Through Naija Comm, Texas-based Eno Oduok is challenging career stigmas in the Nigerian community and educating people about professions they didn’t think existed.



Providing alternative career options to professionals, first generation Nigerian-American Eno Oduok has broken the norm herself.



She is the founder of Naija Comm, an online space catering to Nigerians in the creative industries looking for career paths other than what is considered “traditional” in their community.



“Texas has the [biggest] Nigerian community in America so I was always surrounded by people who shared the same cultural heritage as me. The only thing that was different was a lot of people were in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields and were doctors, engineers or lawyers and in Nigerian communities and the overall African community, there is always an emphasis on pursuing traditional paths,” says Oduok.



With a strong affinity for the media and creative arts such as graphic design, communication and social media, Oduok struggled to find role models or peers in her community who shared the same interests.



“They were all in pharmacy or something traditional. I’ve seen probably one or two people who did arts but it wasn’t emphasized enough… I was looking for Nigerians in communications and couldn’t see [any] but if you look up Nigerians in medicine, so many pages pull up online,” attests Oduok, a Bachelor of Arts/Science graduate from the University of Houston in Texas.



That was the catalyst to create the first platform to connect and empower Nigerian creatives and professionals in overlooked fields such as communications, business and the arts.



“Naija Comm is a community-based media platform and creative hub here to break barriers and challenge stigmas in the community. It started a few days before #EndSARs went viral online last year and has been growing since. We have had various guest speakers such as Olympian basketball player Erica Ogwumike, Bel-Air actor Olly Sholotan, and other creative entrepreneurs.”



In addition to this, Naija Comm has also partnered with global streaming platforms like HBO, spotlights the accomplishment of Nigerian celebrities like Grammy award-winner Burna Boy as well as provides virtual networking events, newsletters and more. The platform, purely social, exists on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.



“We made it on the Forbes 30 under 30 2022 list in the media category for the US which was a great moment. There are a lot of communities where STEM is heavily emphasized but we have other non-Nigerians on our platform as well. We serve a bigger purpose and are challenging career stigmas and teaching people about the careers they are not accustomed to,” says Oduok.



From collaborating with WhatsApp to highlighting the achievements of Nigerian-Greek basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oduok wants to amplify voices and stories in the Nigerian creative sector through billboards, reels, blog posts, and more.

Eno Uduok image supplied

Beyond STEM: The Nigerian Challenging Career Stigmas

<figure class="wp-block-pullquote has-border-color has-vivid-red-border-color" style="border-radius:100px"><blockquote>“Make 2023 Your Year!”</blockquote></figure>



It’s that time of the year again! FORBES AFRICA is calling on Africa’s brightest visionaries, risk-takers, change-makers and pioneers to take their place on the continent’s sought-after 30 Under 30 list.



For 2023, we are now on the quest for 30 of Africa’s most ingenious innovators under the age of 30 for the categories of Business, Technology, Creatives, Sport and Science/Health.



The <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2022/07/15/the-class-of-2022-money-and-meaning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Class of 2022 </a>proved to the world that Africa’s Under 30s care about making money as well as meaning. For these young trailblazers, it was not just about commerce and clout but about ensuring they represent well their countries and the diverse, heterogeneous Africa they want to serve.



“Every year, the list keeps getting better and 2022 was also historic in that the cover shoot for this issue was in Botswana, for the first time outside of Johannesburg; and the finalists shone in every sense,” says Renuka Methil, Editor of FORBES AFRICA.



As we prepare for the ninth installment of the 30 Under 30 list, we also announce a few changes. Our process is extremely rigorous, and as the nominees progress through the stages, it gets more intense. As in the past, we will require a police clearance certificate (PCC) or report from your country verifying that you have no criminal record, no ongoing or upcoming court cases and that you are a citizen of that country. As an extra layer of verification, the FORBES AFRICA Under 30 team of curators now also need a recommendation/reference letter from your financial institution (like your bank), ensuring that you are a legitimate business/brand employing your funds responsibly. We recommend that you contact your financial institution or advisor to prepare for this part of the process.



In the end, it will all be worth it as you join these past honorees who are now illustrious Under 30 alumni; like Elsa Majimbo, Mr. Eazi, Lasizwe, Musa Keys, Lloyd Harris, Sho Madjozi, Bruce Diale, Antonio Depina, Karabo Poppy, Thuso Mbedu, Dr. Esperance Luvindao, Nomzamo Mbatha, Kabza De Small, Burna Boy, Nthabiseng Mosia, Davido, Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, Sikander Kalla, Nasty C, Chad le Clos, and WizKid.



“These are the shining stars who will be leading our future and deciding what’s best. What we are looking for in 2023? Even more committed young people pivoting the continent to progress, profits, and prosperity,” adds Methil. 



<h2 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-nominations-and-applications-criteria">NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS CRITERIA:&nbsp;</h2>



Please read and take careful note of the following before applying. APPLICATIONS CLOSE 20 January 2023 17:00 (SAST)



Business and Technology categories&nbsp;



<ol><li>Must be an entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2023&nbsp;</li><li>Should have a legitimate REGISTERED business on the continent&nbsp;</li><li>Business/businesses should be two years or older (please ensure you have your audited financial documents for at least two years as well as your company&#8217;s registration documents; should you make the second stage, this will be required)&nbsp;</li><li>The more innovative the business the better (as it contributes to Africa’s growth story!)&nbsp;</li><li>Have you/your company created social impact on the African continent?&nbsp;</li><li>The company must be profit-generating&nbsp;</li><li>Must employ people in Africa&nbsp;</li><li>All applications must be in English&nbsp;</li></ol>



Sports category



<ol><li>Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2023</li><li>Must be representing an African team</li><li>Should have a proven track-record of no less than two years</li><li>Should be making significant earnings</li><li>Endorsement deals and/or awards of any kind would be a bonus</li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact are a plus, especially if applying under the Business/Technology category. However, the business must oblige by the same rules as under Business/Technology.</li><li>All applications must be in English</li></ol>



Creatives category&nbsp;



<ol><li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2023&nbsp;</li><li>Must be from or based in Africa&nbsp;</li><li>Should be making significant earnings&nbsp;</li><li>Should have a proven creative record of no less than two years&nbsp;</li><li>Awards of any kind would be a bonus&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Social media presence will be taken into consideration.&nbsp;</li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact are a plus, especially if applying under the Business/Technology category. However, the business must be legitimate, registered and also two years or older.&nbsp;</li><li>All applications must be in English&nbsp;</li></ol>



Health/Science category&nbsp;



<ol><li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2023 </li><li>Must be from or based in Africa </li><li>Should have a proven track record in the field of health and/or science for no less than two years. </li><li>Must have social influence and impact. </li><li>If the nominee is a doctor/professor, please provide us with documentation and a reference letter from the institution where the applicant received a doctorate or Ph.D.   </li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact are a plus, especially if applying under the Business/Technology category. However, the business must be legitimate, registered, and also two years or older. </li><li>All applications must be in English</li></ol>



APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!

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Call For Nominations To FORBES AFRICA’s 30 Under 30 Class Of 2023

AS THE YOUNG CREATOR OF GRAPHIC NOVELS, ZIMBABWEAN ARTIST BILL MASUKU IS BREAKING RULES AND BARRIERS. WITH LITTLE ELSE BUT HARD WORK AND A SUPPORTIVE MOTHER, HE NOW HAS PRODUCTIONS GOING WITH NETFLIX AND DISNEY.



AS A YOUNG BOY FROM HARARE, THE BUSTLING capital of Zimbabwe, Bill Masuku always loved to draw. which his teachers accepted as part of his identity.



Home, however, was a different story. His father would tear up his drawings.



“I lost some really good ideas. In the end, I learned to draw really fast,” says Masuku in an interview with FORBES AFRICA. His ability to draw came in handy a decade later, when he had to do storyboarding, an art that requires a skeleton of an idea and quick turnaround.



Masuku still drew in high school but began focusing on his textbooks in order to get into university. At Rhodes University in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, he studied for a bachelor’s degree in commerce, majoring in Management and Information Systems. In his first year, he took on six subjects, as opposed to the usual four.



After cracking a joke in one of his classes, a classmate suggested he checkout NatCaf, a comedy troupe popular at the university.



He did, and got in.



Little did Masuku know that this would be the start of a career in the creative industry. He began performing for NatCaf regularly, and was getting recognized.



“They don’t know Bill, they know the performer. There is a separation between those two things. And around this time, I was getting my confidence back. And so I started drawing more and more. I think I’d gotten into the habit of just not drawing as much because it had been instilled in me that if I draw, these things will be destroyed, burned, torn up, or thrown in my face. I got my confidence back after doing performance comedy,” says Masuku.



Critical to this development was when Masuku started dating too, as relationships introduced him to feminism, intersectionality and Frantz Fanon. It made him look at justice with fresh eyes.



“Maybe just a black man in spandex does not work. And I thought, ‘let me rework this idea’. But I also had my whole university career, so I needed to rework it very slowly and be very intentional about my writing, because it was much deeper than just punishing criminals. In that time, I realized crime is a symptom of bigger structural problems.”



Shortly after that, Masuku left university after being in hospital for a month, struggling with mental health. He went home to Zimbabwe.



“I don’t have a degree to my name, I don’t have money to my name. All I have are these ideas that feel like ripples.”


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The more he sat on them, the more the ideas started speaking to him; he knew he had to jot them down as quickly as possible. He hadn’t felt like that since he was a kid.



The lack of access to proper digital infrastructure on his return to Zimbabwe could have deterred him, but he did not allow it to. Creating more opportunities for artists like himself in his country, he kept the art alive and contacted other talent in the local market.



Finally, in 2016, Enigma Comix Africa was born.



“Enigma Comix had a bumpy start looking for partners and investors in Zimbabwe. I was totally unknown, added to the fact that my art wasn’t at the community standard. Eventually, it became a branch off my brother’s company in South Africa.”



Masuku says the biggest challenge in creating his company was and still is distribution. With only a handful of comic book stores in southern Africa, it has been difficult to create a sustainable supply chain outside of the convention circuit. He adds that the advent of digital comics and websites that host creators has been a massive boon for getting content into new hands, “though the stats show that the largest consumers digitally are in the US and parts of Europe”.



“One of the biggest rewards I believe is that my Enigma Comix Africa books serve as a portfolio and proof of concept to open dialogues about access, literacy, and creative ownership in Africa.”



Unfortunately, the local Comic Con Africa offices said his art was not “good enough and to stick with writing”. It was the first devastating blow to his ego. He took the taxi home, trying not to internalize the rejection. The very same day, despite the negative feedback, he started sketching the first cover for Razor-Man – one of the best things he’d drawn at the time.



So on after drawing the cover, he was invited to a local Comic Con. He didn’t have merchandise, posters or a full comic to sell, but he wanted to do it. He asked his mother for help. She gave him $100.



“That was the sum total of my investment [for] diving into my art career. It was a lot of money. For me, it was the most money I had thrown at something I was passionate about.”



Unfortunately, $100 was not enough, but he made a plan to cut corners, like reducing the number of comics to print, in order to be at the event.



From that event, Masuku knew graphic novels would take years of persistence and consistency. Superman didn’t become popular overnight. He took a day job in 2017 to get consistent income.



“You leave the house in the morning, you get home in the evening, and you’re exhausted. There’s no way. You just get home, shower, eat, sleep, wake up the next day. There’s no time to be creative. And you can be creative, but you’re hungry. You can’t be creative, there are no lights on. There’s a lot of those small socio-economic factors that you don’t consider when you’re not producing.”



Masuku got back into comics full-time in 2018. He made Captain South Africa a woman. There was a lot of pushback and debate, to the point that he took the new posters off his table at an event.



“Surely, there must be more than black male superheroes, you know. I want to see progress now, like America took so long to get to where it is comic-wise. We can circumvent, we can skip all those steps. We are diversifying. People did not want to hear that at all.”



At the same time, his uncle was keeping an eye on his work, and gave him a digital drawing pad. Masuku had to make the decision between digital and traditional drawing in time for the FanCon Comic Con Cape Town event in 2018. His drawing pen wouldn’t stabilize. He says looking back at that work is like looking at a “cursed grimoire”, but it reminds him how far he has come.



He describes the first big Comic Con event in Cape Town as a “mist” of people, surprised by how many geeks there were, but the second event he went to was a “fog” of people, dense and overwhelming.



At the first event, he did live drawing, where people attentively watched him.



Masuku knew that he wasn’t the first African comic creator, but that moment reminded him that he was breaking barriers.



Parents would come to his table, not necessarily to buy, but to show their children how he was drawing and ask his advice. And Masuku gave the advice he would have wanted when he was a child.



He was invited to Comic Con Africa as a guest in 2019. Seated next to international titans of industry from Marvel and DC, he tried not to let imposter syndrome overcome him.



Then, the pandemic hit. Masuku says for freelancers who work from home, the world got smaller.



He ended up going to more events online. He began getting more business.



“I’m so used to self-managing, so used to a high self-discipline. If I don’t work, that’s a wrap. I don’t have a manager standing over me, checking my work, I have to be my own quality control. I have to be my mailman. I have to be my secretary. I have to be a jack of all trades,” he explains. “And that jack of all trades, because I was making my own comics for a long time, meant that I could slide into wherever you want. Want me to write something, draw something? That’s cool. You want my advice on marketing? Here you go.”



Masuku received an opportunity with the British Council to create a story about the circular economy. Though it was amazing to receive bigger jobs, the pressure on him to deliver increased, especially when faced with infrastructure problems such as Zimbabwe’s notorious power cuts.



One of the power cuts fried his laptop and drawing tablet cable.



Kugali Media, a visual story-telling brand using comics, graphic novels, augmented reality (AR) and animation in, contacted him asking him to work full-time at the end of 2020. This was another big break for Masuku. One of the projects he worked on was Nani, a fantasy graphic novel inspired by African mythology, which raised $58,235 with KickStarter to fund the project. Kugali Media has worked with big names like Disney, specifically on Iwaju, an animated original series.



“I was still young, and am still young now. But I was at the grassroots of this journey. Now, there are sapling trees. I’m getting to the point where I’m going to bear fruits, but people are starting to look at the flowers blooming.”



