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 loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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

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; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" 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 loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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 class="wp-block-heading" 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

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 wp-block-heading" 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



<h4 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading" id="h-methodology">METHODOLOGY</h4>



The Covid-19 pandemic posed a unique challenge this year when collating criteria for the nomination process. A new set of factors had to be taken into account for the challenges this year’s hopefuls were faced with. Yet, despite the adversities and setbacks, about 1,000+ applicants and nominees poured into our online portal, and we also dredged them from our 30 Under 30 alum and our own research. This was then narrowed down to the 30 finalists across the business, technology, sports and creative sectors.



The criteria employed this year was the most rigorous it has ever been. Nominees needed to provide valid evidence of their endeavors. Background checks were done to ascertain their calibre, conduct and personal track-record. With audit partner SNG Grant Thornton, we were able to assess their company financials from losses to growth margins to overall revenue and profits since incorporation.



Our criteria for the 30 Under 30 list is that only those under the age of 30 ( just before the publication of this issue) may apply. All decision-making and interviews were conducted digitally this year, as the pandemic did not enable meetings in person. In doing so, we had new appreciation for the technology that powered our research. The finalists were vetted by the editorial team and a panel of high-profile judges and subjectmatter experts (see following page). This list is only but a small indication of the inspiring young talent on the continent who will no doubt grace the pages of FORBES AFRICA in the months and years to come



CHANGE-MAKERS VERSUS Covid! That’s what we were looking for when curating FORBES AFRICA’s 30 Under 30 list-makers this year. After all, 2021 marks an entire year that has disrupted the world. Businesses pivoted and so did our lives as we navigated the pandemic, and realized that the old ways of doing things no longer work.



But surely, there are answers, especially on the world’s youngest continent. A report, Global Employment Trends for Youth 2020: Africa, by the International Labour Organization, says that “Africa’s youth unemployment rate is the lowest in the world and compared to other regions”.



So, we celebrate young talent that comes to the fore in finding sustainable ways to overcome the crisis but also helping those who have been the hardest hit. From philanthropic beauty influencers to tech geeks revolutionizing renewable energy and even a chess master championing entrepreneurship, the list features a motley cast of individuals wanting to change the world when it needs it the most.



This year’s list-makers – the youngest being 19 – will go down in history as the Under 30s who survived and thrived during one of the most turbulent chapters on earth. The following pages are a record of the enduring tenacity and fighting spirit of Africa’s young leaders charting a nonlinear trajectory to success. (The list is in no particular order)



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. 



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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 SOCIAL MEDIA

The Basketball Player Enjoying The Ride In Business

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

Forbes Africa #30Under30 List: MEET THE COVER STARS