Tag: African entrepreneurs in America

Enterpreneurship

StorsPay, a Nigerian Decentralized Retail Investing Platform, Raises $320,000 and Gets Accepted into Techstars NYC Accelerator

By KODZILLA | Bit KE

StorsPay, a fintech startup by Nigerian, Sam Alonge, has secured a funding round of US$320,000 and selected to participate in the Techstars NYC accelerator. The accelerator supported by the JP Morgan Accelerator.

The fintech has developed a decentralized platform for retail lending infrastructure which aims to connect small businesses worldwide with retail investors seeking alternative asset investment opportunities.

Continue reading “StorsPay, a Nigerian Decentralized Retail Investing Platform, Raises $320,000 and Gets Accepted into Techstars NYC Accelerator” →
Enterpreneurship

ONE OF BIRMINGHAM’S BRIGHTEST ENTREPRENEURS, SHEGUN OTULANA, SOLD HIS COMPANY FOR $1.2 BILLION

By Darryl Robertson | Black Enterprise

One of Birmingham, Alabama’s most skillful entrepreneurs, Shegun Otulana, sold his company Therapy Brands for a hefty sum, $1.2 billion.

According to Otulana, over the next decade, he plans to create 40 new startups in Birmingham–with an aggregate value in the billions of dollars.”

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African Food

Spice Kitchen wants to change the world with its stellar Nigerian food


By Tim Carman | The Washington Post

Thin strips of beef, dusted with a formidable West African spice blend, are scattered atop a waxy sheet of “The American Times,” a faux newspaper whose motto is “All the News That Changes the World.” The slogan, an obvious riff on the Gray Lady’s 19th-century retort to yellow journalism, seems custom-made for Olumide Shokunbi and Spice Kitchen.


Shokunbi earned his stripes in the restaurant business at Chipotle Mexican Grill, rising to the level of general manager at a store in his native Bowie, Md. The chain left its mark on him, not so much with its approach to customization but with its big-tent philosophy.

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Uncategorized

Tope Awotona | Nigeria-Born Techpreneur Who Is One Of America’s Wealthiest Immigrants

By Amy Feldman | Forbes

Tope Awotona, the 40-year-old founder and chief executive of Calendly, leans back in his chair and lets loose a loud guffaw.

“You call it on message, I call it the truth,” he says, slapping his hands on the table. The truth, as Awotona has it, is that everyone needs Calendly, his scheduling software, to lead better, more productive, happier work lives.

Nine years ago, Awotona started Calendly, pouring his life savings of $200,000 into it and later quitting his job selling software for EMC. Today, the company has 10 million users and counts Lyft, Ancestry.com, Indiana University and La-Z-Boy among its customers.

Continue reading “Tope Awotona | Nigeria-Born Techpreneur Who Is One Of America’s Wealthiest Immigrants” →
Enterpreneurship

Kenyan-born fashion designer finds inspiration at home


By Tina Locurto | York Dispatch

If it’s a type of fabric, bet that Victoria Kageni-Woodard has it. The self-starter fashion designer based in York County has piles upon piles of colorful, patterned textiles she uses to create clothing designs of her wildest dreams.

Kageni-Woodard, born in Kenya, always felt a passion for sewing and design. With encouragement from her parents, Kageni-Woodard moved to the United States in 1991 and honed her skills at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

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Enterpreneurship

Kenyan-Born Woman Elated as She Fulfils Her American Dream As She Opens a Business in Wisconsin

By John Wanjohi | Mwakilishi.com

A Kenyan-born woman living in the United States could not hide her joy after finally fulfilling her dream of opening her own business.

On Monday, Priscah Norton opened a café christened “Coffee 4 All” in Stoughton, a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, in what she described as a dream come true. 

Continue reading “Kenyan-Born Woman Elated as She Fulfils Her American Dream As She Opens a Business in Wisconsin” →
Uncategorized

Richest African immigrants in America 2022

By Ebimo Amungo

The African immigrant continues to consolidate as a growing economic force in America. Long known for their contributions to healthcare, academia, sports and the military, African immigrants are growing as an entrepreneurial class in a manner that benefits America and their home countries in Africa. Nevertheless, immigrants who were born in Africa and their offsprings have the least economic clout compared to other immigrant groups, but their influence has grown in the two years since our last survey of the Richest African immigrants in America. Since 2020, Elon Musk, born in South Africa, has gone on to become the richest man in the world and also the single largest taxpayer in American history. Patrick Soon Shiong has put some of his vast wealth to the benefit of his home country by building a Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing plant in South Africa and a slew of tech entrepreneurs have created startups that are facilitating payment systems for Africans.

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Uncategorized

Julie Weche | Meet the Kenyan Driving School owner teaching Swahili in the USA

By The Bharat Express News

A Kenyan teacher is getting noticed in the United States of America by running a center that inspires the black community. Julie Weche is the founder and owner of the Elimu Tutoring Center in Baltimore, one of the most populous cities in the US state of Maryland.