At Kugali, he got to shape comics as they happened. Being “a jack of all trades” paid off in the end, because they asked him to become an assistant editor.



The Nommo Award-nominated comic artist’s books include Razor-Man, Captain South Africa, Nani and Kokou. He has contributed to anthologies such as Kugali Anthology Vol 1,Comexposed’s Comic Up Vol 1, A Womb with a Heart That Beats All Over The World (Poetry), Sublime: $5 at the Door, and After the Fall: A Post- Apocalyptic Anthology.



“Whether it’s a local studio or international studio, people are starting to take notice of Africa as a creative resource. People have told stories about Japan, the Japanese tell really good Japanese stories. The Koreans are taking over with their K-pop, dramas, and even web comics,” he explains.



“But Africa is still this big myth. And for a company to say, ‘okay, here’s this country, let’s tell its history or its culture or its mysticism, very specifically not blending into anything else’, that is this huge opportunity. That’s one that has been waiting to happen. Let’s put the creativity in African hands if you want to tell an African story. Let Africans tell that story.”



At the end of 2021, Masuku discovered that Netflix was sponsoring story artists. Through power-cuts and the demands of a full-time job, he applied. He realized after the deadline that he hadn’t attached a file – through either power-cuts or refreshing a page. He panicked, but they still accepted his application in the end.



He went through an intensive storyboarding workshop with Triggerfish Animation in two parts. Masuku ended up getting the job with Netflix, and is still in production.



This year, he’s going to Comic Con Africa as a guest, and working on a new graphic novel with Kugali Media. In April, he lectured at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa on the topic of Afromanga.Masuku is only 29. With his brand of African stories, this may only be the beginning, for him and the continent.

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The Pain And Power Of A Comic Book Writer: The Zimbabwean Artist Breaking Rules 

An intrepid 22-year-old entrepreneur from Sierra Leone has founded an eco-friendly paper bag company – something he has kept at doggedly despite the challenges a developing economy can present.



TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS. ONE PRODUCT. Amadu Deen Bah was raised by a single mother in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He grew up helping her work as a small trader on weekends and holidays. At the age of 13, he sold bags by the side of the road.



Cut to now. He is the founder and CEO of Caballay Investment, an eco-friendly paper bag manufacturing company he set up in 2020 in the West African country, now trying to raise $75,000 to buy machines to automate the manufacturing process. His aim? To produce 1,000 bags a day and work towards ending the use of plastic bags.



Also an Anzisha Prize fellow in 2021, he has surely come a long way.



“Sometimes, your start is not that good – it’s difficult and hard. But the one thing I have learned on my journey is that it doesn’t matter if you start good or bad; just know that on the journey you will face difficulties. So, the time that you are facing difficulties is the time you need to show your character. You just need to be strong, to be focused, to keep going because the going will get you there. And don’t forget to read!” says Bah, summarizing his years as a novice starting up his entrepreneurial journey. He set out on this ride soon after high school, when he wanted to embark on a business instead of continuing with his education.



He met Jeremy Okoye, a businessman from Senegal, and decided to leave Sierra Leone, for the first time. While in Senegal, hungry and unable to speak either French or Wolof, he eventually found a temporary job in construction.



One day while wandering the streets, he saw a sign advertising English lessons – and thought that was something he could do. As luck would have it, his soon-to-be mentor Okoye was also there. He began working for him.



When he decided to leave Senegal, Okoye gave him a laptop and books to motivate him. Plus, he had $1,000 in savings.



Back again in Sierra Leone, he was involved in the community clean-up on the last Saturday of every month, where citizens are encouraged to venture out and collect garbage.



“There are no local people to collect trash in my community. You have to wait for the bigger companies to collect it. So I saw it as a business opportunity.”



He wanted to recycle, but the initiative didn’t work out. Then, an idea struck him: what about paper bags? In three weeks, during August 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bah learned to make paper bags and thereafter founded his company, Caballay Investments; the name Caballay the nickname his uncle gave his mom.



He found his first customer and second mentor in Sierra Leone, Rodney Hughes. The very first order was for 70 bags.



But Bah did not have the capital to get started on the order, so Hughes gave him some valuable business advice – “What you need to do first in business if you don’t have money to start is – always ask your customer to give you a deposit.”



Bah worked day and night to deliver and soon began acquiring more customers. In the meantime, the Anzisha Prize had always inspired him, so he applied, and at 21, he made the shortlist.



But then, there were setbacks in store. One morning, a heavy downpour caused flooding, and he lost all his wares.



He gave up for three months, taking on only bits of work.



But he read about a character who faced adversity, and sitting in the shade of a tree, the character said to himself “after all this long work, if I give up, what will it give me”.



And so Bah resolved to start in earnest again. He saved money, sold his bed, and even sold stickers. He was granted $1,000 through the Anzisha Prize Fellowship in 2021, and made $5,000 through the Tony Elumelu Foundation. He wanted to use the money to set up an office and expand, but there were still many curveballs to resolve– he bought the wrong materials to make paper bags, and during Covid-19, prices went up.



He used the power of networking, and found that hotels use paper bags the most, and so began marketing mainly in that direction, also supplying them handmade to supermarkets, fashion stores, stationery shops, printing presses and restaurants.



Today, he is set to build on his learnings and make a difference to the circular economy. His piece of advice? “You need to have passion for what you do, and a love for learning. After every failure, there is another opportunity.” And he isn’t shy of admitting his mistakes as a young businessman. He has relied on feedback from customers to scale up his business and bag every opportunity in his way.

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NOT CARRIED AWAY: From Plastic To Paper in Sierra Leone

This unassuming entrepreneur from Benin has created an alternative to chemical fertilizers that most farmers use in Africa. He is the CEO of AGRECO Sarl and at 22, is looking to expand his company creating impact across West Africa.



THE RISE IN FOOD PRICES AS a result of the war in Ukraine is accelerating inflation in regions of Africa, a new report by the World Food Programme (WFP) outlines. It says that increasing food prices pose a threat to food security in a region dealing with conflict, climate change, and the Covid-19 pandemic.



The report further highlights that countries like South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi are highly dependent on imported chemical fertilizer, and shortages will create issues for the next agricultural season’s planting and yields.



Despite this bleak outlook, innovators in Africa are trying to change the game. One of those is Djifa Constant Ayihounoun, from Abomey-Calavi, 20km from the city of Cotonou in Benin.



At only 22, Ayihounoun has already secured his place as an entrepreneur, as the founder of AGRECO Sarl, an organic fertilizer and pesticides company.



In 2018, while he was still a student and trainee at an environmental impact studies firm, he conducted a study merely out of curiosity – on the impact of human economic activities on the environment.



“My research allowed me to discover that agriculture alone is responsible for more than 25% of global warming, and therefore has a huge negative impact on the environment,” Ayihounoun says.



This is echoed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2013) which says agriculture, forestry, and the alteration of land-use account for as much as 25% of human-induced GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions.



He decided to study agricultural practices in depth. He learned that chemical inputs in fertilizers and pesticides have an adverse impact.



Then, he brainstormed solutions.



Ayihounoun decided to focus on providing information to the main players in the industry, who may be uninformed or have no alternatives. He created an NGO called Africa Bio House at the age of 18, in order to raise awareness to farmers in rural areas.



He holds a degree in Entrepreneurship and Management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with a specialization in environment and green economy from the University of Abomey- Calavi in Benin.



Through his study he learned that beyond the soil, chemical inputs have a profoundly negative impact on the environment as a whole, on biodiversity, as well as on humans.



“Speaking of the consequence on the soil, we have discovered that one of the main disadvantages of chemical fertilizers is their high content of sulphuric and hydrochloric acids,” Ayihounoun explains. “These lead to the destruction of microorganisms and trace elements that are present in the soil, thus, the first consequence of the use of chemical fertilizers is the depletion of the soil, which leads to a drop in yield, and the exposure of crops to attacks and diseases.”



“Similarly, substances not assimilated by plants are carried away by the rains and poured into our environment and also infiltrate the soil and pollute the groundwater. Chemical fertilizers due to their harmful chemicals have an impact both ecologically and on our body,” he adds.



Ayihounoun says that the first challenge he faced was raising awareness: bringing farmers together and informing them about the impacts of chemical fertilizer. He solved this by making products freely available, for experimentation and gaining farmers’ trust. Another challenge was the certification and approval process required for the marketing of agricultural inputs in Benin.



“The first gratifying aspects are the satisfaction of our very first customers, it gives a feeling of pride and accomplishment to see a producer who is satisfied and very happy to have used our products. The second gratifying aspect is the awards we have received, especially in terms of grants that allow us to accomplish a lot and move forward.”



In 2021, Ayihounoun became an Anzisha Prize Fellow in recognition of his entrepreneurial efforts.



Throughout school he says he was an ambitious and dynamic boy, who did research on the best young people in Africa and the world. He met a mentor who guided him towards an entrepreneurship training center at his university.



“The hardest part of being a young entrepreneur is that people are reluctant to trust you or take you seriously sometimes. Especially in French-speaking communities where the culture of youth entrepreneurship is not yet developed, basically it is the weight of culture and society. Beyond that, the heavy administrative formalities remain a burden for the youngest at their start,” he explains.



AGRECO Sarl’s fertilizers are made with living matter and the recovery of bio-waste from livestock farms and agro-food processing units.



“It enriches the soil with natural nutrients, increases yield and facilitates the conservation of crops. What differentiates it above all from the others is the fact that it has nematicidal and soil-improving properties because it is enriched with azadirachtin and helps fight against soil nematodes that attack the roots of plants. Beneficial for all soils, all crops, all seasons. Above all, it increases the amount of humus on the soil, ideal for soils low in organic matter.”



Soil nematodes are the worms responsible for plant diseases. Some soil nematodes are beneficial, but more study has gone into those that negatively affect plants.



Azadirachtin is used as a general-use pesticide, found in the seeds, bark, and leaves of the neem tree. It is regarded as having low toxicity to mammals and the environment and even bees, when used correctly. Humus is the substance remaining after plants and animals have decomposed through a process done by earthworms, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms, found in the top few inches of soil.



Ayihounoun’s company is expanding into the northern region of Benin, a big step for them as it means increasing production capacity. Since its creation, AGRECO Sarl has impacted over 500 people.



“Currently, we are concentrating on developing a large clientele and mobilizing resources to launch industrialization.”



The high cost of the certifications, marketing approval for the production process and product is the main reason they are concentrating on organic fertilizers.



Later, they will move on to biopesticides.



They want to roll out their products beyond Benin, namely to Togo, Burkino Faso, Niger, Mali and Senegal.



He says these countries have a huge need for organic fertilizer. After conducting a study in Togo, they believe they could expand there first.



Africa could face challenges head on, with environmentally- conscious and innovative people like Ayihounoun.



The question remains, where will our investments go – to the historically profitable and known, or the new and sustainable?

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Organic Growth: Meet The 22-Year-Old Farmer-CEO From Benin

Elsa Majimbo

The Class of 2022: Money and Meaning 

&#8220;I founded this company when I was sick,” Carla Frankel says with a shaky voice, when we meet in Botswana in April for the Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa. When she says that, the people around her listen, as she unravels to FORBES AFRICA the story of how she created the Top Drawer Collection, retailing personalized luxury sleepwear, in South Africa.



“In life-altering moments, I stood at the crossroads and pushed boundaries and used negative experiences to create really great products and experiences, rather than choosing the road of defeat and victimization.”



At the age of 21, Frankel was walking around campus and suddenly felt her feet burn, which actually turned out to be Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis.



“In other words, I had a stroke!” she recounts. Two years before that, Frankel had already been diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases; antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) as well as Lupus. During her second year at university, she had another stroke during a four-hour exam. This resulted in three weeks of hospitalization and Frankel being unable to finish her exams.



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It was during the recovery phase that she realized that the only thing in that “dark period” that lifted her spirits was the pair of matching pajamas her mom had bought for her from retail chain Woolworths.



“We would make quite a moment of them, put on face masks, and watch our favorite movies. Those pajamas with my mom weren’t just pajamas — they were a layer of comfort and safety. They were an armor of sorts to me that helped me feel beautiful and safe even while so disconnected from myself, in this foreign body that didn’t feel like mine.”



Coming into this moment feels almost full circle for Frankel as she admits that she started reading FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 lists five years ago and had always been inspired by the stories of the founders in them.



“I noticed that a large commonality in each person was overcoming challenges to create solutions and innovate. Most of all, I found inspiration in how most of these people made the choice to voyage forward into the path of success despite circumstances being against them.



“A near-death experience is the reason Top Drawer Collection exists, and with every negative health experience I face, a new, even better product is born to meet the need that I would only know how to fulfill by walking through the thorns and making it to the other side.”



Within six months of starting Top Drawer, Frankel says she received orders from South African celebrities such as actor-producer Connie Ferguson and influencer Kefilwe Mabote. Corporates like Unilever were also ordering sleepwear from her. Even when Covid-19 hit, she still managed her business.



“We have reached the market cap for the units that can be produced locally. I sell what I have, and there is a waiting list unbelievably long for those who didn’t manage to secure a set on a restock day. I am very grateful for the desire for the product.&#8221; Frankel says.



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Words and Curation: Chanel Retief Art Director: Lucy Nkosi Additional Research &amp; Reporting: Lillian Roberts Photography: Ilan Godfrey for Forbes Videography and production: Timothy Pierson for Forbes &amp; Chad McClymonds for Forbes Video Editor: Chanel Retief Styling: Katlego Magano of Oak Ave; Assistant: Tumelo Nkwe Hair &amp; Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty; Thapelo Letsebe Location: Image Lounge, Botswana and 2022 Forbes Under 30 Summit



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#FORBESAFRICA30UNDER30: Meet Cover Star CARLA FRANKEL: ‘With Every Negative Health Experience…A New, Even Better Product is Born’

The resignation of Glossier CEO Emily Weiss inspired another wave of obituaries for young, female founders. Nevertheless, they persist—and refuse to be put on glass pedestals again.



In October 2021, Rent the Runway cofounder Jennifer Hyman took her 12-year-old subscription fashion company public at a $1.7 billion valuation, valuing her 5.1% stake at nearly $49 million. The 41-year-old CEO was one of only about 25 American women in history to go public with a company she had founded. But Rent the Runway’s IPO was even more unusual for not only having a female founder but also a female CFO and a female COO.



