Business
3 young African entrepreneurs to watch
In 2010, the African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation announced the Anzisha Prize – a pan-African award that scouts and celebrates African entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 and 22 who have implemented entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to key challenges facing their immediate communities.
The word “Anzisha” is taken from the KiSwahili language and roughly translates into “Start it Up.” The Anzisha prize has gained momentum in Africa.
The top 3 finalists of the 2012 Anzisha prize are very young entrepreneurs who could grow to become African business leaders of the future.
1). Andrew Mupuya, Uganda. Founder, YELI
Age: 20
Andrew Mupuya – winner of the 2012 Anzisha prize. PHOTO/Twitter
When his parents became lost their jobs, Mupuya struggled to balance his school fees with the need to support his family.
In 2008, when the Uganda government considered implementing a ban on the use of polythene plastic bags, Mupuya at the age of 16, indentified an opportunity in paper bag production. After he had raised his initial seed capital of 36,000 Ugandan shillings (US$18), Mupuya started making paper bags at a small scale while still in high school.
Mupuya registered his new company in 2010, Youth Entrepreneurial Link Investments (YELI). YELI is now the first local registered paper bag and envelope producing company in Uganda. His business has grown to employ 15 people.
YELI has now produced over half a million paper bags in its four years of operation.
In addition to managing his growing enterprise, Mupuya remains committed to his community and has taken the initiative to train and mentor over 500 young and aspiring entrepreneurs.