Continue reading “Julie Weche | Meet the Kenyan Driving School owner teaching Swahili in the USA” →
Enterpreneurship

Founded by Ghanian Immigrant Sam Badoo, Fleri allows users to sponsor health insurance for those abroad

BY CYNTHIA BENT FINDLAY | FOR COLUMBUS CEO 

Founded by Ghanaian immigrant Sam Baddoo, Fleri is a platform that allows users to purchase health insurance for beneficiaries in Africa and other in countries far away—currently only in Nigeria and Ghana, but is expanding rapidly. The beneficiary can go to local doctors, pharmacies or hospitals without having to wait for relatives to send money.

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Uncategorized

Three African immigrants sue Idaho over expensive hair-braiding license rules

By The Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Three Idaho women are suing the state in federal court over its expensive training requirement for professional hair-braiders. The women, represented by the Institute for Justice, filed the lawsuit against the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board in Boise’s U.S. District Court on Tuesday, the Idaho Statesman reported.

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Uncategorized

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote is now the 73rd richest person in the world, according to Bloomberg billionaires index

By Victor Oluwowole | Business Insider Africa

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has emerged as the 73rd richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $20 billion, as against his previous ranking of 83rd in the world last month, according to Bloomberg’s billionaires’ index.

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Enterpreneurship

Detroit Business Sells African Attire Made By Tailors In Congo

A Detroit-based brand is selling clothing and accessories that are made by African tailors who have been affected by past wars and their aftermath in Congo.

Zapenda is an online retailer started in 2019 and owned by co-founders Stella Safari and Dextina Booker, who are running the business in two countries. The sewing shop is in Bukavu in eastern Congo, where Safari employs eight people, six of them tailors. 

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Uncategorized

Jephtah Chidozie-Uche | Nigerian co-founder of fintech startup Kippa, invited to join Forbes Technology Council

By Victor Oluwole | Business Insider Africa

Jephtah Chidozie-Uche, co-Founder and CTO of Kippa, the fast-growing fintech start-up, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only organisation for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives.

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Enterpreneurship

Mother and daughter bring Egypt’s traditional drinks to North America

By Kamal Tabikha | The National

When an Egyptian mother and daughter emigrated to Canada 10 years ago, they took with them one of their most cherished memories of home — special herbal drinks from the Middle East. From brewing hibiscus and other infused drinks to share with their new neighbours in Toronto, Amal Soliman and Logaina El Kattan are now taking their beverage operation, Nuba, to the next level after winning C$75,000 in backing from business reality-TV show Dragons’ Den.

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Enterpreneurship

Rose Njeri | Story of an unemployed college graduate who founded 2 companies in the United States

By The Bharat Express News

Rose Njeri is an established entrepreneur enjoying her success despite being tarred for years due to unemployment.Njeri, like any other university graduate, had bigger dreams of getting a job in a multinational company to explore his gained experience.

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Enterpreneurship

Richelieu and Mary Dennis | Meet the Liberian mother and son team who founded one of the largest black-owned cosmetic firms in America

By Ebimo Amungo

Richelieu Dennis and his mother, Mary, are one of the most unlikely success stories of African immigrant entrepreneurship. Forced by war to overstay in America and prompted by unemployment to start making soap and shea butter products at home. Dennis and his school roommate hawked their products on the streets of New York and eventually founded Sundial Brands. The company grew to become one of the largest immigrants owned cosmetic businesses in America and was eventually acquired by Unilever for $1.6billion, making Richelieu Dennis and his mother one of the richest African immigrants in America.

Continue reading “Richelieu and Mary Dennis | Meet the Liberian mother and son team who founded one of the largest black-owned cosmetic firms in America” →
Enterpreneurship

Nawal Denard | Ghanaian Immigrant entrepreneur draws on business support systems to brighten Detroit’s wardrobe

KATE ROFF | Model D Media

Nawal Denard began this year like most of us, with grand plans. The founder and owner of House of African Prints felt like she was just ramping up her clothing business when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The entrepreneur moved to the U.S. in 2008 from Ghana to study industrial engineering at Murray State University in Kentucky, and later at Wayne State University. But she had trouble equipping her personal wardrobe, discovering a lack of quality African fabric on Detroit’s clothing racks. In 2017 she started selling West African-inspired clothing, with the goal of making chic garments from her home country available here.

Continue reading “Nawal Denard | Ghanaian Immigrant entrepreneur draws on business support systems to brighten Detroit’s wardrobe” →
Enterpreneurship

African immigrant entrepreneurs thriving in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Ron Mukuria | One United Lancaster

Musa Mmugambi has just started the process of earning his brokerage license. Mmugambi, an immigrant from Kenya who is in his late 40s, is a part-time independent real estate agent at the Younger Realty Group. He ventured into this field as a part-time job three years ago. Mmugambi’s example shows the dynamic entrepreneurial spirit that immigrants and refugees bring to Lancaster County.