Hyman celebrated the moment on a flowery Nasdaq podium surrounded by the key women on her team, her two daughters and a shower of pink confetti. But for all the femininity on stage, there is one word that Hyman would not use to mark the moment: “Girlboss.”



Making History and Bank: In October 2021, Rent the Runway became the first company to go public with a female CEO, COO and CFO—at a $1.7 billion valuation.RENT THE RUNWAY



“We&#8217;ve created a false narrative because we looked at two or three examples of women who were building businesses who happen to have a high social media following, and we call it a Girlboss Era,” Hyman says. “The Girlboss Era has never existed.”



Except it did.



The now dreaded hashtag dates to 2014, when then-30-year-old Sophia Amoruso, founder of the retail brand Nasty Gal, published a memoir called&nbsp;#Girlboss. In eight years, Amoruso had grown Nasty Gal from an eBay startup into a business with $40 million in funding, customers in 60 countries and a brick-and-mortar store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. The book spent 18 weeks on the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestseller list and propelled Amoruso to launch Girlboss Radio, a podcast featuring interviews with other female founders.



Leaning Out: After eight years of running the beauty brand she founded, Emily Weiss stepped down as CEO of Glossier in May amid turmoil.JOEL BARHAMAND



The Girlboss phenomenon is on Hyman’s mind because in late May, 37-year-old Glossier founder Emily Weiss announced that she was stepping down as CEO from the company she launched in 2014 and, after a maternity leave, becoming executive chairman. Weiss’ beauty business was growing into a $1.8 billion makeup juggernaut at the same time “Girlboss” was expanding in the public discourse.



It was around this same period that J.Crew included Ty Haney’s two-year-old athleisure company, Outdoor Voices, in a ‘brands we love’ feature. Haney opened OV’s first brick-and-mortar store in Austin in the fall of 2015. The then-27-year-old Haney would go on to raise more than $60 million for Outdoor Voices from investors including General Catalyst, GV, and former J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler.



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<h4 id="h-hashtagging-it-out">HASHTAGGING IT OUT</h4>



<h4 id="h-since-sophia-amoruso-published-her-memoir-girlboss-in-2014-videos-with-that-hashtag-have-been-viewed-more-than-6-billion-times-on-tiktok-with-an-additional-26-million-posts-on-instagram-girlboss-has-also-been-used-more-than-4-5-million-times-on-twitter-during-the-past-8-years-with-about-half-of-that-coming-in-2021-just-as-some-of-the-more-prominent-female-founders-were-being-canceled">Since Sophia Amoruso published her memoir, #Girlboss, in 2014, videos with that hashtag have been viewed more than 6 billion times on TikTok with an additional 26 million posts on Instagram. #Girlboss has also been used more than 4.5 million times on Twitter during the past 8 years, with about half of that coming in 2021—just as some of the more prominent female founders were being canceled.</h4>



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That same year, two former Warby Parker prodigies, Steph Korey and Jen Rubio, founded Away, the smart-luggage company that eventually landed Korey on the cover of&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;in November 2018 with a $1.4 billion valuation by 2019. And a year after Away was born, Audrey Gelman launched The Wing, a female-only coworking space that offered an A-List roster of speakers (including Christiane Amanpour and Hillary Clinton) for Wing members to enjoy after business hours. Ambitious women paid up to $2,700 a year for access to the Wing, and the buzzy brand hit a $400 million valuation before the pandemic took hold in 2020.



With such meteoric success stories, each of these women was soon hailed as a “Girlboss”—which often came with the benefits of being young, attractive and white. And when their high-flying brands fell back to earth over the next few years, the schadenfreude was relentless. A Netflix show called&nbsp;#GIRLBOSS&nbsp;was not enough to buoy Amoruso’s Nasty Gal brand; in 2016, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and was purchased the next year by The Boohoo Group for $20 million, a fraction of its peak valuation of $86 million in 2014, according to PitchBook.



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“It&#8217;s reminding everyone that there is a style of being a boss. And no matter how hard you work, you&#8217;re still a girl—you&#8217;re a girl in a man&#8217;s world.”–Kristen Syrett, Rutgers professor



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At Outdoor Voices, Haney found her leadership capabilities under fire in early 2020, with colleagues whispering to reporters that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/business/outdoor-voices-ty-haney-mickey-drexler.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">she was “spoiled and mercurial</a>.” By March of that year, Haney was pushed out of the company she founded. During the same period, Korey and Gelman also found their leadership styles pilloried in the media and by the peak of the pandemic in 2020, both women had resigned as CEO of their respective companies.



By the time Weiss stepped down as Glossier’s CEO in May, obituaries for the Girlboss Era had been written for at least two years. Yet the resignation of Weiss, who had been the face of one of the trendiest millennial companies, provided new fodder for commentary and conclusions about what it means when a female founder moves away from the brand she built. But working female entrepreneurs say these post-mortems are both sexist and unfair to the women who are still running disruptive, high-growth businesses.



“When a female founder steps down, it’s a headline like The Death of the Girlboss,” says Laura Behrens Wu, who was featured on the 2017 Forbes&nbsp;30 Under 30 for founding logistics outfit Shippo. “When a guy does it? There’s no real headline because it happens so frequently that it’s no big deal.” Wu points to 41-year old Flexport founder and CEO Ryan Peterson,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2022/06/08/exclusive-amazons-consumer-chief-dave-clark-joins-supply-chain-startup-flexport-as-co-ceo/?sh=1a260af3e82e">who announced plans to resign from his CEO seat</a>&nbsp;soon after Weiss stepped down. But the news about Peterson didn’t launch 1000 thinkpieces about the future of male CEOs, Wu notes, whereas a deposed Girlboss “becomes an extrapolation about the entirety of female founders.”



While the Girlboss concept began under a guise of empowerment, it has ultimately been damaging, a Scarlet G, for female entrepreneurs. The condescending moniker diminished female founders seeking investors, who judged them not on the quality of their companies but by their gender.



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&#8220;The heyday of female founders or Girlbosses has actually made the situation more difficult because it clouds the reality that it&#8217;s as difficult as ever to raise money as a woman.”– Jennifer Hyman, Rent the Runway CEO and Cofounder



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“As soon as you modify something like ‘boss’—and you don&#8217;t have ‘Boyboss’ or ‘Maleboss’—it really does make it incredibly salient that we are still, as women, fighting against [an image] that was not shaped by us,” says Kristen Syrett, a professor of linguistics at Rutgers University. “It&#8217;s reminding everyone that there is a style of being a boss; that there&#8217;s being a boss and then there&#8217;s the girl boss. And no matter how hard you work, you&#8217;re still a girl—you&#8217;re a girl in a man&#8217;s world.”



In early June, no less an expert than Sophia Amoruso implored her Twitter followers: “please stop using girlboss thanks.”



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Amoruso might be ready to move on, but Rent the Runway’s Jen Hyman and the other founders interviewed by&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;are left grappling with the wreckage of the GirlBoss Era.



“Sometimes, the positivity that the media has had about the heyday of female founders or Girlbosses has actually made the situation more difficult,” Hyman says, “because it clouds the reality that it&#8217;s as difficult as ever to raise money as a woman.”



Lilla Cosgrove is living that reality. In 2017, she cofounded the orthodontic aligner company Candid and set out to become&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2019/04/16/something-to-smile-about-candid-raises-63-million-to-be-the-warby-parker-of-braces/?sh=17ead9a4b256">the Warby Parker of braces</a>. Since then, Cosgrove has raised over $150 million. Like many CEOs over the past two years, she’s had to pivot her company, in this case from a direct-to-consumer brand to a business-to-business model selling retainers straight to dentists.&nbsp;“It’s hard being a human in the world right now with everything going on socially and economically, let alone being a founder,” the 31-year-old Cosgrove told&nbsp;Forbes, shortly before the Supreme Court ruled on&nbsp;Roe v. Wade. “And then being a female founder on top of that? Access to capital and support still feels harder than it should be.”



Indeed, only 2% of all venture capital goes to female founders, and just 0.2% of all venture funding goes to female founders of color, a rate that has barely budged in the four years since #MeToo and #TimesUp transformed the national dialog.



A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2022/06/06/female-entrepreneurs-funded-by-female-vcs-face-difficulties-obtaining-future-funds/?sh=3672e8c66a7c">recent study published in the Organization Science journal&nbsp;</a>showed that, among some 2,100 startups, the female-founded companies that received money from female investors in early funding rounds were&nbsp;less&nbsp;likely to receive funding in subsequent rounds. The researchers’ conclusion was that their early-stage capital was a token gesture based on shared gender, not a strategic investment in a promising idea.



According to Heidi Patel, a managing partner at Rethink Impact, the largest venture capital firm in the U.S. that invests exclusively in female leaders ($300 million under management), the term “Girlboss” is a byproduct of this environment. If investors wanted to feel confident writing a check to a female founder, funding someone with a high public profile was more of a vehicle aimed at raising personal brand awareness—and eventually capital. “It was something really unique to consumer businesses,” Patel says. “It was really a marketing angle and it&#8217;s an aspirational storyline, I think, that was created to appeal to young female consumers.”



Ty, Ty Again: Two years being ousted as CEO of Outdoor Voices, 33-year-old founder Ty Haney has a new web3 platform—Try Your Best.JAMEL TOPPIN FOR FORBES



Emphasis on young: As the name implies, Girlboss was aimed at Millennials and Gen Z. By contrast, the top five women on the 2022 Forbes Richest Self-Made Women list are worth more than $30 billion and each was born before 1948 (average age: 60)—and none would self-identify as a Girlboss.



Interestingly, Outdoor Voices founder Haney insists she’s never actually been called a “Girlboss” or used the word self-referentially. “I’ve never been or associated myself with the term Girlboss and it’s time journalists stop trying to get clicks off our stories and this theme,” Haney wrote on Instagram after Weiss announced her resignation. As Haney&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUHH1nyHSKQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">admitted to&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;in a 2021 interview</a>: “Being a female founder helped me. I was a darling in the press and that helped create a direct relationship with a budding community [of customers]. And from a fundraising perspective, it helped.”



The positive press that lifted Haney, and other female founders like her, also drew greater attention to her failings—creating a cycle that feeds the perception that “cancel culture” is eager to claim the next female leader who misspeaks or missteps.



It’s a vicious cycle many young, female founders CEOs are hoping to avoid. Eliza Becton, who was on the 2014 Forbes 30 Under 30 list after founding the smart water cooler company Bevi, has raised $95 million to bring internet-connected natural drink dispenser to 4,000 offices (and counting) in the United States. “I don’t like a lot of attention,” says the 38-year-old Becton. “I really enjoy what I do, and I like spending time with family, friends and customers,” says Becton, “But I prefer to be head down in the work and doing product development. It’s what makes me happy. I don’t love being public-facing, and frankly, I find it distracting.”



Alexa Hirschfeld is another entrepreneur who has seen these distractions and opted out. As the cofounder of digital stationery company Paperless Post, Hirschfeld oversees 100 employees and runs an entity that has attracted over 175 million users to its platform. Paperless Post is valued at a healthy $115 million, but like Becton, Hirschfeld isn’t looking to elevate her personal brand.



“I don’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘What am I going to do today as a woman in tech?’” she says. “I&#8217;m worrying about my product, the company, the job; I&#8217;m worrying about what everybody worries about who puts themself out there, and takes risks and has a lot of responsibilities.”



For Ashley Edwards, the founder of MindRight Health, the lessons of the Girlboss Era are painfully obvious, especially as a woman of color. The 31-year-old founder just closed a $1.8 million funding round from investors, including Melinda French Gates, to grow her mental health coaching platform for underserved teens. “I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished as a woman and as a Black woman,” says Edwards. “Most of my time is just spent doing the work.”



Laura Behrens Wu, whose Shippo hit a $1 billion valuation this month, agrees and believes she’s avoided many of the Girlboss minefields because she’s rejected most media–including social media.



“It’s not been a priority,” she says. “I haven&#8217;t been able to tie it to some kind of business priority, or something that I really care about as a CEO.”



Which is exactly the advice many older executives have for women in the post-Girlboss Era. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/anita-carmichael-roberts/?sh=741d7ab13e63">Anita Carmichael Roberts</a> is a military veteran, the founding partner of Silicon Hills Capital, and a member of the Forbes 50 Over 50 list, has never been burdened with the Girlboss mantel because of her age and race. Indeed, many in the business world wouldn’t even assume that a 53-year-old Black woman could be in charge of millions of dollars and investment decisions. “People don&#8217;t see us as the boss, right?” Roberts says. “When I say I&#8217;m a boss, that means that I&#8217;m the baddest thing in the room—women or men.”



By Maggie McGrath, Forbes Staff and Alexandra Sternlicht, Forbes Staff

Businesswoman on laptop at window in morning sun

Why Female Entrepreneurs Welcome The End Of The Girlboss Era—Once And For All

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When a 16-year-old Brett Lyndall Singh from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, was unable to perform CPR on his sick grandmother, he used this traumatic experience as his calling to become a doctor.



“It kind of cemented the idea of me making sure that I have the skills to be able to save people’s lives,” Singh tells FORBES AFRICA.



The congenial doctor has a spring in his step when we meet him, as he speaks about his journey around the world in medicine and health.



“Unfortunately, I couldn’t study in South Africa due to a lack of space [in medical school],” Singh explains. “And I took a leap of faith and applied to universities around the world and got a great offer from China. And so, I moved to China when I was 17 going [on] 18 back in 2011. I then studied at Wenzhou Medical University for my bachelor of medicine and surgery. I was then able to do some internships and electives at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia.”



When Covid-19 became a vast and ugly reality across the globe, Singh spent days in Covid wards in China, and says was even invited by President Xi Jinping and the Communist party to go to Beijing to volunteer during the pandemic as one of two African doctors.



Singh is now also involved in South Africa’s national response to Covid-19 and is also currently the chairperson of the Global Value Chains working group of the Department of Trade and Industry Cooperation’s national healthcare master plan.



