that exist for SMEs in this critical sector of the Nigerian economy. That also explains why FirstBank is at t… Read more - Let’s Go Farming
- Are You In The Food Business?
- Dreaming Of A Bar Business
- Made In Rwanda Laptops?
- Rwanda Clothing
- What if Plastic Bags Were Banned
- Drone
- Quarterly
Catch up as we go from Ethiopia, where a traditional handwoven cloth gets a makeover in the form of baby blankets, to Egypt, where an entrepreneur gives his love of street food a modern twist. In South Africa, a car-sharing service is helping customers beat traffic. All that and more; a new generation of Afric… Read more - Distillery Business
At FirstBank, we support SMEs across all business segments hence our interest in growing business stories. This week on African Start-Up, we look at Distillery Business 031; a South African business out of Durban that caters to the growing consumer demand for quali… Read more - Little Gabies
As a Bank, we are interested in the welfare of young people hence our array of products/services that speak to these group, from age zero. Read More… - Ahadootec
As you get ready to shop with our cards and interact with our other products and services this summer, Ethiopia might be a destination you have in mind! If you take a trip to Ethiopia, look for Ahadootec, a company that makes innovative apps, from travel to education; the … Read more - Voice Map
- Little Ashford
- Brioche
- Elegant Line Chemicals
- Good Health
- How Good Is Your Hair
- New Industries in Africa Featuring – Janurary 2016
- How Do You Wash? Featuring – Yoza
As a Bank that supports SMEs, we delight in sharing start – up stories. This week we go to Uganda In Luganda, one of Uganda’s languages, “Yoza” means to wash. One company in Kampala has chosen that name for thier laundry service that works like uber. Yoza is a … Read more - Is Chocolate Your Flavour? Featuring Cupcake Boutique
As pillars for growing businesses locally and internationally, we proudly showcase young Ghanaians; Dede Gynamera, Aina Aidoo and Ruby Aidoo, young ladies that turned their passion for baking into a full-fledged business. In 2014, they opened… Read more - The Story of Chocolate Fashion! Featuring – Kwaku Bediako
As pillars for growing businesses locally and internationally, we proudly present Chocolate Fashion founder, Kwaku Bediako. A budding fashion entrepreneur who has sewn his way into success. He started as a one man operation, but says his business has… Read more - Destination Restaurant This Holiday? Featuring – Elias Hage
As pillars for growing businesses locally and internationally, we proudly showcase the Chop Bar, a Ghanaian restaurant that serves up authentic Ghanaian dishes, like fufu and banku, with a fast food approach. Co-founded by Elias Hage; a Gha… Read more - The Season For African Car Brands? Featuring – Kwadwo Safo
Our goal is to support growing businesses to meet local and international demands. This week, we showcase an African brand looking to make an impact with automobile production. Kwadwo Safo, Jr. of Kantanka Group, says they produce 100 automobiles a month. Tak… Read more - Are You Tech Savvy? Featuring – Stafford Masie
Our goal is to support growing businesses to meet local and international demands. This week, the spot light is on Stafford Masie, a South African tech entrepreneur who created a mobile device that allows businesses to accept credit card payments on the go. He used … Read more - Why Event Businesses? Featuring – Kevin Mullei
Our goal is to support growing businesses to meet local and international demands. Todays, we showcase an event planning company MoSound Events; set up in 2008 by Kevin Mullei, an enterprising music DJ in Kenya. The company was set up to the gaps he saw in the events industry…. Read more - Why the Business of Toys? Featuring – Daniel Otero
One art school graduate in Kenya took his skills and applied it to the business of making toys. Daniel Otero started his company, Edusto Ventures, in 2012. Whe he launched, the company offered five puzzles; today it offers 110 different toys. Despite n… Read more
