3 Young Entrepreneurs in Africa Driving Global Change

Young Entrepreneurs in Africa are redefining the future of business, innovation, and social impact. Across the continent, a new generation of visionaries is building solutions that not only tackle local challenges but also influence markets worldwide.

From fintech pioneers revolutionising cross-border payments to tech innovators transforming education and healthcare, these trailblazers are proving that Africa is a powerhouse of talent and creativity. Their drive, resilience, and bold ideas are breaking barriers, attracting global investment, and inspiring the next wave of leaders.

These milestones, according to Forbes, while making remarks on the achievement of young entrepreneurs in Africa in the 30 Under 30 List, are no mean feat. Hence, let’s look at some of the young minds making the mother continent proud. 

The first on the list of young entrepreneurs in Africa is:

Abioye Oyetunji: FXKudi

Abioye Oyetunji, founder and CEO of FXKudi, is transforming Africa’s fintech sector by redefining cross-border money transfers. Inspired during his university days in Ghana in 2015, he launched a small remittance service to address challenges in converting Naira to Cedis. The service’s reliability fueled rapid growth, leading to FXKudi’s official launch in February 2020. The platform evolved from manual operations to a fully digitised system, enhancing accessibility and convenience for users across multiple African countries.

A Nigerian by birth, Oyetunji earned first-class honours in Information Technology from a Ghanaian university in 2020, followed by a Master’s in Computer Software Engineering from Innopolis University, Russia, in 2022. Despite early resource constraints, strategic collaborations and a skilled team helped FXKudi generate over $10,000 in its first month. Today, it serves over 16,000 users with 15 staff and 1,000 agents.

FXKudi’s zero-fee model addresses Africa’s informal remittance sector, which represents about 60% of money transfers, advancing financial inclusion. Recognised by VISA among Africa’s top 50 fintech firms, Oyetunji has also received the Africa Young Hero of the Year award (2021) and a Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 honour (2024). He aims to expand FXKudi to 25 countries, creating thousands of jobs and shaping Africa’s economic future.

Josiah Akinloye: Mainlogix Technology

Josiah Akinloye, born May 9, 1994, is a leading African tech innovator and Founder/CEO of Mainlogix Technology, specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for smart home automation. His flagship product, SMART, is a multilingual voice assistant that supports African languages, making advanced technology more culturally accessible. Mainlogix, launched in 2019, integrates IoT platforms to control over 100,000 devices from different manufacturers through a single system.

Josiah’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in 2015, followed by a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering in 2022 and an MBA in 2023. These laid the foundation for his dual focus on engineering and business innovation.

Beyond Mainlogix, he is Co-Founder and CTO of TimeXtension, a France-based biotech startup developing AI-driven tools for longevity and anti-ageing, merging biotechnology with artificial intelligence to extend healthy lifespans.

Mainlogix has secured $350,000 in funding, partnered with Amazon Alexa and Google Smart Speaker, and earned accolades including the African Tech Awards and a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2024. Josiah’s work at the intersection of AI, IoT, and human longevity reflects his vision for a smarter, more connected, healthier future.

Idorenyin Obong: Grey

Idorenyin Obong’s entrepreneurial journey began with a frustrating personal experience. Despite a successful career in fintech at companies like Busha Digital, Yellow Card Financial, and PayStack (Stripe), he struggled to quickly convert US dollar freelance earnings into local currency for an urgent payment. The slow, complex process inspired him to solve the problem himself.

In 2020, Obong co-founded Aboki Africa with a university friend, focusing on faster, more transparent, and reliable currency exchange for African markets. His vision soon expanded beyond the continent, and in 2021, the company rebranded as Grey, positioning itself as a global platform with a wider product range and international reach.

Launching Grey was challenging due to Africa’s limited access to venture capital. For over a year, Obong and his co-founder funded operations from personal savings. Their breakthrough came with a small pre-seed round and eventual acceptance into Y Combinator in 2022 after two failed attempts. The accelerator provided mentorship, exposure, and credibility, helping them secure $2.4 million in funding.

Today, Grey employs about 50 staff and is expanding into new regions. By innovating and adapting, Obong aims to keep Grey competitive in the fast-paced fintech sector while addressing real-world financial challenges.

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