“My job is to unlock the strategy and investment and opportunities around ‘made in South Africa’ medical devices and healthcare products. So, as a doctor, getting involved in research and development and in the healthcare business started with my thesis in combatting sub-Saharan Africa’s malnutrition…



“I am helping to create a device that could make a doctor’s life better, and could also contribute to stimulating the economy of South Africa and Africa… And I’m trying to be the bridge to help technology transfer like what we did in our project for rapid antigen, as well as component manufacturing, so that we can stimulate the economy, do more research and development and go forward.”



When Covid-19 first broke in 2020, whilst with Plame Biotech, Singh’s company Alpha and Omega MedTech contributed to medical advancements in coronavirus diagnostics by way of the KOVIFAST Rapid Antigen Test, which compared to a PCR Test, only needing 15 minutes to identify a test, rather than six to 18 hours.



Alpha and Omega MedTech was soon approved by CDC Africa’s Africa Medical Supplies Platform as an official supplier of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Medical Devices. Singh’s company has one of the youngest founding teams to hold a South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) license. His work on diagnostics, and its pairing with digital healthcare in epidemiological tracking was presented at the First International Conference on Public Health in Africa hosted by CDC Africa.



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Words and Curation: Chanel Retief Art Director: Lucy Nkosi Additional Research &amp; Reporting: Lillian Roberts Photography: Ilan Godfrey for Forbes Videography and production: Timothy Pierson for Forbes &amp; Chad McClymonds for Forbes Video Editor: Chanel Retief Styling: Katlego Magano of Oak Ave; Assistant: Tumelo Nkwe Hair &amp; Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty; Thapelo Letsebe Location: Image Lounge, Botswana and 2022 Forbes Under 30 Summit



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#FORBESAFRICA30UNDER30: Meet Cover Star DR BRETT LYNDALL SINGH: ‘Helping Create A Device That Could Make A Doctor’s Life Better’

Having grown up as a conservative Northern Nigerian, it was ingrained in Fatima Babakura that at a certain age, inevitably, she would have to finish school and then get married “to someone rich who can take care of you”.



But Babakura was never going to let this happen.



“Living in Lagos gave me a different perspective because I was living around people whose mindset was ‘make your own money and then go to school’ so it’s not like you are waiting for someone to come and take care of you’,” Babakura tells FORBES AFRICA. “And because I was privileged enough to experience that, I am not your average Northern Nigerian girl.”



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Babakura is the founder, chief executive officer and designer of Timabee, an accessories brand that “redefines luxury in Africa and beyond”.



Her sharp eye for design, curiosity and yen for imagining a product and bringing it to life motivated her to start Timabee.



Babakura began the brand in her first year of university in Canada.



She had designed a “simple handbag” and given it to her close family friend as a gift.



“I didn’t even think it was that great,” she laughs. But continuing on with her theme to be “curious”, she set out to find a manufacturer who would make this bag.



“Keep in mind, I was an accounting student with no business or fashion background. I did a simple Google search which led me to Alibaba where I found a company that agreed to make me a sample for $150 in December 2013.”



From the pocket money she received from her parents, 17-year-old Babakura set out to spend the $150 which she ended up losing as “I interacted with a fraudulent vendor and had no clue”.



Losing the money did not stop her.



“I was determined to find someone else to make my bag, but this time I was a lot more careful and I did my due diligence researching the company.”



One of the biggest highlights for Timabee was in 2021, when the brand was approved by award-winning American artist and businesswoman, Beyoncé.



“Last year, when Beyoncé’s team compiled a list of black-owned businesses, we were honored to make the list. It just goes to show that as a small, growing brand, the work we put in every day does not go unnoticed.”



Having taken the pro-women approach when it comes to running her business, she wants to encourage many women, including those who may look like her, to feel empowered to start enterprises.



“Starting Timabee as a young girl, there were many mistakes I made as I did not seek out mentorship earlier on due to the fear of being rejected. I learned a lot through trial and error, many of which cost the company money and could have easily been avoided had I sought mentorship,” Babakura says. “This is a major reason why I have set up Timabee global resources, a concept aimed at helping entrepreneurs in the accessory business navigate their way to global recognition and achieve success. I truly believe in paying it forward and so in the next three years, I hope to open a mentoring school specifically for high school and university students where they can have hands-on experience on the business of fashion especially as it relates to Africa.



“Many girls from Northern Nigeria aspire to marry rich as a ‘career path’, sadly. I believe that through my mentorship program, the right mindset will be the foundation for future success especially since I will be an example to them through my achievements as a Northern girl.”



Words and Curation: Chanel Retief Art Director: Lucy Nkosi Additional Research &amp; Reporting: Lillian Roberts Photography: Ilan Godfrey for Forbes Videography and production: Timothy Pierson for Forbes &amp; Chad McClymonds for Forbes Video Editor: Chanel Retief Styling: Katlego Magano of Oak Ave; Assistant: Tumelo Nkwe Hair &amp; Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty; Thapelo Letsebe Location: Image Lounge, Botswana and 2022 Forbes Under 30 Summit



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#FORBESAFRICA30UNDER30: Meet Cover Star FATIMA BABAKURA- ‘I am not your average Northern Nigerian girl’

THE FORBES AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 CLASS OF 2022 CARE ABOUT BEING VISIONARIES OF CHANGE AND CATALYSTS FOR INNOVATION. BEING ON THE MOST-ANTICIPATED LIST ON THE CONTINENT, FOR THESE YOUNG TRAILBLAZERS, IS NOT JUST ABOUT COMMERCE AND CLOUT BUT ABOUT ENSURING THEY REPRESENT WELL THEIR COUNTRIES AND THE DIVERSE, HETEROGENEOUS AFRICA THEY WANT TO SERVE. CELEBRATING ITS EIGHTH EDITION, THE LIST THIS YEAR FEATURES THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST, BUT IMPORTANTLY, THE MOST RESILIENT, WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO NOT ONLY SHINE A LIGHT ON THE ISSUES PLAGUING AFRICA’S GROWTH IN A PANDEMIC ERA BUT ALSO WORK TOWARDS SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE, ONE TINY, TENACIOUS STEP AT A TIME.



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Making it to the inner sanctum of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list is no mean feat. The process began in October last year on our online platform that saw over a thousand applications and nominations streaming in. If successful, to proceed to the second round, nominees needed to provide valid evidence of their endeavors and ventures.



Each year, the process gets even more stringent at this stage. We also gleaned suggestions from our 30 Under 30 alum, employing the same rigorous process as last year to whittle the list down to 30 finalists across the business, technology, sports, health and creative sectors.



For yet another year, SNG Grant Thornton came on board as our audit partners to assess company financials from losses to growth margins to overall revenue and profits since incorporation. Background checks were conducted on the potential listers, which included going through documentation such as police clearance certificates to ensure that they had no criminal record, troubling lawsuits/bankruptcies and allegations of crime, misconduct, sexual harassment/abuse or fraud charges against them.



The finalists were vetted by the editorial team and a panel of high-profile judges and subject-matter experts. Our judging panel’s comments are testimony to some.



Words and Curation: Chanel Retief Art Director: Lucy Nkosi Additional Research &amp; Reporting: Lillian Roberts Photography: Ilan Godfrey for Forbes Videography and production: Timothy Pierson for Forbes &amp; Chad McClymonds for Forbes Video Editor: Chanel Retief Styling: Katlego Magano of Oak Ave; Assistant: Tumelo Nkwe Hair &amp; Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty; Thapelo Letsebe Location: Image Lounge, Botswana and 2022 Forbes Under 30 Summit



<a href="https://shop.forbesafrica.com/product/single-digital-issue-june-july-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">For the full list download your digital copy here</a>

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Inside the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 Class of 2022

“RISKING YOUR JOB FOR 10 MINUTES OF SLEEP&#8230; THAT’S CALLED SACRIFICE&#8230;” says Majimbo, donning her iconic sunglasses. “If I get up on time then what is the snooze button for,” she asks, proceeding to crunch on a crisp, perfectly-rounded potato chip.



When you think of that Kenyan accent, the 90s-themed sunglasses, the potato chip, and the hallmark giggle, Majimbo immediately has you thinking “iconic”.



Just ask any one of her loyal followers on Instagram.



The Nairobi-born Majimbo, who spent her days playing chess and attending college, was not aiming to be an internet sensation with her laughter-inducing, pared-down vid- eos when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020.



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“I made these videos to make myself laugh and then one day my friend told me that I had gone viral,” she tells FORBES AFRICA.



The videos became a sensation and Majimbo a social media star. Two years on, Majimbo sits with over 2.5 million followers on Instagram.



At this year’s Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa, she said: “Growing up, I always knew I would be iconic. I didn’t know how I would do it, but I knew it would be done.”



Once Majimbo’s videos broke the internet, she immediately informed the journalism institution she was attending and dropped out; she did not even tell her parents.



“I think it was a relief for me because I always say this, I never like[d] school,” Majimbo says.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-style-large">“ONE THING PEOPLE ALWAYS GET WRONG ABOUT ME THOUGH IS THAT I AM ALWAYS HAPPY. I HAVE BAD DAYS TOO GUYS.”</blockquote>



On set at the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 photo- shoot in Gaborone in April, Majimbo’s energy was infectious.



“One thing people always get wrong about me though is that I am always happy. I have bad days too guys,” she laughs.



At just 20 years old, Majimbo has already graced the covers of Teen Vogue, Verified, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ South Africa. She has been featured in Maison Valentino campaigns and has won ‘entertainer of the year’ awards for both GQ South Africa and FORBES WOMAN AFRICA.



Currently, the young starlet is on her way “to make that Hollywood money” in her new home in Los Ange- les where Majimbo’s short documentary, Elsa, will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June.



“You’re going to see me on the big screen,” she promised at the summit.



When it comes to her millions of followers, she always ensures that she is authentic and inspires them to go after their dreams.



“Enjoy your life&#8230; it’s never that deep. People will try and discourage you and you can do whatever you want,” Majimbo says. “Chase that bag until it starts chasing you.&#8221; 



Words and Curation: Chanel Retief Art Director: Lucy Nkosi Additional Research &amp; Reporting: Lillian Roberts Photography: Ilan Godfrey for Forbes Videography and production: Timothy Pierson for Forbes &amp; Chad McClymonds for Forbes Video Editor: Chanel Retief Styling: Katlego Magano of Oak Ave; Assistant: Tumelo Nkwe Hair &amp; Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty; Thapelo Letsebe Location: Image Lounge, Botswana and 2022 Forbes Under 30 Summit



<a href="https://shop.forbesafrica.com/product/single-digital-issue-june-july-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your digital copy here</a>



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#FORBESAFRICA30Under30: Meet Cover Star ELSA MAJIMBO- ‘Chase That Bag, Until it Starts Chasing You’

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large">“I am honored to have adjudicated the Business and [Technology] Innovation category for this year’s FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list. The list comprises impressive young visionaries and risk-takers who are transforming business and society. This year’s cohort bears testament to the potential of Africa’s young leaders who represent a continent made up of about 20% of the world’s youth, according to the United Nation’s population trends (2015). Celebrating innovation and excellence on our continent is important if we are to inspire and mobilize the next generation.”-Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, the South Africa CEO of Naspers comments as a FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 Judge on the Class of 2022.</blockquote>

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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large">“It has been a privilege to have participated in this honorable and important project. I’ve taken the last week of our European Tour reading and re-reading details provided and juxtaposing as much as possible [of] the various talents, making it very difficult [as] an exercise as each and every one of the names provided is exceptional and deserves to be in the top 30. The KEY secret to success in global competitiveness is to be grounded in your authenticity. Embrace your African identity in excellence and quality.”&#8211;Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake, South African singer, performer, producer and composer comments as a FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 Judge on the Class of 2022. </blockquote>

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The FORBES AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 Class of 2022 care about being visionaries of change and catalysts for innovation. Being on the most-anticipated list on the continent, for these young trailblazers, is not just about commerce and clout but about ensuring they represent well their countries and the diverse, heterogeneous Africa they want to serve. Celebrating its eighth edition, the list this year features the best and the brightest, but importantly, the most resilient, who have taken the time to not only shine a light on the issues plaguing Africa&#8217;s growth in a pandemic era but also work towards shifting the narrative, one tiny, tenacious step at a time. 



Words and Curation: Chanel Retief Art Director: Lucy Nkosi Additional Research &amp; Reporting: Lillian Roberts Photography: Ilan Godfrey for Forbes Videography and production: Timothy Pierson for Forbes &amp; Chad McClymonds for Forbes Video Editor: Chanel Retief Styling: Katlego Magano of Oak Ave; Assistant: Tumelo Nkwe Hair &amp; Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty; Thapelo Letsebe Location: Image Lounge, Botswana and 2022 Forbes Under 30 Summit

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[WATCH] FORBES AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 CLASS OF 2022

Attention visionaries, innovators, change-makers, and risk-takers! FORBES AFRICA is back, once again on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are building brands, creating jobs, and transforming the continent in their respective fields.



The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list is the most-anticipated annual compilation of game-changers in Africa and for 2022, we are on the quest for 30 of the continent’s brightest achievers under the age of 30 from the categories of Business, Technology, Creatives, Sport and Science, particularly Health.



The Class of 2021 was an intrepid cast of young people who navigated the Covid-19 pandemic, also creating social impact.



Now, as we prepare for the eighth installment of the 30 Under 30 list, we also announce a few changes.



First, we have added Health/Science to the mix to especially celebrate young thinkers, professionals, and entrepreneurs on the frontline working tirelessly to improve Africa’s medical sector.



Applicants/nominees can also now choose more than one category to apply under. If you are a sports star with a business aimed at uplifting the sports sector, choose sports AND business. If you are a creative trying to find innovative ideas using digital landscapes to showcase art, choose the creative AND technology sectors.



Past honorees of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list include names such as Mr. Eazi, Mihlali Ndamase, Lloyd Harris, Sho Madjozi, Bruce Diale, Antonio Depina, Karabo Poppy, Thuso Mbedu, Nomzamo Mbatha, Kabza De Small, Burna Boy, Nthabiseng Mosia, Davido, Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, Nasty C, Chad le Clos, and WizKid.



