Global Afrobeats sensation Davido performs at the second Under 30 Summit in Gaborone, Botswana.
Ilan Godfrey for Forbes
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Greetings from Gaborone!
It’s a near impossible task to condense the past four days of our Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa into just a few words, but I’ll start with one: hope.
This week, I (and the fellow Under 30 listers I traveled with) met hundreds of African entrepreneurs whose hopes, dreams and ideas to improve life on the continent were absolutely inspiring. On Tuesday, we hosted a pitch battle in the shadow of the stunning Kgale Hill, judged by global Afrobeats sensation Davido and venture capitalists from around the world. Not only did an impressive amount of founders show up to speak on their next million-dollar ideas (including innovative oil-free hot sauce company Incuti Foods), but hundreds gathered to watch and cheer them on.
Attendees of the second Forbes Under 30 Africa Summit in Botswana take part in a pitch competition, judged by musician Davido and other venture capitalists.
Ilan Godfrey for Forbes
They were no doubt encouraged by the words of some of the continent’s leading business minds who spoke the day prior, including Botswana President His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, billionaire Mohammed Dewji, founder of Kenya’s Mwale Medical and Technology City Julius Mwale and Grammy award winning singer Nomcebo Zikode. “It doesn’t matter where you come from… you can make it,” Zikode told our attendees.
And on Wednesday, 50 of us convened at the scenic Botswana National Museum for an “idea-a-thon,” where we brainstormed longterm, sustainable business models for successful and impactful daycare centers across Botswana—and beyond.
Nigerian entrepreneur Uche Pedro, who founded media company BellaNaija, summed it up best: “Africa is next level. We are the future.”
P.S.: Missed the summit this year? Check out Davido’s conversation with Forbes Chief Content Officer Randall Lane as they talks tunes, Davido’s Nigerian record label, his non-profit and how maintaining his African roots has translated into dollar signs over time.
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5 Minutes With . . . Sandeep Ahuja
This week, we spoke with Sandeep Ahuja, a Forbes Under 30 Energy lister and cofounder of Cove.tool, a software product that helps customers discover more efficient ways to construct new buildings that will reduce both energy usage and cost.
App you can’t live without? Slack
Favorite sustainable brand? Patagonia
Staple of your morning routine? News and coffee
Advice for younger self? Don’t worry so much, just enjoy the ride.
Hope for future generations? That we can tackle the climate problem together to leave a habitable planet for you.
Lister Lowdown
Whisper Aero, cofounded by Forbes Under 30 Manufacturing 2022 lister Ian Villa, announced its $32 million Series A. Villa, an ex-Uber employee and Stanford grad, is the COO and chief product officer of Whisper Aero, which makes quiet electric thrust technology for drones, fixed-wing aircraft and electric VTOLs.