Thread by @CKJapheth

Why I believe in Entrepreneurs. (A short story)

After God, I fear STARTUP. Here are 10 Entrepreneurs that have made me believe more in Entrepreneurs in 2019.
It’s not about what their startups do, it’s about their stories of grit & spirit of always bouncing back, no matter what!

1. @iMalinzi of @digestafrica has the most complete resource of information & data about early stage tech companies, investors, accelerators & deals across Africa. First in (6AM) last out (10PM) & evidence that startup is not for the fainthearted. Down but certainly not out

2. @Anatoli411 of @YungaTech18 has a next-gen community security company that connects neighbor to neighbor & to police in case of an emergency. When we first met, he was building IT solutions. That’s not a startup, I said. Been through the fire but you can’t keep him down.

3. @solomonalvink of @swipe2pay takes the friction out of payments, so SMEs can focus on what they do best "Making sales". He’s a crazy one, a misfit, a reminder that ignore entrepreneurs at your peril. Don’t judge a man based on where he is, but where he is going.

4. @PNassuna of @Tukole_Ug runs @InnovationVilla marketplace of businesses & services, linking over 2,000 workers in over 50 categories to small jobs. She is evidence that the future is female. Bold & Fierce without all the answers but hungry and ready to take on the future.

5. @arwakatungu of @xente_app has launched a war for a cashless Uganda. Never down, never out, always coming up with the next big thing. After launching in Nigeria & Kenya, Xente now offers buy now pay later. Probably the most careful (risk averse) CEO I know.

6. @naikajulius of @FamuneraOnline has a platform for smallholder farmers to buy high quality affordable agriculture inputs from verified suppliers and find market for their farm produce to verified agro processors. He needs no invitation to pitch. Always pushing for growth.

7. @SarahBasemera of @RGabdho accelerates clean, accessible & sustainable energy for vulnerable communities through innovations & products, approaches to behavioural change & benchmarking good practices. See her year in pictures; a master skilled marketeer focused to doing good.

8. @enamara of @VouchDigital is championing the development of digital platforms for payments for cash based programs. I call Evelyn Uganda’s most successful female entrepreneur for a reason not yet known to her. I see the future. Been to hell, still here growing strong.

9. @Kazville of @wazivision has a vision to turn plastic waste into value.
Focused and deliberate, I know Brenda to go to the end of the world to achieve her vision even if it mean leaving behind all the glory everyone sees. Daring and adventurous.

10. @allantarzan of @HamweEastAfrica is bridging the gap between farmers and the new mobile economy. A success story from our #Innovate4Ag challenge, the consistency is impressive. Keep on walking.

To these and more entrepreneurs within and beyond the walls of @InnovationVilla. Keep the good fight. The hustle will pay off. It takes time and in most cases looks like it’s not working. Trust the process.

Everyday we grow stronger.
#NextWave #FutureLab