“The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 is the most coveted list of the year, and the 2022 edition will mark eight years of it. We are particularly excited to unravel the treasure trove of talent that these tough times have created. Success has not been a given for these frontrunners in the pandemic period. Faced with innumerable hiccups and setbacks, they have rolled up their sleeves and made their work matter, also lifting others on their way up,” says Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA.



<h2 class="has-text-align-center">NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS CRITERIA:</h2>



Please read and take careful note of the following before applying. APPLICATIONS CLOSE 1 FEBRUARY 2022, 17:00 (SAST). 



<h3 id="h-business-and-technology-categories">Business and Technology categories</h3>



<ol><li>Must be an entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger on&nbsp;31 May 2022</li><li>Should have a legitimate REGISTERED business on the continent</li><li>Business/businesses should be two years or older</li><li>The more innovative the business the better</li><li>Nominees must have risked own money and have a social impact</li><li>Must be profit generating</li><li>Must employ people in Africa</li><li>All applications must be in English</li></ol>



<h3>Sports Category </h3>



<ol><li>Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger on 31 May 2022</li><li>Must be representing an African team</li><li>Should have a proven track record of no less than two years</li><li>Should be making significant earnings</li><li>Endorsement deals would be a bonus</li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus especially if applying with the Business/Technology category. However business must be legitamate, registered and also two years or older. </li><li>All applications must be in English</li></ol>



<h3>Creatives category</h3>



<ol><li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 May 2020</li><li>Must be from or based in Africa</li><li>Should be making significant earnings</li><li>Should have a proven creative record of no less than two years</li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus especially if applying with the Business/Technology category. However business must be legitamate, registered and also two years or older. </li><li>All applications must be in English</li></ol>



<h3>Health/Science </h3>



<ol><li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 May 2022</li><li>Must be from or based in Africa</li><li>Should have a proven record in the field of health and/or science for no less than two years.</li><li>Must have social influence and impact. </li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus especially if applying under the Business/Technology category. However, the business must be legitimate, registered and also two years or older. </li><li>All applications must be in English</li></ol>



If you think you have what it takes to enter or know someone you would like to see as part of the CLASS of 2022, please find the application here: 



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Call For Nominations To FORBES AFRICA’s 30 Under 30 Class Of 2022

Brex’s two twenty-something founders are now billionaires, thanks to a lofty new funding round announced this week that nearly doubled the valuation of their five-year-old fintech firm.



The San Francisco-based startup—which is aiming to overhaul the corporate credit card—confirmed on Tuesday that it has raised $300 million in a funding round led by investment firms Greenoaks Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV), giving it a $12.3 billion valuation—a sizable jump from the $7.4 billion valuation it fetched just nine months ago. Cofounders (and co-CEOs) Henrique Dubugras, 26, and Pedro Franceschi, 25, each hold a 14% stake in Brex, Forbes estimates, worth about $1.5 billion apiece. (Forbes discounts the value of privately held companies.) The pair declined to comment on Forbes’ estimates but Dubugras did speak with Forbes about his startup’s path to success.   



The young fintech has made a name for itself with a corporate credit card tailored to the needs of startups. It remains Brex’s marquee product, and the interchange fees merchants pay when employees swipe Brex’s cards constitute nearly all of the company’s revenue. In recent years, Brex has also launched new software offerings like an expense management product and a business bill pay feature: “If you get an invoice in your email, you can just forward it to us and boom, it gets paid,” Dubugras tells&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;on a Zoom call from his home office in Los Angeles. In May, the company rolled out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ninabambysheva/2021/05/12/brex-partners-with-coinbase-and-travelbank-to-launch-bitcoin-and-ether-rewards-program-for-businesses/?sh=9a2e593145a9">one of the first crypto rewards programs for corporations</a>.



Brex is not the only business attempting to disrupt the stodgy, spreadsheet-centric world of B2B payments. Today, its rivals include startup Ramp (founded in 2019 and valued at almost $4 billion after an August funding round) and publicly traded Bill.com (valued at some $21 billion),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizahaverstock/2021/05/04/billcom-is-set-to-acquire-utah-billion-dollar-software-startup-divvy/?sh=6845e24d3915">which bought expense reporting software fintech Divvy</a>&nbsp;for $2.5 billion last spring. But Brex has been able to attract a deluge of venture capital by offering a suite of products that extend beyond the corporate credit card. Dubugras maintains that he’s not too worried about competition.&nbsp;



“The market is pretty big, and I think that there&#8217;s space for a lot of people,” he says. “Most B2B payments are still paper- and check-based.”



The 1,000-person startup can credit its existence to a lively Twitter exchange in December 2012 between Dubugras and Franceschi about the nuances of coding tools. At the time, they were high school seniors living in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, respectively. The 140-character tweet cap hindered the debate, so the two teens hopped on Skype to discuss further.&nbsp;



“On Skype, we couldn&#8217;t fight that much and became best friends,” says Dubugras.&nbsp;



In 2013, the pals launched a startup called Pagar.me that allowed Brazilian merchants to accept online payments. It was a 150-person outfit by the time they sold it three years later to a larger Brazil-based payments fintech called Stone. Dubugras won’t share the pair’s take, but says it was enough to pay for college—he and Franceschi are both Stanford computer science dropouts—and stow away some savings.&nbsp;



For their next act, the pair initially wanted to build bank accounts for U.S.-based startups, but settled on corporate credit cards as a more attainable route. (“What business would trust their money to these random 22-year-old Brazilians?” chuckles Dubugras. “With corporate cards…we were giving them money instead of asking for their own money.”) Dubugras and Franceschi founded Brex in 2017 after quitting Stanford in the spring of their freshman year and, two years later, both earned spots on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/brex/?sh=40fecfa71fbb">Forbes’&nbsp;30 Under 30 Finance list</a>. By then, Brex had raised $213 million and was valued at $1.1 billion. In 2019, Brex also rolled out its take on the business bank accounts that had enthralled its founders from the start. (Brex is not a chartered bank itself, so it partners with LendingClub or JPMorgan Chase for the accounts.)&nbsp;



All told, the duo has secured more than $1.1 billion in venture money from the likes of Tiger Global Management, Peter Thiel and Affirm founder Max Levchin. The company says its revenue more than doubled over the past 12 months, though it won’t share specifics or comment on profitability; private markets data provider PitchBook estimates Brex generated about $320 million in revenue for 2021. Dubugras says that Brex counts “tens of thousands” of corporate customers today, including the likes of Carta and Classpass.&nbsp;



The startup wants to keep the ball rolling in the new year. With $300 million in fresh funding, Brex aims to increase its headcount by at least 50% while also keeping cash in the coffers in case there’s a market downturn. Brex originally set out to serve startups, but Dubugras says mid-market firms account for more than 60% of its customer base today. In 2022, he hopes to reel in large corporations as well.



“I think it&#8217;s easy for people to think that we&#8217;re already successful,” he says. “We are, and we aren’t. We&#8217;re obviously happy about what we’ve achieved, but there&#8217;s so much more to come.”



By Eliza Haverstock, Forbes Staff

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Two Friends Who Met On Twitter In High School Are Latest Under-30 Billionaires

Life has a way of imitating art. For Ifan Ifeanyi Michael, it has been the other way round. The Nigerian celebrity stylist, actor and filmmaker has come a long way from the destitute 10-year- old he once was.



IFAN IFEANYI Michael starts narrating his life story on a Zoom call from Lagos, Nigeria. A call girl, sexual abuse&#8230; and it unravels in ways that could put to shame movie scripts. But that’s how this Nigerian actor, director and brand consultant traversed seemingly impossible odds to become the success he is today.



A FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list-maker in 2021and recipient of the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Michael, at this interview, talks about what shaped his life, and is overwhelmed with emotions reliving some of the most traumatic episodes from his childhood.



He just cannot shake them off.



“I was sexually abused by a barber because I needed a place to stay and I did not want to be thrown out on the streets. But still, I was kicked out of the house at 1AM in the morning,” Michael says starkly.



Today, he is a living testament that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. He left his home in Port Harcourt in Nigeria at the age of 10 to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker in Lagos.



“I came to Lagos to meet a marketer to sell my story to him. When I got to Lagos, his phone was switched off and I couldn’t reach him&#8230; I didn’t think I was going to be duped. I was excited to showcase my work,” says Michael.



He was left stranded but made his way to a popular hotel in Lagos frequented by the film fraternity, hoping to find someone who would believe in his script and help him actualize his dream.



“It was just survival for me. I had nowhere to go. Am I going back to my parents’ two-room where there was seven of us, or who am I going to call?”



He vividly remembers some of the older passengers on the bus to Lagos, who asked where his parents were even as he prayed fervently that they would not take him back home.



Once in Lagos, there was no turning back for young Michael. He had to make things work. He bumped into a lady who was working as a call girl who luckily took him in and provided him a temporary place to stay.



“In the morning, she would bring us in to sleep and in the afternoon, we left so she could get ready for her clients. She felt sorry for me because I was very young. There were times I was not even eating,” recalls Michael.



During the day, he would go to every audition in town to land roles as an extra to make ends meet. He believed the only way to fulfill his dream of becoming a filmmaker was to have more grit and tenacity than the other dreamers who wanted to make it in Nollywood.



“The money was really bad at that time but it was good for food and daily expenses. I used to move all over the place to audition for different roles until I got my first break. I reached out to the producer of the movie and told him how passionate I was. He told me he had someone else for the role. So, I looked for his address and traveled all the way to find him and I told him and he was so surprised.



“I didn’t even have a way to go back home so he let me sleep in his place and that morning he gave me the script for The Evangelist and that was my biggest break in acting,” says Michael.



The hustle didn’t stop there. Michael also began doing public relations for upcoming music artists by taking their CDs to the local marketplace to create awareness about them. The PR hustle landed him a lucrative gig with a new hotel that gave him the capital he needed to finally realize his ambition of becoming a filmmaker. 



Lotana, his first feature film, tells the story of a young man who discovers he has to offset a huge debt to a loan shark owed by his father before his sudden death.



Michael admits he has no educational background, but managed to carve out a niche in the Nigerian entertainment industry with nothing but determination.



And he has many roles.



As a fashion stylist, he has worked with some of the top celebrities in Lagos. He is also the founder of a publicity management company dedicated to the media and entertainment industry.



“The dream even at that time has always been to live my truth in terms of bringing my vision to life. I know I wanted to be an actor and filmmaker and tell stories and let my story influence people as well. I see things and approach situations differently so it has been a major motivation. Everything that I went through I just knew I was unstoppable,” says Michael.



Lotana was released in 2016 and went on to win 10 awards out of 13 nominations at the Golden Movie Awards in Ghana. In 2020 too, he won big for his film Foreigner’s God. With his eyes firmly set on his next feature film, he is one of the inspirational young film talents in Nollywood.



The show must go on.

Ifan

The NOLLYWOOD Actor Living His Truth

How The Provocative Musician Is Taking New Risks To Build Her&nbsp;Career.



<abbr>M</abbr>iley Cyrus knows how to make a statement.&nbsp;As she lounges on a shag carpet in her Los Angeles basement during a video interview with&nbsp;Forbes, the 29-year-old star reflects on a career that’s taken her from a namesake role in the Disney series&nbsp;Hannah Montana&nbsp;at 13 to her current status as one the top recording artists of her generation.



“One thing I&#8217;m very proud of is that I started my business before I started my period,” says Cyrus. “And now, I’ve performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, inducted Joan Jett into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—all on my period. It has never gotten in the way of me being a businesswoman.”&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><a href="https://www.forbesmagazine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/61b031896cefa86778eb895a/122021-Covers-stripped-3-miley/0x0.gif?fit=scale" alt="122021_Covers_stripped-3-miley" width="472" height="619"/></a><figcaption>By Forbes </figcaption></figure></div>



When most stars talk about career highs, they don’t point out which ones coincided with their menstrual cycle. Then again, they’re not Miley Cyrus. Diehard fans already know Cyrus’ story about how got her first period nearly 15 years ago while performing in white pants on the set of&nbsp;Hannah Montana. She shared the story as a way to connect with fans—she has more than 150 million of them on Instagram alone—not shock them. What could be more emblematic of growing up in the public eye?



The series helped Cyrus earn $134 million by the time she hit 18, according to&nbsp;Forbes’&nbsp;estimates. But it also didn’t define her, as she has since released eight studio albums that range from psychedelic rock to country-hip-hop.



Cyrus is now taking more control of her entertainment career and platforms. In May, she struck an estimated $40 million deal with NBCUniversal that brings her back to television with three specials, as well as other projects and first looks at content created by Hopetown Entertainment, her production company with mother Tish Cyrus. She has also partnered with telehealth company Hims &amp; Hers, taking an equity stake and creative role in the Hers skincare line. That’s in addition to a slate of endorsement deals with brands like Gucci, as well as angel investments, new entertainment projects and moves to better control her fan experience with the relaunch of her fan website MileyWorld.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large">“If I know there’s going to be a greater reward by taking a greater risk, usually I’ll do it.” says Cyrus, combing her fingers through her bleached-blonde hair. “I do that with everything—my business, my relationships, with love, with life.”&nbsp;</blockquote>



Like Madonna, whom she considers one of her idols, Cyrus knows how to leverage her raw talent, risk-taking inclination and public persona to keep fans, press and industry executives engaged. For many millennials, memories of Cyrus swinging naked on her “Wrecking Ball” video in 2013 or rubbing up against singer Robin Thicke in a latex bra and panties at the Video Music Awards that year are as integrated into their memories as flared jeans, flip phones and tuning into the Disney Channel to watch Cyrus as Hannah Montana. The outrage certainly helped draw attention to her album&nbsp;Bangerz,&nbsp;which went triple platinum and earned Cyrus her a Grammy nomination, as well as a spot on&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;2014 30 Under 30 Music list.&nbsp;



After making millions from&nbsp;Bangerz,&nbsp;Cyrus skirted her label and released&nbsp;Miley Cyrus &amp; Her Dead Petz. A collaboration with Flaming Lips’ frontman Wayne Coyne, she initially published the psychedelic album straight to SoundCloud for fans to hear for free. Rather than stick with a winning formula, she wanted to shake it up.