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Uncategorized

Global Infrastructure Partners Announces Acquisition Of MAP® Energy’s Renewable Energy Business

NEW YORK, /PRNewswire/ — Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a leading global, independent infrastructure investor founded by Nigerian-born billionaire, Adebayo Ogunlesi, has announced the acquisition of MAP® RE/ES, the renewable energy business of MAP® Energy (MAP®).  GIP’s fourth flagship fund, GIP IV, will acquire 100% of the MAP® RE/ES investment platform, team, and renewable energy assets under management from MAP®, a private fund manager and energy investor. 

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Uncategorized

Chef Tunde Wey | Meet Nigerian-Born, American Culinary Expert.

By Modern Ghana

Akintunde Asuquo Osaigbuovo Ojo Wey, popularly known as Tunde Wey, is a New Orleans-based writer, activist-artist, and celebrity chef. Tunde was born in 1983 to a comfortably middle-class Yoruba family; his grandfather had been second-in-command during the military junta that ruled the country from 1966 to 1979. Tunde was born in Lagos, Nigeria, before moving to Detroit, Michigan at age 16 to complete his education.

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Grace Kinda | This Kenyan entrepreneur Brings African Beauty Knowledge to Colorado and the West

By ELIZABETH MEHERT-AB | 303magazine.com

Global beauty routines have changed the Western lexicon when it comes to hair and skin care. K-Beauty (products from South Korea), J-Beauty (from Japan) and other globally-inspired trends keep growing in popularity. On top of that, natural, organic and clean ingredients have become a priority for health-conscious beauty consumers pushing companies to think outside of the box.

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Dr. Godwin Maduka | Nigerian government praise achievements of renowned pain therapist and entrepreneur in America

By Leadership Newspaper

The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission-NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa on behalf of the Federal Government has received one of the most outstanding, noble and most successful Nigerian in diaspora, Dr. Godwin Maduka, a renowned Philanthropist, Medical Doctor and CEO of Las Vegas Pain Institute, located in the United States of America-USA.

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Uncategorized

Dr. Godwin Maduka | The Harvard trained doctor and entrepreneur who owns the largest pain treatment group in Southern Nevada

By Ebimo Amungo

Godwin Maduka arrived America as a poor and penniless immigrant student in 1982, but since then he has obtained a degree in Chemistry, a PhD in Pharmacy, trained as a doctor in Harvard and established the largest and most comprehensive pain treatment practice group in Nevada.

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Chipper Cash | African fintech startup raises $30M backed by Jeff Bezos

By Jake Bright | Techcrunch

African cross-border fintech startup Chipper Cash has raised a $30 million Series B funding round led by Ribbit Capital with participation of Bezos Expeditions — the personal VC fund of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Chipper Cash  was founded in San Francisco in 2018 by Ugandan Ham Serunjogi and Ghanaian Maijid Moujaled. 

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Uncategorized

Ayele Solomon | Ethiopian winemaker accepts $750,000 investment offer from four sharks on “Shark Tank”

By Jyotsna Basotia | meaww

Inspired by Ethiopian national beverage t’ej or honey wine, Bee D’Vine was the real winner on ‘Shark Tank’ this week. Ayele Solomon, a conservationist and Food & Magazine Tastemaker, presented his product seeking $750,000 for 20 percent equity and it would be an understatement to say that he impressed all the sharks — Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec and recurring Shark Daniel Lubetzky.

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Chi Uwazurike | Nigerian designer brings unique clothing, special vibe, to Royal Oak

By Chanel Stitt | Detroit Free Press

With the goals of diversity, inclusion and positive vibes, Lé Don Collection, owned by Nigerian Chi Uwazurike, is a space meant for customers and visitors to have a unique fashion experience.

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Tashitaa Tufaa | Meet the Ethiopian who started as a dishwasher but now owns 300 buses in Minneapolis

By Ebimo Amungo

At the height of the Covid 19 pandemic when most of America was put under lockdown and several people lost their jobs, one former Ethiopian refugee, Tashitaa Tufaa, who runs a transportation business in Minneapolis continued to pay his 250 strong staff their full salaries despite the negative impact of the pandemic on his business.

Continue reading “Tashitaa Tufaa | Meet the Ethiopian who started as a dishwasher but now owns 300 buses in Minneapolis” →
Uncategorized

Sharon Chuter | Meet the Nigerian-born founder of beauty brand UOMA

By Ebimo Amungo

Sharon Chuter is the Nigerian-born founder of UOMA Beauty who has made a big impact in the the beauty industry in since launching her enterprise on Thu, Apr 25 2019 at Neuehouse, Los Angeles, CA. Since then, Sharon Chuter has steered her venture through a Covid 19 disrupted year from Los Angeles and London and made global headlines when she called for more representation for Blacks in the fashion and beauty industry through her Pull Up initiative,

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Uncategorized

Meet Seble Alemayehu and Felekech Biratu, the co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.

By Robert Smith Business School

Seble Alemayehu and Felekech (Fei) Biratu started as high school friends, and after a similar journey through life, a move around the globe and two MBA degrees from the Robert Smith School, they now are proud co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.

Continue reading “Meet Seble Alemayehu and Felekech Biratu, the co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.” →