<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-adecadeofunder30">#ADecadeofUnder30</h3>



It’s that time of the year when anticipation gives way to excitement as FORBES AFRICA prepares to welcome and honor, yet again, the next cohort of young innovators, influencers and intellectuals taking the continent by storm.



Marking 10 years of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list, this edition will also hark back to the journey of unearthing Africa’s youngest and brightest people taking the continent to the future. The 10th annual list will highlight the potential of what is yet to come.



“It has been 10 years of showcasing tomorrow’s titans and billionaires! This list continues to draw great interest from our readers, young and old. And on a continent with the world’s youngest population, it’s more pertinent than ever to unravel these young movers and shakers who will be tomorrow’s global newsmakers,” says Renuka Methil, Managing Editor, FORBES AFRICA.



With thousands of applicants and hundreds of list-makers over the past decade, FORBES AFRICA has shone the spotlight on award-winning musicians, actors, tech trailblazers, business leaders, sports stars and social entrepreneurs, among others, who have gone on to become behemoths in their own right. The list has also evolved in the past decade to look at the new wealth creators from the world of content creation and digital media.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/instagram-daily-2023-12-04T172738.612-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-60428" style="width:770px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/instagram-daily-2023-12-04T172738.612-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/instagram-daily-2023-12-04T172738.612-300x300.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/instagram-daily-2023-12-04T172738.612-150x150.png 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/instagram-daily-2023-12-04T172738.612-768x768.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/instagram-daily-2023-12-04T172738.612.png 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


From names like Tems, Thuso Mbedu, Sho Madjozi and Burna Boy or influencers like Kay Yarms, Mihlali Ndamase and Elsa Majimbo, and let’s not forget business pioneers such as Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa or Charlot Magayi, it has been a journey of listing stellar achievements. &nbsp;



Now is the time to invite the next 30 visionaries, risk-takers, change-makers and pioneers from Africa to take their place in the class of 2024. This is a list that promises to be our biggest and best yet as we foray our way into the next decade.



Our rigorous nominations process will require extensive paperwork including police clearance certificates (PCC) or a 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. The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 team of curators will also need a recommendation/reference letter from a financial institution (like your bank), ensuring that you are a legitimate business/brand employing funds responsibly. We recommend that you contact your financial institution or advisor to prepare for this part of the process as well as apply for your PCC as it could potentially take 4-6 weeks.



Should you wish to nominate someone or yourself, please read the following.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-judging-process-will-take-place-in-four-stages">The judging process will take place in four stages:</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>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.</li>



<li>The second stage will require potential candidates to submit further documentation for the next stage of assessment.</li>



<li>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 cases or fraud).</li>



<li>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.</li>
</ul>



NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATION CRITERIA:&nbsp;



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



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-business-and-technology-categories-nbsp">Business and Technology categories&nbsp;</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="1" style="list-style-type:1">
<li>Must be an entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger as on&nbsp;31&nbsp;March 2024&nbsp;</li>



<li>Should have a legitimate&nbsp;REGISTERED&nbsp;business on the continent&nbsp;</li>



<li>Business/businesses should be two years or older&nbsp;(please ensure you have your audited financial documents for at least two years as well as your company’s registration documents; should you make the second stage, this will be required)&nbsp;</li>



<li>The more innovative the business the better&nbsp;(as it speaks 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>



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



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="1" style="list-style-type:1">
<li>Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger as on 31 March 2024</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>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-creatives-category-nbsp">Creatives category&nbsp;</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="1" style="list-style-type:1">
<li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger as on 31 March 2024&nbsp;</li>



<li>Must be from or based in Africa&nbsp;</li>



<li>Should have significant earnings&nbsp;</li>



<li>Should have a proven creative record of no less than two years&nbsp;</li>



<li>Awards/recognition of any kind should be mentioned&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>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-health-science-category-nbsp">Health/Science category&nbsp;</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="1" style="list-style-type:1">
<li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger as on 31 March 2024</li>