“If I know there’s going to be a greater reward by taking a greater risk, usually I’ll do it.” says Cyrus, combing her fingers through her bleached-blonde hair. “I do that with everything—my business, my relationships, with love, with life.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



What drives her is a hardwired love of music. Born to country music star Billy Ray Cyrus and producer Tish Cyrus in Nashville with Dolly Parton as her godmother, Cyrus grew up steeped in the music industry. While some critics dismiss Cyrus as more of a publicity seeker than a singer/songwriter, producer Mark Ronson considers her a rare talent who’s in the same league as other singers he’s worked with, from Amy Winehouse to Lady Gaga. Ronson co-wrote and co-performed what became the triple-platinum song&nbsp; “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” alongside Cyrus. “She’s so brutally, blatantly honest about her life and, combine that with her voice, that’s why she has over 150 million people worshiping her,” says Ronson. “All the great ones, especially the really big ones, they’ve got their pain out there for the world to see.”&nbsp;



Cyrus certain shares her pain. She has talked about feeling exploited at times and is open about her struggles with anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug use. She lost her Malibu home to a wildfire in 2018 and her short-lived marriage to longtime beau Liam Hemsworth a year later. Within days of announcing her breakup, she was photographed kissing actress Kaitlynn Carter. Cyrus later declared herself to be pansexual or attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender identity.



These days Cyrus presents a more introspective and tranquil version of herself, experimenting with music and philanthropy rather than drugs and partying. Queer causes, displacement and her enormous platform inspired her to start Happy Hippie Foundation in 2015 to provide education, employment and support services to homeless and at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. “People are going to talk about me: What can I get them to talk about that actually makes a difference?” asks Cyrus. “People talking about me dressing up as a teddy bear and shaking my ass doesn’t do anything. Starting Happy Hippie, and it being around six years later, has been the proudest moment of my career.”



The pandemic also brought her back to the world of TV. In March of 2020, she started the Instagram Live series “Bright Minded,” in which she chatted with guests like Elton John and Senator Elizabeth Warren while featuring pets, makeup tutorials and a spotlight on social causes. In May of this year, she announced a deal with NBCUniversal for three specials and other potential projects that&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;estimates to be worth $40 million. First out of the gate: NBC Peacock’s first-ever Pride special that promoted LGBTQ+ causes, along with Cyrus singing a rendition of Cher’s “Believe” in a sequin outfit, flanked by drag queens. All of this helped Cyrus earn a spot in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2022/hall-of-fame">Forbes&nbsp;Under 30 Hall of Fame</a>.&nbsp;



While Cyrus is still not shy, these days fans are more likely to see her showing off her spotless skin in ads for telehealth company Hims &amp; Hers as part of a deal that gives her an equity stake and creative role in the Hers skincare line than twerking. That’s in addition to a slate of endorsement deals with brands like Gucci, as well as angel investments in companies like Fanmade, an agency cofounded by her marketing and digital head (and fellow&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/olivia-rudensky/?sh=3a06e14c6987">Forbes&nbsp;30 Under 30</a>) Olivia Rudensky. Among other things, Cyrus wants to build out a direct-to-fan site that keeps the trolls and tech billionaires from profiting from her following. That means investing in MileyWorld, the fan site her mother started during her Disney days to create a safe space for Cyrus to engage with her audience. Content ideas range from adding everything from Miley-guided meditation to exclusive performance videos. “I want to have my own land,” says Cyrus. “I want people to know they are in the power position with these platforms—platforms are not in the power position; we’re taking the power back.”



For Cyrus, the most important piece of land these days is the one in her front yard that’s home to the Airstream trailer where records her music. If the shag-covered basement is where she focuses on building the brand, the trailer is where she feeds her soul, creating and recording new music, including her 2020 rock album&nbsp;Plastic Hearts. It’s a place she goes every day and one that she guards for herself. When asked what musical genre she is exploring at the moment, Cyrus will only say, “I love the soft side of rock that is more vulnerable.” Whether that will result in music that skews more to her country or rock instincts is, of course, up to her. She’ll create on her own time—and on her own terms. “I’m happy to be all the things that people need me to be,” says Cyrus. “As long as I’m all the things that I need me to be first.”



By Alexandra Sternlicht, Forbes Staff



Additional reporting by&nbsp;Lisette Voytko&nbsp;and&nbsp;Abigail Freeman.

10th Annual LACMA ART+FILM GALA Presented By Gucci

Miley Cyrus Is A Rebel For Her Own Cause

Antonio Depina went from shooting hoops to shooting up the corporate ladder. The soft-spoken entrepreneur from Cape Verde is making it rain in business.



“Someone has to do it, so I am always like &#8216;ok I’ll do it’,” says Antonio Depina, who is not your average 26-year-old from the warm tropical West African island of Cape Verde.



The 2021 FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list-maker known for his mobile app bringing talented professional basketball players closer to their dreams, especially in Africa, is now also launching a ride-hailing app named Zoomly.



Born in Wilmington, also known as the corporate capital of America, and the largest downtown in the state of Delaware, the concept of Africa was never foreign to him. Depina jokes that because his father is Cape Verdean and his mother Liberian, West Africa has always coursed through his veins.



“Both my parents have always said that I must come back to Africa. They always said that once I have established myself in America I have to go be a part of the change in Africa,&#8221; Depina says to FORBES AFRICA. “But I didn’t know I would end up wanting to be a part of creating solutions for not only my country (Cape Verde) but also the whole continent.”



Depina believes that he is an American with the African dream to ensure that he can be part of solutions to problems on the continent.



“Africa just sort of pulled me in, pulled me here,” he adds.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_4653-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51311" width="324" height="486" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_4653-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_4653-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_4653-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_4653-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_4653-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_4653-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px" /><figcaption>Photo by Motlabana Monnakgotla</figcaption></figure></div>



But it is because of his deeply-rooted love and respect for Africa that Depina is now adamant about building his legacy around the upliftment of Africa and her people.



In April 2020, in a small room in Delaware, Depina started his first company, Overseas Basketball Connection (OBC) with the vision of bringing talented professional basketball players closer to their dreams, especially in Africa. The mobile app connects with pro-basketball teams worldwide without the use of an agent.



“I was doing anything possible to be able to afford and create the OBC mobile app. I door-dashed, Amazon-Flexed, sold controllers out of the trunk of my car; whatever hustle I could do to make the money for marketing and developing the app. There were so many disappointments from developers that I eventually coded and created it myself. I had every reason to give up,” Depina says.



It was also his vision to become a part of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list.



In June 2021, Depina made the list and was part of the cover of the magazine. He says this has been the highlight of his year.



“My life has changed a lot especially in the sense of recognition. Being on the FORBES AFRICA’s 30 Under 30 list kind of brought the attention of different investors, and you get respect from different



entrepreneurs across the continent. And not only the continent, but the world. Having that FORBES brand on your back and on your business kind of propels you and your business to another level.”



The former basketball player and Netflix reality star decided to start Zoomly out of pure personal need: “I was going out one night and realized ‘damn, why is it taking so long for me get a cab’.”



Part of the reason why Depina wanted to build the e-hailing app was also to break stereotypes that other parts of the world may have about Africa not being part of the digital realm.



“I was blessed to be born in America, which is very developed similar to South Africa. I was impressed by South Africa when I visited the country. I was like, ‘oh, my gosh, you guys have Pizza Hut and Uber and all these things’. That&#8217;s not the side of Africa we learned about in school in America, to be honest&#8230; I don&#8217;t blame people in America, I blame the education system because we didn&#8217;t learn these things. We were not taught that Africa is a booming economy and that Africa&#8217;s about to blow up. I think it’s going to be the next greatest continent.”



Depina believes that the future of business and growth lies in Africa and it starts with wanting to create solutions for the continent.



“My passion for tech came from seeing everything that was in America and then coming to Africa and seeing what was needed, and saying I can make a solution to that.”



Zoomly will be launched on December 18 in Cape Verde only and with a plan to expand into different parts of Africa where transport is not heavily prioritized.



“Accessibility will be a problem but in Cape Verde, I think we are lucky because about 80% of households have smartphones and about 60% have Wi-Fi access,” Depina explains.



Living with “no regrets”, Depina wants this business to leap and score not just for profits but for the development of the African economy and for helping those in need.



“I am not someone who starts businesses solely for money, I only start companies that help people,” Depina says. “For the first few months, I&#8217;m kind of sacrificing profit for growth. I am not looking to make millions in the first few months, I&#8217;m looking to see as many users as possible.”

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The Basketball Player Enjoying The Ride In Business

South Africa’s emerging animation industry has a new star in creative entrepreneur Lwazi Msipha, who has just debuted a first-of-its-kind African cartoon show on a global network. 



IMAGINE IF YOU COULD DRAW AND CREATE your own friends. Self-taught South African animator, Lwazi Msipha, did exactly that, in the process, making himself several friends around the world.



The 27-year-old is the owner and creative director of Old Fashioned Youngin, and the animator behind My Cartoon Friend, a South African cartoon that debuted this year on American cable television’s Cartoon Network.



“I used to love watching the channel growing up. And I always wanted to be on the credits. But now seeing a show that I created [on there] is definitely one of my proudest moments,” Msipha tells FORBES AFRICA.



From Boksburg, on the East Rand of South Africa’s Gauteng province, Msipha grew up inspired by the shows on Cartoon Network such as Courage the Cowardly Dog and Dragon Ball Z on local channel SABC.



Early on, these influenced him to want to pursue animation – a profession unheard of back in the day – and he laid out the initial blueprint for his career, by drawing cartoons using flipbook animations.



“I love seeing my characters come to life. And that was the spark for me. I was like, ‘this is what I want to do, I want to create, I want to see my animations’,” says Msipha.



With support from his mother who encouraged him to pursue the art form, he was able to give shape and form to his dreams after graduating in 2017. He started out as a graphic designer but quit as he wanted to venture into animation full-time.



He began creating cartoons on social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok until he won the 2019 Digital Lab Africa pitching competition.



This opportunity led to the beginnings of one of Africa’s first original hybrid comedy shows, My Cartoon Friend.



<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile" style="grid-template-columns:28% auto"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-Ariane-Suveg-2020-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-53231 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-Ariane-Suveg-2020-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-Ariane-Suveg-2020-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-Ariane-Suveg-2020-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-Ariane-Suveg-2020-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-Ariane-Suveg-2020-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-Ariane-Suveg-2020.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large">The content in itself was really interesting. And very clear, with a real promise. – Ariane Suveg</blockquote>
</div></div>



The show portrays Msipha as an animator who plays around with animation software and creates a cartoon character named Themba who magically materializes in real life. Themba becomes his friend and Msipha teaches him to navigate the real world as there are certain things he can’t do as a cartoon.



This interaction unravels a comical repertoire as they embark on adventures together.



But in real life, as Msipha observes, the production work was anything but fun and games.



There’s a lot of toil that goes on behind the scenes, from pre-production and script-writing to character design, dubbing and editing.



Unlike animation for adults, writing for kids is challenging, as the educational nuances and the language used become important.



According to Msipha, it can take approximately five months of pre- production and planning to produce a two-minute episode.



Ariane Suveg, the Kids Content Director for France, Africa &amp; Israel, WarnerMedia, which houses the Cartoon Network brand, was one of those who saw Msipha’s potential.



“I think it [My Cartoon Friend] is a really good example for other young animators in Africa,” she tells FORBES AFRICA over Zoom from France.



“Regarding the fact that we don’t have enough African content on air, it was a time when we were thinking, ‘well, we need fun stuff on air, we need to be creative, we need to do something that we didn’t do before’,” she says.



Msipha’s show was just the continental content they were looking for.



“Also, the content in itself was really interesting, and very clear, with a real promise,” she adds.



While Msipha is the show’s producer and animator, Cartoon Network came on board as the financier. Global networks are always searching for African talent and content, but it isn’t always easy finding them.



“It’s not so easy, because I think from both sides, we don’t necessarily know each other and the African talents don’t necessarily know how to get in touch with us. For me, it’s about time to spend to build the bridges between the creators who don’t necessarily have the networks or connections,” Suveg adds.



There aren’t many animation schools in Africa either, helping young creatives break into the industry.



Additionally, Msipha says there is still a gap in terms of certain stories being told.



“[I think] African spiritually is definitely something that needs to be told more of. It’s the one thing that sets Africa apart from the rest of the globe. That is definitely something that needs to be explored.”



Msipha hopes the young girls and boys who watch his show are inspired.



“It’s ultimately inspiring to watch them see something they can resonate [with], like, ‘oh, this character looks like me, this character is in my hometown, and I know that building’! How exciting is that!”



“I’m really convinced that African stories are bringing something different that is expected elsewhere,” says Suveg.



“I think there are a lot of values that we can see in your stories that do not exist elsewhere. From my side, I see values of optimism, friendship, community and that is a positive way to see life,” she says.



“There is also something beautiful talking about sharing dreams, and with this kind of energy that you don’t necessarily see in Europe or the western countries. So it’s really new,” Suveg says.



Msipha’s future plans are to grow the South African animation industry and create programs for African animators to develop their skills and make animation more accessible as an industry.



He drew his way to success, and for the others, the drawing board beckons.



<h2 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-animation-action">Animation Action</h2>



Despite the institutional challenges, the past few years have seen a trend in more African animation making it to mainstream platforms. Nigerian animator, Ridwan Moshood, garnered a contract with Cartoon Network for his show, Garbage Boy and Trash Can.



Disney too is set to release an African show called Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, a 10-part anthology crafted by filmmakers from Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt.



Additionally, pan-African entertainment company Kugali has created an animation series titled Iwaju, which Disney announced a partnership with. Two other South African animations are set to be released – Kiff by Lucy Heavens and Nic Small and Kiya and The Kimoja Heroes by Kelly Dillon and Marc Dey.



All these pockets of African creativity bring great encouragement for animators to enter the global scene and advance the representation of African cartoon characters in mainstream media.

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Lights, Camera, Animation: The Self-taught African Animator Behind The New Cartoon Network Show

Dylan Diamond first built the app in high school to help his friends coordinate their schedules.



In October 2015, the halls of Westport, Connecticut’s Staples High School looked like those of any other well-to-do American school, abuzz with 1,800 students rushing from class to study hall to extracurricular activities. But while other schools’ teens connected through Snapchat and Instagram, Staples’ entire student body was hooked on what would become Saturn, a social calendar app built by junior Dylan Diamond. 