- Does It Pay To Go Green? Featuring Senai Wolderufael
Crazy About Video Games? Inspired by more than two and a half million Ethopians living abroad, Senai Wolderufael and his partner launched Feed Green Ethopia in 2012. The Company markets 18 varieties of herbs and spices to people lon… Read more - Crazy About Video Games? – Featuring Abiola Olaniran
Crazy About Video Games? Abiola Olaniran is just like you! He created hes start – up, Gamsole in 2013 to turn this passon for games into a business. As a Nigerian entrepreneur, he quickly realized that something as exciting as games could be turnedinto a lucra… Read more - The Business of Motherhood – Featuring BeautyBee
The Business of Motherhood. In Kenya, a lady set up BeautyBee; a business that makes maternity products and hosts an annual baby fair in Nairobi. The business started with making a breast-feeding pillow as its major product and has since moved on to other products. Carol Ngige; t… Read more - What Would You Give Up For Chocolate? – Featuring Jaki Kweka
- Meet the SuperGeeks – Featuring Sam Uduma & Edmund Olotu
Meet the SupreGeeks Sam Uduma and Edmund Olotu; two Nigerian entrepreneurs, based in Lagos. They set up a business to fix everything, from smartphones to tablets. The duo seized an existing opportunity in a thriving Nigerian market with millions of electonic gadgets in c… Read more - Do You Make Jewelery for Leisure? Featuring – Haimanot Damtew
Keeping Mosquitoes Away Naturally? Haimanot Damtew turned her childhood pastime of jewelery making into a business. At 21, she launched T&H Design with her twin sister. A ley component in the jewelery is traditional Ethiopian beads. The Addis Ababa Co… Read more - Fresh Fruits Delivered To Your Door? Featuring – Gingerbox
Fresh Fruits Delivered To Your Door? A Nigerian entrepreneur and former data analytics engineer went directly to his customers when it came to starting a new e-commerce business. He asked them what they needed and thought would sell. The… Read more - What’s Cardboard Worth? – Featuring Timothee Andriamamonjiarison
What’s Cardboard Worth? Timothee Andriamamonjiarison tells the story of hpw he recycles them to make furniture He bought Eco Designer sometime this year and is already selling around 20 custom pieces a month, with the p… Read more - Fuss About Female Shoes?- Featuring Ikenna & Udoka
- Keeping Mosquitoes Away Naturally?- Featuring Bio Mada
Keeping Mosquitoes Away Naturally? A Nigerian entrepreneur and former data analytics engineer went directly to his customers when it came to starting a new e-commerce business. He asked them what they needed and thought would sell. Their anser: fresh produced delivered to their door. It motivated Kunl… Read more - Looking for Suitable Nigerian Hotels? – Featuring Mark Essien
- Does Art Blend With Technology? – Featuring Ken Karangi
- Would You Match Beauty, Marketing & Tourism? Featuring – Cheherazade Cheikh
- Hungry For Hot Gist? Featuring – Meilleur Mirindabigwi
- Would You Wear Fish Skin? – Featuring Newton Owino
- What African Businesses Did You Miss? – Featuring July
- Innovation With Greeting Cards? Featuring – Greetings World
- Community Based Tourism? Featuring – Greg Bakunzi
- Fashion Adventure Gone Wild? – Featuring Jeff and Emmanuel
- Converting used old into fuel? Featuring Mutoba Ngoma
- The Innovative Pencil Makers – Featuring Green Pencils Limited
- The Mobile Tech Solutions Provider – Featuring Kaakpema Yelpaala
- The Natural Hair Care Products Maker – Featuring Korkor Kugblenu
- Drawing Business Inspiration from An Abundant Local Resource – Featuring Hirut Zeleke
- Drawing Inspiration from the Environment – Featuring Benjamin Bensworth
- The Man who Digitized Learning in Uganda – Featuring Charles Muhindo
- Start from where you are – Featuring Ify Simpa
