Isaac Oboth, 25, runsMedia 256, a film and TV production company in East Africa. Media 256 was founded in 2011 and its clients include Coca Cola, U.N. Development Programme, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Ethiopian Commodities Exchange, Marie Stopes International, the African Leadership Network, and the African Leadership Academy.
Self-taught, Oboth started by watching online video tutorials for hours on end at a local internet café, according to his Anzisha Prize bio. Through hard work and pavement-pounding marketing, he got his first big break when the Ethiopian commodities exchange chose him to produce a short film.
That break earned him enough to buy his own video equipment, rather than rent. He then lobbied Coca-Cola to produce video for them after seeing the low quality of their existing videos by an established agency. He offered them free work in exchange for being evaluated. They were so impressed by his finished product, that they contracted him for future work. That was his second big break. He also produced an ad featuring Olympic gold winner Stephen Kiprotich for the 2013 Aqua Sip ad campaign.
Sources: Forbes, media256.com, AnzishaPrize.org
Pedro, 30, is one of Nigeria’s most popular new media entrepreneurs. Her website, BellaNaija, deals with Nigerian lifestyle, entertainment and fashion, attracting more than 10 million page views each month with a global audience, according to Forbes.
Uche graduated from the Richard Ivy School of Business, University of Western Ontario, Canada, then moved back to Nigeria where she started Bainstone, the parent company of BellaNaija.com. In July 2009, she quit her full-time job to focus on building BellaNaija.com.
Sources: Forbes, ITNewsAfrica.
Photo: Mail&Guardian
The 26 year-old South African national runs Clockwork Media, a Johannesburg-based integrated communications agency whose clients include LG Electronics, Sotheby International Realty, Mimecast, Philips and Tata, amongst others, according to Forbes. The company has 11 employees and has expanded to London.
Manners described himself in an ITWeb bio as an entrepreneur, writer and musician in that order — a peculiar mix of disciplines that paved the way for a career path punctuated by frantic activity and a passionate abhorrence for formal employment.
Here’s what Mail&Guardian correspondent Samantha Perry said about Manners in a 2014 article: “While Tom Manners is modest enough to not feel that he has ‘accomplished an awful lot’, most 26-year-olds don’t have their own communications business, a family and a successful rock band to their credit.”
Manner’s band, Dance You’re on Fire, broke up in 2014, but it had a pretty impressive run, according to Mail&Guardian. “In seven years the band produced two albums, seven No. 1 singles, won the MK Award for Best Indie Band in 2012, and reached the top 10 in Germany with hit single Boxes of Tigers, which was the primary song on the Spud 2: The Madness Continues soundtrack.”
Sources: Forbes, Mail&Guardian, ITWeb
Idaminabo, 29, is the founder and CEO of Acheivers Media, an organization that hosts the popular African Achievers Award. The annual event recognizes individuals and organizations that contribute towards the growth and development of Africa. Honorees have included Desmond Tutu and Raji Fashola, former governor of Lagos State.
The event generates more than $1 million in sponsorship revenue annually. Idaminabo also co-foundered Young CEO’s Business forum and was recently appointed an advisory board member of the World Leaders Forum in Dubai, according to Forbes.
Here’s what Idaminabo said about his entrepreneurial journey in a DailyIndependent interview: “There are three very important things I always think…hard work, determination and consistency…If there are opportunities across the door, force the door or break it open. Failure has never been in my dictionary. If you fail the first time, keep on trying; second time, keep trying and never give up.”
Sources: Forbes, DailyIndependent.
Khetia, 28, is the founder of Tria Group, a Kenyan outdoor advertising firm that uses public transit vehicles to market consumer goods in Kenya, according to Forbes. Tria, which was founded in 2013, already has annual revenues exceeding $1.3 million.
Khetia is also the founder of Society Stores, one of the most popular supermarkets in Thika, according to an interview in HomecomingRevolution. Combined, Khetia’s two companies earn revenue exceeding $7 million.
Here’s what he said about being an entrepreneur at a young age: “My age has always been an asset. Starting early has meant I have practically learned business and life lessons five years ahead of my time. I start failing early, learning from my mistakes early and finally achieving the success early as well. No university will teach you life skills and street-smart business skills. You have to learn this by doing, by risking and putting yourself on the line day in day out.”
Sources: Forbes, HomecomingRevolution.