“People would send around pictures of their schedules and say, ‘Hey, are you in my class?’ They’d send around these ad hoc spreadsheets, group chats and posts; there was no coherent solution,” says Diamond, now 22 years old. “So I created a Web app just for my school that showed me where my friends were and what was going on in the community.” That app became Saturn, named after the Roman god of time. High schoolers use Saturn to manage their calendars,&nbsp; learn about community happenings, chat with friends, see their calendars and real-time whereabouts.



Diamond graduated from Staples in 2017 and enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied engineering and business. On the side, he developed Tesla Toolbox, an app for Tesla drivers to control their vehicles from Apple Watches and share drive data—he describes this as Strava for the Tesla community. Tesla discovered the app and hired Diamond as the company’s youngest full-time employee. Though his weekly commutes from Philadelphia to San Francisco prevented Diamond from having much of a social life, fellow Whartonite Max Baron, who was similarly running a full-time social media consultancy with buy-in from Dr. Dre and Snapchat, messaged Diamond on LinkedIn to connect about business opportunities.&nbsp;



Over coffee on Penn’s campus, Diamond showed Baron Saturn—which he’d subsequently turned in a mobile app-—and Baron was floored. “It was very obvious to me that the slope of whatever we could build together was much higher than whatever I could find in either a classroom or commercial setting.” With Baron as COO and CSO and Diamond as CEO, in 2019 the two closed a $9 million seed round from TQ Ventures, General Catalyst and Ashton Kutcher, propelling their pre-revenue company to a $40 million valuation. After Diamond won a Thiel Fellowship in 2020, the two dropped out of college to build Saturn into what they say will be the next Facebook.&nbsp;



Today, the company announced it’s raised an additional $35 million, bringing total funding to $44 million, led by General Catalyst, Insight Partners and Coatue, with participation from Bezos Expeditions, Marc Benioff, Dara Khosrowshahi, Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures, Inspired Capital, Mike Vernal, TQ Ventures, SV Angel, Dick Costolo and Adam Bain’s 01 Advisors, Robert Downey Jr., Elad Gil, Jerry Murdock, Hadi Partovi and Dylan Field.&nbsp;



“Dylan [Diamond] is a prodigy in many ways,” says Alexa von Tobel, founder and managing partner of Inspired Capital. “When you see data like Saturn’s, it honestly reminds me of my days as a Harvard undergrad—Mark Zuckerberg was a classmate—and I remember what the early adoption of Facebook felt like, when the user base is not only demanding, but thirsty for the product.”



Though Saturn declined to share metrics on its user base, at present, a few hundred schools use Saturn to manage their social and academic calendars, message students and work through homework and extracurricular to-do lists within the platform. Saturn brings high schools into its orbit by hiring unpaid student ambassadors, a strategy meant to make it feel by and for students, rather than administrators.&nbsp;



Though the cofounders have attracted a slate of blue-chip investors, the company has no monetization model—or plan to move beyond high school users—at present. “There are a lot of things in play, but to be honest, [monetization] is not our immediate priority at the moment,” says Baron, who is more focused on retention and engagement. Investors are banking on Saturn becoming the next great social network, and in such a reality, monetization is light-years away. For context, Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook in 2004, but did not attempt to generate revenue until 2012.&nbsp;



“When you invest in things like Twitter, which I did when it was only 30 people, we had no idea how we’re going to make money,” says Insight Partners’ cofounder Jerry Murdock, who led the round, but invested as an individual. “Within something that has a high degree of engagement, and you see there’s a lot of utility, there’s an implied sense that monetization will be there when you need to get there.”&nbsp;



The SoHo, New York-based company plans to use much of its $44 million injection to pay its 30 employees and hire to fill 13 new roles. “If we double down on performance and make sure that Saturn can scale flawlessly to thousands of schools,” says Diamond. “There’s a lot of work ahead, but we’re excited about where we are.”



By Alexandra Sternlicht, Forbes Staff

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Social Calendar Platform Saturn Raises $44 Million From Benioff, Bezos, And Von Tobel, Among Others

After an injury stymied Brandon Fleming’s Liberty University basketball career, he dropped out to earn a living as an assembly line worker in Atlanta, Georgia. After attempting suicide, he was determined to turn his life around. 



He re-enrolled at Liberty University on a full-ride despite having a middle school-level reading comprehension. Fleming, however, only passed his courses only by cheating. His English professor caught Fleming cheating; rather than flunk him, she forced him to redo the assignment—by her side over the course of multiple months. In the process, she taught him to read and write, exposing him to Black authors like Malcolm X and Frederick Douglass. 



As a side hustle, he coached a debate team at an inner city Atlanta middle school. After the team became undefeated national champions, Harvard recruited him to coach their debate team. In turn, Fleming founded the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project, which recruits highly motivated Black youth from Atlanta and trains them through a year-long debate residency with Harvard that culminates in competition against top-ranked debaters from 25 countries. So far, the three cohorts Fleming has trained since the program’s 2017 inception have won the prestigious national Harvard Debate Tournament. This month, Hachette Books published&nbsp;Miseducated, Fleming’s memoir.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">From drug dealer to Harvard educator, here&#39;s why Brandon Fleming believes heart-first teaching is key to racial equality: <a href="https://t.co/rjUzXo228v">https://t.co/rjUzXo228v</a> <a href="https://t.co/TfANQxjonk">pic.twitter.com/TfANQxjonk</a>&mdash; Forbes (@Forbes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Forbes/status/1408475118007902214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Forbes&nbsp;spoke with Fleming about his childhood, plans to open the first truly equitable boarding school and heart-first teaching.&nbsp;



Alexandra Sternlicht:&nbsp;Tell me about how you ended up in debate.&nbsp;



Brandon Fleming:&nbsp;I didn’t know that Black people were scholars. In the world that I existed in, there were nothing but Black gangsters and Black drug dealers and Black athletes. When my professor introduced me to Black writers, she opened up this world in which I never knew there was space for me. I just became hungry for more. I started watching movies and reading books about Black scholars. I was Googling movies similar to&nbsp;Malcolm X&nbsp;and found another movie starring Denzel Washington about a Black teacher. It’s called the&nbsp;Great Debaters, and it changed my life forever. I was like, “If only this was a real thing.”&nbsp;



I grew up an athlete, and I got hurt. I had nowhere to direct my competitive drive. So now I was like, ‘You can be competitive in smart stuff?’ So I came to find out it was a real thing, and that my college had a debate team—and then I tried out and made the team. I was so captivated by debate because it was not only helping me learn but discovering my voice and identity.&nbsp;



Sternlicht:&nbsp;You made the&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;30 Under 30 list as the founder of the Harvard Diversity Project. Are you still involved in that?



Fleming:&nbsp;Absolutely. I always wonder why I was the one who made it out of the ‘hood because there are so many people out there who never made it out. In fact, most of them never made it out. Some of them aren&#8217;t even alive anymore. When I made it from the hood to Harvard, I knew that my being there had to be far bigger than just me. I realized the reason I was there was to build a bridge—to create access for more people who look like me.



For three consecutive years, every group of students that I recruited and trained in Atlanta through the Harvard Diversity Project—every single one of them won the Harvard Debate Tournament. It shows the world that it’s bigger than debate. It shows the world that anything Black and Brown people have not achieved is not due to ability; it’s only due to access.&nbsp;



Sternlicht:&nbsp;From your own drive and from encountering some amazing mentors, you’ve had incredible success—all through education. Do you think that the education system is the main way to achieve racial equity?&nbsp;



Fleming:&nbsp;When we look at the plight of American education, it’s not a policy issue. It’s a heart issue. The reason is that we don’t understand that the way we create a more equitable world is through empathetic education. What does it look like? It looks exactly like what that professor did for me, which is meeting me where I was.&nbsp;



English did not change me. Academics did not change me. Love is what changed me. Empathy is what changed me.&nbsp;



The reason I wrote this book [Miseducated] is because we can’t reach people that we don’t understand. When we talk about reaching at-risk youth, that’s how we can reach them: love them first and teach them second. Once we learn how to do that, education will transform.&nbsp;



Sternlicht:&nbsp;How do you think educators and academic institutions can institute heart into their curriculum?&nbsp;



Fleming:&nbsp;We have to understand emotional learning. It goes beyond intellectual intelligence. You can’t be concerned with reaching the mind and not reaching the heart. We have to meet them where they are—that’s the definition of equity. It’s what that professor did for me: being willing to go the extra mile above the call of duty.&nbsp;



The other part of it is culturally relevant teaching. When my professor wanted to teach me to read and write, she didn’t go back to William Faulkner or F. Scott Fitzgerald. She understood the importance of culture and representation. That’s the definition of culturally relevant teaching: it’s marrying our agenda with their interests.&nbsp;



Young people are not disinterested. Young people are not disengaged. It’s easier for us to say they’re disinterested because that negates our responsibility.&nbsp;



English did not change me. Academics did not change me. Love is what changed me. Empathy is what changed me.&nbsp;Brandon Fleming



Sternlicht:&nbsp;What is the role of higher education in this system?



Fleming:&nbsp;One role higher education can play is creating equitable summer programming, which is what we’re doing at Harvard. We’re giving access to Black and Brown students because the other option is to leave these kids to fend for themselves.&nbsp;



Sternlicht:&nbsp;How do you think your impact will be most felt? Through your book? Through Harvard? Or other sorts of career things?&nbsp;



Fleming:&nbsp;I can let you in on something I haven’t shared with many others. If I have discovered the tool that levels the playing field for marginalized people, it means I have a responsibility to get that tool in the hands of as many people as possible, and I can’t do that at Harvard. Right now, I am in the process of building a school that is called the Veritas School of Social Sciences. It’s going to be the most equitable school in the world. It’s going to be a boarding school for people of color. It’s in Atlanta, Georgia and the development is already underway. We plan to open the school in either the fall of 2023 or 2024.&nbsp;



Sternlicht:&nbsp;You mentioned over email that your book is being optioned for a movie?&nbsp;



Fleming:&nbsp;Yes, it is! There’s not much I can share—only because now we’re negotiating with different production companies and studios to determine which contract we want to sign.&nbsp;



This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 



By Alexandra Sternlicht, Forbes Staff

Screenshot 2021-06-30 at 15.24.11

From Drug Dealer To Harvard Educator: Why Brandon Fleming Believes Heart-First Teaching Is Key To Racial Equality

So what would a historic pandemic year throw up? Ground-breaking entrepreneurs and thinkers. Our 2021 class of Under 30s are just that: influential creatives, imaginative business owners, innovative techies and gifted sports stars. Celebrating seven years of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list, Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA, speaks to the cover stars headlining the list and representing their cohorts from across the African continent. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Panel Conversation With The 2021 FORBES AFRICA Under 30 Cover Stars" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SOlvp8FTxNM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div><figcaption>Video edited by Chanel Retief </figcaption></figure>



And they are Mihlali Ndamase, a creative and digital influencer from South Africa, Reinhard Mahalie, the founder of RM Fashion Styling in Namibia, Cleo Johnson, the founder of Nuecleo in South Africa, Shakemore Timburwa, the founder of Energy Plus in Zimbabwe, and Antonio Depina, the founder of Overseas Basketball Connection based in Cape Verde.



<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2021/06/11/class-of-2021-change-makers-in-a-historic-year/">Read more about the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 Class of 2021 </a>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_5029-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51313" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_5029-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_5029-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_5029-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_5029-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_5029-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_5029-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption>Photo by Motlabana Monnakgotla</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2 id="h-what-to-look-out-for">What To Look Out For</h2>



Our FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 curators, Karen Mwendera, Chanel Retief and Simone Umraw will have be in conversation with some of the changemakers who made the Class of 2021 on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/forbesafrica/">Instagram</a>. Stay tuned for more!

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Panel: In Conversation With The 2021 FORBES AFRICA Under 30 Cover Stars

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CLASS OF 2021 Change-Makers In A Historic Year

Members of this year’s list of under 30s have one thing in common: A NEW COVID-INDUCED AGENDA FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. So what would a historic pandemic year throw up? ground-breaking entrepreneurs and thinkers. Our 2021 class of under 30s are just that: INFLUENTIAL CREATIVES, IMAGINATIVE BUSINESS OWNERS, INNOVATIVE TECHIES, AND GIFTED SPORTS STARS. Celebrating seven years of the FORBES AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 LIST, these achievers prove that now more than ever,&nbsp; they are crucial to the AFRICAN GROWTH STORY.



<h4 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-the-under-30-team">THE UNDER 30 TEAM</h4>



Words: Karen Mwendera, Chanel Retief, Simone Umraw Art Director: Lucy Nkosi Photographer: Motlabana Monnakgotla Retouching: Newkatz Studio Styling: Keabetswe Mafora; Outfits supplied by: Spero Villioti, Viviers Studio, Sisi the Collection, GertJohan Coetzee, Port of LNG, Amen Concepts, Europa Art Studio: Light Station Studio, Johannesburg | Hair &amp; Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty



FORBES AFRICA finds out how some of the members of the CLASS of 2021 reacted when they found out that they made the most coveted list in Africa!



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&quot;How did you feel when you find out you made the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 Class of 2021&quot;" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z_ov0N5zlXU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



EXTERNAL JUDGES: THE CATEGORY EXPERTS WHOSE ROLE WAS TO SURVEY ALL THE FINALISTS OF THE 2021 30 UNDER 30 LIST, RANK THEM AND PROVIDE COMMENTARY ON EACH CANDIDATE.



BUSINESS: Nigerian businesswoman Uche Pedro, the founder, and CEO of BellaNaija, a media-tech brand known for its entertainment and lifestyle content. She has been in the business game for over 15 years, collecting numerous local and international accolades along the way including making the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA 50 Most Powerful Women list in 2020.



TECHNOLOGY: Olugbenga Agboola, the cofounder and CEO of Flutterwave, an African fintech firm building digital payments infrastructure. He has contributed to the development of fintech solutions at several tech companies and financial institutions such as PayPal, Standard Bank, among others. Flutterwave recently raised $170 million, giving it ‘unicorn’ status with a value of over $1 billion.