- Creating Value from Recycled Advertising Banners – Featuring Angaza
- Localising the Art of Aquarium Making – Featuring Bukola Dowodu
- The Clothing Value Chain Merchant – Featuring Mohammed Awale
- The Chemistry Teacher Turned Entrepreneur – Featuring Cephas Nshimyumuremyi
- An Unlikely Source For Creating Beautiful Handicrafts – Featuring Achenyo Idachaba
- Smoothie Bar in Rwanda – Featuring Hero Shop by Chantal Mujawjambo
- Christine Creative Collections – Featuring Christen Mbabazi
- African Public Bicycles – Featuring a South African Tour Guide Company
- Showcasing the Beauty of Rwanda through Fashion – Featuring House of Tayo
- Inspiring Business Through Local Content – September
- How to Acquire Sustainable Skills in Shoemaking – Featuring Pamoja Centre
- Monetizing Online Education in South Africa – Featuring Funda
- Blending African Couture with International Flavors – Featuring Naledi Lifestyle
- The completely made-in-Africa clothing line – Featuring Definition Africa
- The Young and Daring Jeweler – Featuring Janet Fredman
- Have your cake and eat it! – Sweet Temptations Desserts
- Turning Bicycle parts into home furniture – Featuring Martin Ojwang
- Overcoming Obstacles to Success – July
- From an Unemployed Mother to Employed Entrepreneur – Featuring Rosebill Satha
Click here to view Rosebill Satha’s African Start-Up Video Click here to view Rosebill Satha’s African Start-Up Video - From a Garment Factory Worker to a Renowned Fashion Designer – Featuring Abugida Fashon Design
Click here to view Abugida Fashion Design’s African Start-Up Video Click here to view Abugida Fashion Design’s African Start-Up Video - One-stop Shop for Everything Digital – Featuring Camouflage Media
- Join the live tweet chat on How to make a fortune in Africa – Featuring Magatte Wade & Chris Kirubi
- Turning Natural Products to Skincare Products – Featuring Amagara Skincare
Click here to view Amara Skincare’s African Start-Up Video Transforming Electronic Waste into Creative Products – Featuring E-Lab - Africa’s Amazon.com – Featuring Massata Faye
- African Entrepreneurs sharing their Breakthrough in being resourceful, determined and optimistic
- A Mobile App Tracker for your Children’s Education – Featuring Boniface Githinji
- Turning Trash into Cash – Featuring Stephen Senghor
Click here to view Stephen Senghor’s African Start-Up Video Click here to view Stephen Senghor’s Af… Read more - One of a Kind Resturant – Featuring Mawa Hughes
Click here to view Mawa Hughes’s African Start-Up Video Click here to view Mawa Hughes’s African Start-Up Video
- An Urban Male Sock Brand – Featuring Sibusiso Ngwenya
Click here to view Sibusiso Ngwenya’s African Start-Up Video Click here to view Sibusiso Ngwenya’s African St… Read more - DryBath Featuring Ludwick Marishane- How to keep clean without using a drop of water
Too lazy to have a shower? Worry no more, there’s a lotion for that. DryBath is a germ-killing gel that allows you to take a bath without using a single drop of water or soap — all … Read more - The African Start-Up – a New Approach to Funding SMEs Development
The story of Olumide Olusanya, as revealed on ‘The African Start-Up’, will make you want to become an entrepreneur, despite the daunting and frustrating challenges. But, Olumide was also confronted by the challenges. A medical doctor, who founded the first online… Read more - A Mobile App Taxi Service – Featuring Bankole Cardoso
Brioche, a Boutique Bakery – Featuring Jean-Philippe Kayobotsi
An Online Marketplace – Featuring Serah Kanyua
Click here to view Sarah Kanyua’s African Start-Up Video - A Banana Business Entrepreneur – Featuring Eric Muthomi
Click here to view Eric Muthomi’s African Start-Up Video - A Paper Bag Expect – Featuring YELI
Craig List of Africa – Featuring Chance Tubane and Patience Nduwawe
Click here to view Chance Tubane and Pati… Read more - Hand Bag Maker – Featuring Ali Lamu
Click here to view Ali Lamu’s African Start-Up Video - A Pizza Maker – Featuring Ritesh Doshi