In Africa’s burgeoning, male-dominated tech scene, women remain largely underrepresented. Yet there is a tiny handful of incredible women who are launching and building successful, innovative tech companies that are upending industries, setting new standards and earning their place at the cool table. These women create and innovate, exploiting ideas, products and services to produce dynamic businesses.
I spoke to a few African tech entrepreneurs and together, we hand-picked 10 of the brightest female tech founders in Africa.
Rebecca Enonchong, Cameroonian
Founder, AppsTech
Enonchong, a Cameroonian national, is the founder and CEO of AppsTech, a Bethesda, Maryland-based global provider of enterprise application solutions. AppsTech, which was founded in 1999 now has clients in more than 40 countries on 3 continents. The company, anOracle ORCL +0.58% Platinum partner, offers a diverse range of enterprise software products and services including implementation, training and application management services for large and medium-sized companies. Enonchong also serves as an advisor/mentor to several African tech startups and is also the founder the Africa Technology Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting technology in Africa.
Jamila Abass, Linda Kwamboka and Susan Oguya, Kenyan
Co-founders, MFarm
Abass, Kwamboka and Oguya are the founders of MFarm, a mobile software solution that connects Kenyan farmers with farm produce consumers in urban and export markets via SMS. MFarm, which was founded in 2010 offers agricultural producers and buyers with the most recent retail price information about products and operates a virtual marketplace whereby consumers can buy their farm products directly from manufacturers while farmers can find buyers for their produce. MFarm also allows consumers to compare prices from different farmers and bid for a small fee. The company has received more than $230,000 in funding from UK-based charity, Tech For Trade and is working towards profitability.
Judith Owigar, Kenyan
Co-founder, JuaKali
Owigar, one of Kenya’s most popular female tech leaders, is the founder of JuaKali, an online and mobile directory for Kenya’s skilled blue-collar workers. JuaKali which was founded in 2012 and is based in Nairobi connects service providers from the informal sector with institutional and individual clients. The service allows workers to create an online profile showing their expertise. The service can be accessed via web and mobile. Owigar is also the founder of Akirachix, an association that aims to inspire and develop young women in technology through a mix of networking, training and mentoring programs.
Anne Amuzu, Ghanaian
Co-founder, Nandimobile
Amuzu, a graduate of Ghana’s Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) is a co-founder of Nandimobile, a company that develops software that enables companies to deliver customer support and information services through SMS. Amuzu co-founded the company in 2010 and it has more than 20 corporate clients in Ghana.
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SOURCE: Mfonobong Nsehe
Forbes
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