The Most Influential Startup Leaders to Watch in 2025

Africa’s startup ecosystem is evolving faster than ever, driven by visionary founders who are not just building companies but transforming industries. These leaders are solving local challenges, creating jobs, and redefining what innovation means on the continent. As 2025 unfolds, here are five African startup leaders to watch closely.

1. Mitchell Elegbe – Interswitch (Nigeria)

Long before fintech became a buzzword, Mitchell Elegbe was pioneering digital payments across Africa. His company, Interswitch, laid the foundation for secure and seamless online transactions at a time when digital finance was still emerging.

What’s Next: Expect new cross-border payment innovations and partnerships that will further strengthen Africa’s digital economy.

Mitchell Elegbe

2. Blessing Abeng – Ingressive for Good (Nigeria)

Blessing Abeng is one of Africa’s most inspiring leaders in tech education and empowerment. Through Ingressive for Good, she’s providing thousands of young Africans with access to digital tools, scholarships, and job opportunities in the creative and tech sectors.
What’s Next: Blessing plans to expand her programs into new regions, with a strong focus on empowering more women to thrive in tech.

Blessing Abeng

3. Alex Mativo – Duck (Kenya)

Alex Mativo is transforming Africa’s retail industry with Duck, a data-driven platform that helps brands make smarter decisions through real-time retail insights. Beyond business, he’s a passionate advocate for sustainability and creative innovation.
What’s Next: Alex aims to scale Duck across Africa and champion projects that merge technology with eco-conscious growth.

Alex Mativo

4. Deepankar Rustagi – OmniRetail (Nigeria)

Deepankar Rustagi is changing how small retailers do business in Africa. His startup, OmniRetail, connects shop owners directly with suppliers and gives them digital tools to manage inventory and payments efficiently.
What’s Next: Expansion across West Africa, along with new features that help retailers compete in a digital-first economy.

Deepankar Rustagi

5. Zimuzo Nwabueze Ofor – Eco-Green Solar Systems (Nigeria)

Zimuzo Nwabueze Ofor is closing Africa’s energy gap one solar panel at a time. His company, Eco-Green Solar Systems, is making renewable energy affordable for homes, schools, and communities that lack stable electricity.
What’s Next: Broader regional expansion and partnerships that push clean energy to the forefront of Africa’s development agenda.

These entrepreneurs are not just building profitable startups, they’re creating impact that reaches far beyond boardrooms. From fintech to clean energy, their innovations are driving inclusive growth and inspiring a new wave of African founders.

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