CREATIVES: Dr John Kani, a South African actor, author, director, and playwright known for his roles in Marvel movies Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther as well as The Lion King. In addition, Kani is also the Founder of the Market Theatre LaboratoryAcademy, chair of the Apartheid Museum South Africa, patron and Ambassador of the Market Theatre, and Trustee for the WWFNedbank Green Trust.



SPORTS: Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, a Zimbabwean-born professional rugby player who plays for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby and previously for the South African national team and the Sharks in Super Rugby. With 117 caps, he is the most capped prop in South African history and the third most-capped Springbok of all time. He is also a 2019 Rugby World Cup winner. He owns a security company in South Africa and The Beast Foundation.



AUDIT PARTNER: FORBES AFRICA partnered again with SNG Grant Thornton to vet the business and financial statements of the candidates. This involved understanding the landscape, the profitability, growth and most of all, the scalability of each business.



For the full list download the digital copy <a href="https://shop.forbesafrica.com/product/single-digital-issue-30-under-30-june-july-2021/">here</a>

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Forbes Africa #30Under30 List: CLASS OF 2021 Change-Makers In A Historic Year

Anjali Borkhataria is trying to change the narrative of fashion in Tanzania with a local brand aimed at everyone.



BY INAARA GANGJI



IT WAS ONE OF THOSE RARE OCCASIONS when bold neon colors, oversized white outdoor workwear and bright uncoordinated prints made their way on to the ramps of the annual Swahili Fashion Week in Tanzania. Local fashion designer, Anjali Borkhataria’s brand, EK AN TIK, its name inspired by Hindu scriptures, was a breath of fresh air in an industry that has been assumed to be set in its ways. 



“I believe African fashion is not limited to the printed patterns or kitenge, but we have so much to work with… there can definitely be more diverse design, but still have that African signature,” says Borkhataria to FORBES AFRICA. Borkhataria won Innovative Designer of the Year at this year’s fashion week and her brand has been worn by celebrities across the region and the African continent including Kenyan musician Tanasha Donna, Tanzanian celebrity Romy Jons and singer Mbosso, and has also appeared in a music video by popular Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz, featuring Congolese singer Koffi Olomide. 



But Borkhataria believes her brand is not made only for celebrities. Her first collection is workwear inspired by regular businessmen, electricians, and construction industry workers. It’s also unisex, oversized, and flowing. And while she does not prefer comparing herself to other designers in the region because creativity is not a competition for her, she believes her designs inspired by local street culture set her apart. 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MIKE-DEO-2-1-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50422" width="338" height="422" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MIKE-DEO-2-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MIKE-DEO-2-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MIKE-DEO-2-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MIKE-DEO-2-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MIKE-DEO-2-1-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MIKE-DEO-2-1.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" /></figure></div>



“Because, life happens on the streets, the streets influence me more than anything. So, I try to imply that into my design,” says the 23-year-old who has been a designer for the last three years. However, despite having studied at the Cape Town College of Fashion Design in South Africa, when it comes to the creative process, she does not believe in doing things in one way or the other. 



Her second collection showcased at the latest edition of the Swahili Fashion Week was inspired by games. Titled ‘GameScape’, the inspiration for it came from her father, who sells cars, batteries, and tires. It was also inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic as everybody sat at home and played games. “I don’t know what my creative process looks like because sometimes it’s a movie, sometimes it’s a piece of art, sometimes it’s nothing,” she exudes.



The tight timeframes involved in creating collections hinder the creative process too, with usually only five weeks between conception and production. She is not a fan of sketching either, as she goes with flow, not following a typical or organized process. This saves her time and sets realistic expectations, in her opinion.



Borkhataria also does all her production in-house and on her own. And she hopes that the independent career path she has taken by returning home to Tanzania from South Africa, inspires other young people in her country, no matter their background, to also be able to pursue fashion if they are so keen. 



She also credits her success to her supportive parents. All of this may make it seem like fashion is fun, and it is for her, but the industry is not free of challenges, she opines. She thinks brands create so many collections every year, but there aren’t enough people who can afford to wear them. “So, I wish fashion would go back a little bit. Today, everybody thinks that they know what fashion is, but they don’t know the main essence. For instance, I like music, but it’s not like I’m going to actually make it. So, I don’t like it when people buy a dress from H&amp;M for cheap and they think, ‘I know what fashion is’… I definitely want to change that,” she adds.



This is the reason why she wants high-quality local brands to reach the most people and hopes to have a local store of her own, as she currently works and sells from home. With all these aspirations, and while being a young, South Asian-origin female designer, doing everything on her own is not easy, she is humbled and inspired by being able to create fashion at home in Tanzania. 



“It is challenging but like in one way, it has made me very open minded. Because we are surrounded with mixed backgrounds… I think that has made me very open to different types of people. It just signifies there is hope,” she says, with faith in her craft and optimism for the world.

pic supplied

Inspiration From Where Life Happens

FORBES AFRICA is on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are leading the charge building brands, creating jobs and transforming the continent, to join the magazine&#8217;s Under 30 community for 2021.



Attention entrepreneurs, creatives, sports stars and technology geeks — the 2021 FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 nominations are now officially open.



Each year, FORBES AFRICA looks for resilient self-starters, innovators, entrepreneurs and disruptors who have the acumen to stay the course in their chosen field, come what may.



The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list is the most-anticipated list of game-changers on the continent and this year, we are on the hunt for 30 of Africa’s brightest achievers under the age of 30 spanning these categories: Business, Technology, Creatives, and Sport.



Past honorees include Mr Eazi, Lloyd Harris, Sho Madjozi, Bruce Diale, Karabo Poppy, Thuso Mbedu, Nomzamo Mbatha, Burna Boy, Nthabiseng Mosia, Davido, Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, Nasty C and WizKid.



Continuing with a final list of 30, this year will go down in history as the Under 30s who survived and thrived during one of the most turbulent times recorded: the global COVID-19 pandemic.



“The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 is the most coveted list of the year, and we will be celebrating seven years of the list in 2021. What will make this compilation even more compelling will be the fighting spirit of the candidates that made it through a challenging year. They need to be honored even more for their tenacity and resilience as leaders charting a non-linear trajectory to success,” says Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA.



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49141" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



If you think you have what it takes to be on this year’s list or know an entrepreneur, creative, technology entrepreneur, or sports star under the age of 30 with a proven track record on the continent – introduce them to FORBES AFRICA by submitting your nomination.



<h3 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-the-judging-process-will-take-place-in-four-stages">The judging process will take place in four stages:</h3>



● The first stage will be the evaluation of your motivation. If you do not hear back from us (within a specific period), please deem your nomination as unsuccessful.



● The second stage will require potential candidates to submit more documentation for the next stage of assessment.



● The third stage will include an analysis of your financials, revenue model and credibility as in-depth research will be conducted into who you are and your company/team (no criminal records, troubling lawsuits/bankruptcies, allegations of crime, bad behavior, sexual harassment/abuse or fraud).



● The final stage will have an expert panel of judges assess the strong candidates, whittling them down to the final 30. The editorial and research team makes the final selection based on judges’ scoring/remarks and adjusts for diversity across company type, gender, background, etc.



NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS CRITERIA:



Please read and take careful note of the following before applying. 



<h3 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-business-and-technology-categories">Business and Technology categories</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tech.png.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41042" width="326" height="305" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tech.png.png 412w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tech.png-300x281.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px" /><figcaption>2019 30 under 30s in technology: Eric Muli, Nthabiseng Mosia, Courtney Bentley. (Photo: Motlabana Monnakgotla)</figcaption></figure></div>



<ol><li>Must be an entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021</li><li>Should have a legitimate REGISTERED business on the continent</li><li>Business/businesses should be two years or older</li><li>Nominees must have risked own money and have a social impact</li><li>Must be profit generating</li><li>Must employ people in Africa</li><li>All applications must be in English</li><li>Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



<h3 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-sports-category">Sports category</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/sport.png.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41057" width="278" height="247" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/sport.png.png 412w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/sport.png-300x267.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 278px) 100vw, 278px" /><figcaption>2019 30 under 30s in sport: Sabrina Simader, Patricia Aplot, Clarence Munyai. (Photo: Motlabana Monnakgotla)</figcaption></figure></div>



<ol><li>Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021</li><li>Must be representing an African team</li><li>Should have a proven track record of no less than two years</li><li>Should be making significant earnings</li><li>Should have some endorsement deals</li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus</li><li>All applications must be in English</li><li>Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



<h3 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-creatives-category">Creatives category</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Creatives.png.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41044" width="270" height="196" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Creatives.png.png 410w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Creatives.png-300x219.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px" /><figcaption>2019 30 under 30 creatives: Karabo Poppy Moletsane, Thando Thabethe, Petite Noir. (Photo: Motlabana Monnakgotla)</figcaption></figure></div>



<ol><li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2021</li><li>Must be from or based in Africa</li><li>Should be making significant earnings</li><li>Should have a proven creative record of no less than two years</li><li>Must have social influence</li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus</li><li>All applications must be in English</li><li>Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



If you think you have what it takes to be on the coveted list for 2021, or know change-makers in the business, technology, creative or sports sectors under the age of 30 with a proven track record on the African continent, introduce them to FORBES AFRICA by submitting your nomination. 



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?p=49019" target="_blank">Click here to Nominate/Apply </a>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49142" width="446" height="446" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-80x80.jpg 80w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-600x600.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px" /></figure></div>

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Nominations Open For FORBES AFRICA’s 30 Under 30 Class Of 2021

“I don’t want to go to college anymore; I want to be a YouTube star.” When Nikita Kopotun’s  younger brother, Denis, shared his dream of  becoming a full-time Roblox streamer at 17, he wanted to help. Having just completed an internship at Cisco in China, the Queen’s University engineering student used the connections he’d made with Shanghai factories to manufacture stuffed animals Denis could sell to fans and help his brother turn a profit. Five years later, Denis has 9 million YouTube followers and banks seven-figures a year, while Kopotun has got a business: Juniper, an ecommerce company that partners with influencers to manufacture merchandise to promote their brands.



“We believe influencers represent the next era of commerce,” says Kopotun, who made the&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;30 Under 30 list in 2021. “Brands can’t just be built off t-shirts and hoodies so we want to sell flexible supply chain infrastructure to these creators.”



Chief Revenue Officer Kopotun, 26, and his cofounders—CEO Joel Wegner, Chief Culture Officer Will Cartar and CTO Ryan Wong—launched Toronto-based Juniper in 2016. Today, the bootstrapped brand’s 50 employees work with 60 influencers, including ZHC who has over 19 million YouTube subscribers. Juniper finds their most profitable clients publish long-form YouTube videos that earn them at least $500,000 a year. The company partners with them to create custom products and takes a cut of sales. Juniper generated $31 million in revenue in 2020, up 345% from $9 million in 2019, as consumers increasingly shopped, and sought out entertainment, online due to the pandemic.&nbsp;



While the company is headquartered in Canada, its manufacturers are based in China, where a team of 30 mass produce merchandise—from Denis’ tie-wearing cat plushy Sir Meows A Lot, to InquisitorMaster’s floppy-eared furry onesies, to Lanky Box’s cartoon-printed bedding bundle—and within a month of influencers inking a deal. Retail giants like Mattel rarely collaborate with influencers—and when they do, it’s typically with celebrities like Britney Spears—while DIY platforms like Custom Ink and Teespring don’t offer the same level of customization. Selling custom merchandise offers influencers  another way of monetizing their fanbases. This has enabled many of Juniper’s clients to double or triple their revenues each year. 



For influencers, Juniper’s products can serve as a launchpad. This past year, Denis’ Sir Meows A Lot became the protagonist of a YouTube cartoon series with nearly 1 million subscribers. “The designs and branding that Juniper did changed the way my channel looked,” he says. “It’s so easy to make any product by just slapping a logo on it, but to make products that characters very specific to that creator’s audience is so much more valuable.”



Unlike his influencer clients, who grew up on the internet, Kopotun spent most of his childhood in studios training to be an elite ballet dancer. He was sidelined at 17 with tendonitis in his knee, but believes his training has set him up for success as a founder. “I learned a lot about personal rigor and work ethics which has transitioned really well into business,” he says.



That tenacity has earned him clients like Jack Douglas, an influencer whose YouTube video series,&nbsp;Yesterday I Asked You, has garnered 92 million views. He partnered with Juniper after the company cold emailed him a plan to create a board game based on his show. “All I’ve wanted to do for years now is to take&nbsp;YIAY&nbsp;and diversity into games,” says Douglas. “Having&nbsp;YIAY&nbsp;exist as a board game wouldn’t have happened without Juniper.” In addition to the board game, scheduled to be released this spring, the two have also produced a plushy version of Douglas’ toy American Eskimo, Klondike.&nbsp;



Despite the growth Kopotun has seen this past year, he isn’t resting on his laurels. His goal is to transform Juniper into a tech platform that enables influencers to set up stores and sell custom products without the help of customer support representatives. He hopes that this platform—as well as a refined manufacturing process to produce more orders and of different sizes, allowing Juniper to serve smaller influencers—will be ready to launch in early 2022. “What we really want to be doing is supporting all sorts of brands and extending ourselves to the bottom 99% of creators,”  says Kopotun. “We believe that we’ll be able to hit unicorn status in the coming years by building this out.”



By Alexandra Sternlicht, Forbes Staff

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Meet The Company Making $31 Million A Year Helping Influencers Build Their Brands With Custom Merch

FORBES AFRICA is on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are leading the charge building brands, creating jobs and transforming the continent, to join the magazine&#8217;s Under 30 community for 2021.



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49141" width="489" height="367" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UNDER30-1200x9004-1-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 489px) 100vw, 489px" /></figure></div>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large">“The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 is our most coveted list of the year, and we will be celebrating seven years of the list in 2021&#8230;&#8221; &#8211;Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA.</blockquote>



<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/under-30/2020/12/14/nominations-open-for-forbes-africa-30-under-30-class-of-2020/">Please ensure that you have read entry requirements before applying.</a>



<h2 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-nominations-are-now-closed">NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49142" width="377" height="377" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-80x80.jpg 80w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-600x600.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/30under30-black-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px" /></figure></div>

Category: Under 30