<li>Must be from or based in Africa&nbsp;</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&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;&nbsp;&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</li>
</ol>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/logounder30-blk4-1-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-59683" style="width:302px;height:302px" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/logounder30-blk4-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/logounder30-blk4-1-300x300.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/logounder30-blk4-1-150x150.png 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/logounder30-blk4-1-768x768.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/logounder30-blk4-1-1536x1536.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/logounder30-blk4-1-2048x2048.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

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Call For Nominations To FORBES AFRICA’s 10th Milestone 30 Under 30 List: The Class Of 2024

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FORBES AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 CLASS of 2023: TOMORROW’S TITANS

<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 wp-block-heading" 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 class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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

&#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.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



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>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twitter-2-1024x341.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-55433" width="695" height="231" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twitter-2-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twitter-2-300x100.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twitter-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twitter-2-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/twitter-2-2048x683.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 695px) 100vw, 695px" /></figure></div>

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

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“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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Quote of the Day

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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 wp-block-heading">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 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-business-and-technology-categories">Business and Technology categories</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-heading">Sports Category </h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-heading">Creatives category</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-heading">Health/Science </h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><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: 



<figure class="wp-block-video aligncenter"><video autoplay controls src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/applications.mp4"></video></figure>

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

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

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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. 



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<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>
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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="auto, (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

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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 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



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!



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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

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 #30Under30 List: MEET THE COVER STARS

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 loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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="auto, (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 wp-block-heading" 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 wp-block-heading" 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 loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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="auto, (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 class="wp-block-list"><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 wp-block-heading" id="h-sports-category">Sports category</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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="auto, (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 class="wp-block-list"><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 wp-block-heading" id="h-creatives-category">Creatives category</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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="auto, (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 class="wp-block-list"><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 loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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="auto, (max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px" /></figure></div>

UNDER30 (1080×566)

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

FORBES AFRICA is on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are building brands, creating jobs and transforming the continent, to join our Under 30 community for 2020.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



JOHANNESBURG, 07 January 2020: Attention entrepreneurs,
creatives, sport stars and technology geeks — the 2020 FORBES AFRICA Under 30
nominations are now officially open. 



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.



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.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="685" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1024x685.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42458" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-600x401.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-768x514.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Past honorees include Sho Madjozi, Bruce Diale, Karabo Poppy, Kwesta, Nomzamo Mbatha, Burna Boy, Nthabiseng Mosia, Busi Mkhumbuzi Pooe, Henrich Akomolafe, Davido, Yemi Alade, Vere Shaba, Nasty C and WizKid.



What’s different this year is that we have whittled down the list to just 30 finalists, making the competition stiff and the vetting process even more rigorous.&nbsp;



Says
FORBES AFRICA’s Managing Editor, Renuka Methil: “The start of a new decade
means the unraveling of fresh talent on the African continent. I can’t wait to
see the potential billionaires who will land up on our desks. Our coveted sixth
annual Under 30 list will herald some of the decade’s biggest names in business
and life.” 



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 30 with a proven track-record on the continent – introduce them to FORBES AFRICA by applying or submitting your nomination.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="724" height="1024" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-724x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42456" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-724x1024.jpg 724w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-300x424.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-600x849.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-212x300.jpg 212w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-768x1087.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-1086x1536.jpg 1086w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1.jpg 1357w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px" /></figure>



NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS CRITERIA:



Business
and Technology categories



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Must be an
 entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2020</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>



Sports
category



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Must be a sports person
 aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2020</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>



Creatives
category



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Must be a creative aged 29
 or younger on 31 March 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>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>



Your
entry should include:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Country</li><li>Full Names</li><li>Company name/Team you are
 applying with</li><li>A short motivation on why
 you should be on the list</li><li>A short profile on self
 and company</li><li>Links to published
 material / news clippings about nominee </li><li>All social media handles</li><li>Contact information</li><li>High-res images of
 yourself</li></ul>



Applications and nominations must be sent via email to FORBES AFRICA journalist and curator of the list, Karen Mwendera, on <a href="mailto:Karen.Mwendera@abn360.com">Karen.Mwendera@abn360.com</a> 



Nominations
close on 3 February 2020.

Tag: Forbes 30 Under 30

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA