Nathalie Munyampenda is an educator and CEO of Kepler which is transforming higher education and skilling in Rwanda and Ethiopia by focusing on the outcomes of employment & entrepreneurship- 90% of Kepler's students are employed within 6 months of graduation. Kepler also runs preparatory programs for displaced and vulnerable youth and upskilling programs in order to transition Africa's youth into meaningful employment or entrepreneurship. Prior to Kepler, Nathalie was Managing Director of the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) which positions Africa's scientists and innovators at the heart of global development and reframes Africa's contributions and ambitions. Before her time at the NEF, Nathalie was Coordinator (DG) of Rwanda's Office of the Government Spokesperson. Nathalie holds a Master's in Strategic Communication from Seton Hall University in the US.

Journalism and visual arts graduate Amena Elsaie has set her sights on ensuring full inclusion in the workforce for the estimated 64 million persons with disabilities in the Middle East and North Africa region. The disability champion’s Helm impacts more than 200 government and private institutions in Egypt and beyond. Helm provides customized training, policy frameworks, and recruitment and retention strategies that offer sustainable solutions for including people with disabilities in the workplace, the marketplace, and events. In addition, Helm empowers persons living with disabilities to navigate workplaces. World authorities have recognized Amena’s approach to Helm’s pioneering employment and accessibility practices.

Anisha Kigongo Naluyinda is an accomplished communications and public relations leader with extensive experience in strategic marketing, media relations, and stakeholder engagement across Africa. As Senior Public Relations & Communications Manager at One Acre Fund Rwanda, she has spearheaded campaigns that boosted brand visibility and significantly expanded outreach, including impactful initiatives that reached over one million farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. An advocate for community-driven growth, Anisha is passionate about empowering local voices and fostering partnerships that drive social and economic development. Her dynamic leadership and commitment to meaningful communication continue to shape the landscape of development communications in the region.

Dr Brenda Kateera is an impact driven global health specialist, epidemiologist, and researcher with more than more than 20 years’ experience in leading large public health programs, in academia and in policy.

Committed to the mission of saving millions of lives and improving access to essential quality health services and commodities, she is currently the Country Director for Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in Rwanda where she partners with the Government of Rwanda to strengthen health systems and ensure universal healthcare coverage. Prior to that she was the Rwanda Country Director for AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) that supported HIV services to more than 1,600,000 people in 46 countries. She also was the Director of the Grants and Research Center and senior lecturer at University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences where she was responsible for developing a self-sustainable research support center with the aim of strengthening research capacity and stimulating a research culture at the college and ensuring knowledge translation into policy.

She also worked as a physician at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Uganda and researcher at Makerere University- Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration where she mainly investigated novel ways of HIV prevention and implementation science projects. Dr Kateera has also led and coordinated various multi-donor and partner research and training initiatives and has several peer reviewed publications and is an invited speaker at several conferences and meetings. She also serves on several boards and advisory groups.

Dr Brenda Kateera has a medical degree from Makerere University- Uganda and Masters degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University-USA and is currently a visiting scientist and LEAD Fellow at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, USA.

Hasan Haider has over 14 years of experience investing in MENA startups. Hasan is the Founder and Managing Partner of +VC, one of the most active early stage venture capital firms focused on the MENA region. Hasan was previously Managing Partner, MENA at 500 Startups and led the firm's growth in the MENA Region. Hasan has invested in more than 250 startups in the region over the course of the last 5 years, and was selected as one of the top Venture Capitalists in the MENA region in 2024 by Forbes.

Prior to 500, Hasan was the co-founder and CEO of Tenmou, the first business angel’s organization in Bahrain and one of the first in the MENA region. Hasan’s work in developing angel investment has been picked up as a case study by the World Bank and Babson College. Previously, Hasan’s career was in finance and investment banking at Sico where he spent a number of years. Hasan received his BSc in Economics at University College London.

Nick Hu is the Executive Director of Healthcare at Sand Technologies, driving the digitization of over 700 public health facilities across the continent. He is also one of the Founders of Deliver.Health, a thinktank/startup studio hybrid that is exploring holistic health system innovation. Nick previously was the Head of Global Operations at Zipline, growing the company’s operations across the continent, serving hundreds of hospitals with just-in-time drone deliveries. Prior to that, Nick founded a telemedicine company that connected millions of patients globally to a dermatologist and a motorcycle ambulance system that connected mothers to emergency care in Tanzania.

Father of five, entrepreneur in the heart, scientist in the lab & BBQ master in every out trip. Dr. Omar Sakr is the founder and CEO of Nawah-Scientific, Africa’s biggest online destination to outsource scientific experiments in the fields of natural and biomedical sciences. He is a pharmacist by education and holds a PhD in pharmaceutical technology from the University of Geneva, and an MBA from HULT business school in London. His career extends over 18 years of experience in the pharmaceutical field, both in academia and industry. His workplaces include Egypt, Switzerland and Germany.

Sherrie Silver is a globally celebrated choreographer, creative director, speaker, and a recipient of the prestigious Time 100 Impact Award for her philanthropy. Best known for choreographing Childish Gambino’s iconic “This Is America,” which earned her the MTV VMA for Best Choreography. Sherrie is also the United Nations IFAD Advocate for Rural Youth, a Malaria No More Ambassador, and the founder of the Sherrie Silver Foundation and the Silver Gala, an event celebrating Rwandan culture and creativity.

The Sherrie Silver Foundation provides access to education through the provision of school fees, accommodation, and nutrition to hundreds of underprivileged children and youths in Rwanda. The foundation also focuses on talent development, equipping young people with the resources and opportunities needed to create brighter futures, empowering them to use their talents to lift themselves out of poverty.

Sherrie has worked for global stars such as Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, French Montana, and Rita Ora, as well as major brands like Apple, Amazon, and YouTube. She has collaborated on numerous occasions with Vogue on movement direction projects, including The Met Gala, and choreographed acclaimed films such as Sing 2 and Minions: The Rise of Gru (TUTS). Sherrie is on a mission to showcase African culture on a global stage, getting the world to celebrate Africa, while ensuring that Africans benefit from the celebration of their culture, inspiring the next generation of African creatives.

Ivy Wanjiru Mugo, widely known as 'Just Ivy Africa,' is an Award-Winning Marketer, Content Creator, Digital Entrepreneur, and Investor. Recognized among the 100 Most Impactful Voices, 50 Most Influential Women, and Top 25 Women in Digital in Kenya in 2024, she also won LinkedIn Influencer of the Year 2024.

With over 15 years of expertise in Digital and Experiential Brand Building, Ivy has emerged as a Pan-African Voice in Money Matters, an adept Conversation Moderator, and a skillful Experience Curator. She uses her platforms to simplify and share financial education for women and youth across Africa.

Ivy founded The Movers' Society, a life literary academy empowering individuals with financial literacy, public speaking, and career transformation. In under a year, the society has educated 331 students, helped Movers invest over $400,000, and grown a newsletter with 7,000+ subscribers.

Anita is a visionary media and communications leader with over two decades of experience driving transformative change across Africa and beyond. As the Executive Director of Erskine Global Communications, she leads a dynamic firm specializing in communications training, strategy development, media consulting, and audiovisual production. Anita’s expertise spans strategic communications, gender equality, economic integration, digital innovation, and youth empowerment, all of which she champions through impactful storytelling and global advocacy.

Since 2020, Anita has served as the official host of Africa’s Business Heroes, the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship entrepreneurial program. Through this role, she has become an integral part of Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, training over 100 finalists annually and amplifying their stories to a global audience. Her dynamic storytelling, strategic guidance, and mentorship continue to empower entrepreneurs and inspire transformative change across the continent and the Diaspora.

Known for her exceptional skills as an event moderator, Anita has hosted over 700 high-level global forums and conferences, including key events like the Mjadala Afrika Leadership Debate (African Union Headquarters) , AfCFTA’s Biashara Afrika ( Kigali) and the Qatar Africa Business Forum (Marakech).

Anita’s advocacy work centers on empowering women and youth, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063. Through initiatives like The Leadership Voice Institute and her role as an advisor to organizations like the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative, she fosters leadership development, gender equality, and youth inclusion in global decision-making.

Anita has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential African Women (2024) and among the 500 Most Influential Africans in the World (2021).

She holds a Master’s in Communications Management from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies from Trent University, both in Ontario Canada.

Environmental science graduate Charlot Magayi had barely exited her teens when she started Mukuru Clean Stoves to eliminate life-threatening household air pollution for millions while saving them millions of dollars in fuel costs. Her infant daughter’s burn injury from a traditional stove spurred Charlot to take action and develop a safer option. Mukuru uses locally recycled metals to manufacture stoves that retail for 75% less than alternatives. Fueled by a composite of charcoal, wood, and sugarcane, they yield a 70% reduction in household air pollution. Increasing monthly production from 5,000 to 10,000 units, Mukuru has distributed more than 250,000 affordable, reliable stoves.

Dr. Ikpeme Neto transitioned from internal medicine to health and financial technology to solve the problems of out-of-pocket costs that limit medication and quality healthcare. In Nigeria, 72% of healthcare costs are borne by individuals, and the health system is characterized by low access. WellaHealth, the company he founded, integrates health and technology to fulfill his vision of providing “health financing for the next billion”.

Initially, Ikpeme established the company to enable pharmacy automation. He then pivoted to use technology to improve the uptake and administration of health insurance across Africa, offering an innovative health insurance option for as little as $1 per month. This way, WellaHealth has successfully made healthcare available to more. than 100,000 patients, generating substantial monthly revenue by reducing costs and improving accessibility.

By collaborating with local pharmacies and other healthcare providers, the former internal health physician turned digital entrepreneur drives economies of scale, matching the combined demands from insurers and health enterprises with technology, training, and group purchasing. With more than 50% of all insurers and 2,000 health providers connected through its platform, the uptake in WellaHealth’s microhealth plans has already exceeded 40,000 subscribers, and Ikpeme’s is now focused on tapping into the $44 million African market.

WellaHealth’s telemedicine innovation has also harnessed the investments of Nigerians in the diaspora, who can now cover insurance for families through its trusted insurance option and credible network of healthcare and medication providers. Supported by a social media campaign #SendGoodHealthHome, WellaHealth offers Nigerians abroad a wallet system via its website. Subscribers can deposit funds to cover insurance, order reputable medicine and laboratory tests, and even schedule medical appointments for family members.

Kenyan Thomas Njeru co-founded Pula Advisors to provide much-needed insurance to smallholder farmers whose limited resources had previously excluded them from accessing cover. Using technology to leapfrog their challenges, Pula develops innovative agricultural micro-insurance products and digital solutions that help farmers mitigate risks by managing yield uncertainties and enhancing their farming techniques.

Pula’s remote sensing and machine learning innovations identify agroecological zones and employ technology to help small-scale farmers improve farming methods and avoid yield risks. In this way, Pula helps farmers to boost their incomes too.

Naa Ashorkor is a Ghanaian journalist and TV morning show host of the leading breakfast show in Ghana; TV3 New Day. She is the producer and host of "We Got This Africa" a TVshow focusing on the unique stories of African women across the continent.

She has been known as a multifaceted Ghanaian broadcaster, actor, entrepreneur and event host and moderator. With over 15 years of experience in the media industry, she has become a prominent voice in Ghana's media, entertainment and current affairs landscape.

Naa Ashorkor has been ranked as one of the 100 most influential women in Ghana in 2016 by The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE).  She was also ranked as the most influential on-air presenter in Ghana in 2016 according to the Ghana Social Media Rankings

In 2010, Naa Ashorkor won the Best Actress award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards for her role in "The Perfect Picture" (2009) and CEO of the year, SME at the 2024 Ghana CEO Awards.

Naa Ashorkor has hosted leading events in Ghana and Dubai and moderated many panels focusing on entrepreneurship, mental health, women empowerment, and the African Continental Free Trade Area. Her diverse career spans radio, television, theater, and is celebrated for her authenticity and sincerity, connecting with audiences from various demographics.

Naa Ashorkor is a thought leader in creative arts, entrepreneurship, women's mental & maternal health, and fashion. She is also a brand ambassador for a number of reputable brands and organisations. Her impact extends beyond screens, making her a respected figure in both the entertainment industry and social causes.

Naa Ashorkor is a thought leader in creative arts, entrepreneurship, women's mental & maternal health, and fashion. She is also a brand ambassador for a number of reputable brands and organisations. Her impact extends beyond screens, making her a respected figure in both the entertainment industry and social causes.

Amadou Daffe returned to Ethiopia from the U.S. to build a Pan-African tech talent marketplace in Ethiopia, Gebeya, to equip African IT professionals with the skills needed to compete globally. Geyeba is dedicated to nurturing excellence and invests in a rigorous onboarding and upskilling process to ensure only the top tech talents find their place within its talent pool. In collaboration with Mastercard Foundation and other partners, Gebeya co-created Mesirat (“work” in Amharic), a five-year, multi-phase program to generate job opportunities for one million highly skilled gig economy workers. The seminal Mesirat initiative focuses on women and youth.

Georgie Ndirangu is an award-winning journalist, trained broadcaster and global moderator, having worked with the BBC, CNBC and Forbes Africa, and interviewed tens of Heads of State and figures around the world. He has a background in Actuarial Science, and expertise in the development world, which he executed for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Evercare, and other organizations across Africa, Asia, Middle East, and the UK. Before his current role he led the Pan-African Program communications department at the Mastercard Foundation. He is now Director of Programs at the Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute, and serves on the board of the Doris Mollel Foundation, focused on neonatal care in East Africa, plus as a Now Generation Member at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Kennedy Ekezie is the Founder of Limitless: a technology and talent development organization that prepares the next generation of young people for socially purposeful and economically productive lives. Through Limitless, Kennedy leads a mission that equips young people with the tools, programs, resources, and supportive community they need to realize their ambitions and achieve lasting success.

Kennedy studied the belief systems of ancient civilizations that achieved social prosperity; and has worked in the technology, management consulting, and development sectors globally for 10 years. Before Limitless, Kennedy founded Kippa to empower Africa’s 100 million+ small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with digital tools for sustainable growth. Kippa was backed with $10M by the best fintech investors in the world.

Prior to Kippa, Kennedy lived in Beijing, where he spearheaded TikTok's entry into Africa, contributing towards its growth to become the continent's second most-used app with over 100 million users in five years. He was awarded the prestigious Yenching Scholarship, and studied towards a Master’s Degree in Economics at Peking University, where he examined China’s demographic and socio-cultural foundations for economic prosperity.

Kennedy was Nigeria’s top-ranked competitive debater from 2015 to 2017, participating in and judging tournaments at 52 universities worldwide. His achievements have been recognized by prominent figures, including Queen Elizabeth II, President Obama’s Young African Leaders Fellowship, Prime Minister Theresa May, Sir John Major, David Beckham, Caroline Kennedy, and Nile Rodgers.

As a professional speaker, Kennedy frequently addresses global audiences on topics such as Technology, Entrepreneurship, the Future of Work, Diversity, and Youth Mindset at venues like the United Nations, TEDx, Forbes Summit and Fortune 100 companies.

Oluwatosin Olaseinde is a highly experienced chartered accountant with a decade of expertise in accounting, auditing, taxation, and corporate finance. She is also the Founder/CEO of Money Africa, an innovative ed-tech platform designed to equip over 200,000 individuals with financial literacy and investment skills using technology. Her deep understanding of financial literacy has driven her to create an ecosystem of financially literate individuals through her platform. Her passion for developing a platform that provides Millennials and Gen Z equal access to wealth accumulation techniques led to the creation of Money Africa and Ladda.

Oluwatosin, a graduate of the University of Johannesburg and other higher institutions has established a credible reputation for simplifying complex financial concepts into easily understandable language. Her dedication to educating thousands of social media followers earned her the 2020 LinkedIn Top Voice of Finance and Economy award. Her discussion topics include budgeting, debt, saving, and investments. Furthermore, her multichannel communication platforms allow for relatability with her community and help champion the financial literacy movement in Africa.

Oluwatosin is a Washington Mandela Fellow and a finalist for The Future Awards in 2019. She was also chosen as one of the top 100 women by The Leading Ladies Africa and was among the top 8 traders by CNBC Africa in 2012. Oluwatosin is a Golden Key International Honour Society member and has delivered a TEDx talk. She has been featured on BBC UK, Al Jazeera, CNN, Guardian, and other media outlets. Additionally, she's recognized as one of the Top 50 African Business Heroes.

She strongly advocates financial literacy and women's empowerment in Africa. She has been featured in several interviews expressing her support for women's financial independence. Oluwatosin believes that empowering women financially will also empower their families and communities. In addition, she encourages private and public companies to create an inclusive environment for women, as financially literate employees are happier and more productive.

Oluwatosin's Money Africa is the go-to organization for financial education, offering a vast array of resources that cover critical financial topics. Their ed-tech platform provides subscribers with everything they need to know about treasury bills, currency risk, local and foreign stock investment, government bonds, asset allocation, and agritech. The company also targets kids via its subsidiary - Money Africa Kids. Money Africa Kids is a company subsidiary dedicated to developing financial literacy skills in young children, equipping them with the knowledge they need to secure a financially independent future. Ladda, another brainchild of Oluwatosin, has revolutionized financial services by serving as a one-stop-shop for all financial needs, providing information on investment opportunities to those whose traditional financial needs have previously been underserved.

Described as "the new face of money" by The Guardian, Oluwatosin continues to break newer grounds in championing financial literacy in Africa. With her smart team, she aims to spread the message of personal finance to as many as she can and advise them on wise decisions to make the best of their money.

Serge, a Princeton-educated engineer turned venture capitalist, is a co-founder and Partner at Higa Capital, a Kigali-based firm focused on seeding innovation in African financial services. His diverse background, combining a rigorous technical foundation with hands-on experience in business development and venture capital, uniquely equips him to identify and nurture early-stage startups with the potential to transform the industry.

At Higa Capital, Serge is actively building a portfolio of investments in companies that are developing cutting-edge solutions to expand financial access and inclusion across the continent. His experience supporting high-growth tech companies at the Rwanda Innovation Fund, advising on strategic initiatives at Inyange Industries, and spearheading new product development for a major player in Rwanda's milling sector, has given him a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing African entrepreneurs. Additionally, his early career experience building partnerships with hundreds of companies and public entities at The BRIDGE Talent Services instilled in him a deep appreciation for the power of connecting the right talent with the right opportunities.

Serge's own entrepreneurial journey, which began with founding and scaling a logistics tech company after graduating from Princeton University with a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering, has given him a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by early-stage ventures. This experience fuels his passion for mentoring and supporting the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

Albert Munyabugingo took advantage of a gap in the market and established Vuba Vuba Africa, now a thriving delivery platform in Rwanda’s food and goods delivery space. With the closure of his former employer, a well-known African online delivery service, he used his expertise to launch Vuba Vuba and employed most of his former company’s personnel. Leveraging his degree in networking and communications, Albert promises delivery within an hour. Vuva Vuba boasts more than 1.3 million completed trips since 2020. Plans include expanding to Burundi and acquiring a fleet of refrigerated vans to enhance the farmer-to-restaurant relationship.

Belise Kanimba Niwemwari is a healthcare innovation expert dedicated to driving sustainable solutions across Africa. She currently serves as Senior Strategic Advisor to the Director General at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the implementing institution for the Rwanda Ministry of Health. In this role, Belise provides strategic guidance on public health, primary healthcare, medical research, and AI-driven healthcare innovation, collaborating with key stakeholders, including government institutions, ministries, international development partners, donors, and leading global health organizations.

Belise is also the founder of Bridge Point Africa, a consulting firm advancing partnerships in health, technology, and innovation.

Previously, she played a pivotal role at the Novartis Foundation’s HealthTech Hub Africa in Kigali, supporting the growth of innovative health tech startups and driving impactful solutions to improve healthcare access and delivery across the continent. With extensive experience in resource management, public-private collaborations, and securing strategic partnerships, she is passionate about advancing digital health innovation and strengthening ecosystems for sustainable healthcare development. Her background also includes work as a Health System Strengthening Consultant and Clinical Trial Monitor, with expertise in regulatory frameworks, data privacy, and digital health solutions.

Belise holds a Master’s degree in Medical Science with a focus on Bioentrepreneurship from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from The College of Idaho.

Jean Michel Habineza is a Rwandan social entrepreneur dedicated to empowering youth and fostering peace-building. As a co-founder of 'Peace and Love Proclaimers: Youth for a Change' in 2007, he spearheaded initiatives such as Walk to Remember, Forgiveness a step to reconciliation that aimed at promoting unity and reconciliation among the Post-Genocide Generation in Rwanda.

In 2012, Jean Michel co-founded iDebate Rwanda, an influential debate program that equips students with the art of public discourse. Under his leadership, iDebate Rwanda went from working with 12 schools to partnering with 130 schools, benefiting over 5000 students.

Notably, Rwandan students achieved significant milestones by winning the 2017 African Debate Championship and the esteemed Rollins Cup, alongside prestigious institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge Universities. A TEDx speaker, Jean Michel has delivered captivating talks on civil discourse and has addressed over 60 universities in the USA. His exceptional work has garnered recognition, including the 2016 Public Advocate of the Year award bestowed by CEDA, the largest intercollegiate debate program in the USA.

Jean Michel is also a communication coach who enjoys equipping people to have a voice. He has coached entrepreneurs, and leaders on how to communicate effectively about their work.

Jean Michel is also a communication coach who enjoys equipping people to have a voice. He’s a contributor to the Book Debate as Global Pedagogy: Rwanda Rising, which talks about how communication can help us end atrocities in the 21st century.

Jean Michel holds a Master's degree in Social Entrepreneurship and Change from Pepperdine University, complemented by a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Towson University. His accomplishments have been featured in notable publications like the Foreign Policy Journal and Huffington Post."

Michaëlla Rugwizangoga is a distinguished leader with 15 years of experience in strategic development, investment promotion, and public-private partnerships across Africa and Europe. She is a World Economic Forum Global Council Member on Tourism and has significantly contributed to the advancement of Rwanda’s tourism sector as the former Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board. Michaëlla pioneered tech-driven health solutions across Africa with the Tony Blair Institute during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously the first black CEO at Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda, she was named among Africa's top 100 women CEOs. Michaëlla holds a master's degree in Environmental Toxicology from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, with further certifications from Wharton and Yale. A committed community advocate, she serves on several boards focusing on empowering women and youth.

Tamim is a co-founder of Seedstars Africa Ventures, an early-stage fund leading investment rounds in pre-series A and series A startups across the continent, with a large follow-on capacity. In addition to capital, Seedstars Africa Ventures brings significant hands-on operational resources to support entrepreneurs on the ground, leveraging existing networks and operations in 25 African countries.

Before co-founding Seedstars Africa Ventures, Tamim was an entrepreneur in Africa and has experienced firsthand the difficulties in the operational setup and financial distress entrepreneurs face on the Continent. Tamim is an entrepreneur at heart, having also been the COO of a high-growth tech startup in Europe, and he has been on both sides of the table, having led VC and M&A deals as an investor.

Tamim started his career as a strategy consultant in the innovation and telco industries, working mostly in the Middle East and Africa region before joining the strategy team of the world leader in B2B payment and authentication solutions, including in Africa. Tamim regularly serves as an advisor and mentor to startups.

In most African countries, more than 90% of retail transactions occur through traditional channels and in cash. Small businesses often close shop to procure stock and lose sales. To address this, computer science graduate Tesh Mbaabu co-founded MarketForce in 2018, intending to change this for merchants by building digital commerce tools such as RejaReja (retail in Swahili). RejaReja is a B2B commerce super app that empowers neighborhood merchants to source, order, and pay for inventory, access financing, and earn more by reselling financial services in their communities.

Ondiro is an International News correspondent with a background in business and financial journalism. She has a passion for TV with nearly a decade of experience in broadcast across the sub-Saharan Africa region. She currently reports for Bloomberg Horizons, Afroca Amplified, Day Break Europe, and occasionally The Pulse with Francine Lacqua.

Through her lustrous career, Ondiro has covered COVID-19 and the market response, Debt, default and restructuring across the continent, Climate change, Global and regional financial ecosystem, Elections, Fiscal and Monetary policy and sectors such as Agriculture, Transport, Tourism and their contribution to GDP.

Ondiro has a flair for power packed converstaions having interviewd central bank governors, Heads of financial institutions such as IFC, IMF, AFC and world bank, renowned economists, CEOs and heads of states such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria.

She is also a seasoned Moderator having worked on high profile plenary sessions across the world. Her standout moment was moderating a panel at the UN LDC 5 in Doha, Qatar. Most recently, Ondiro Co-hosted the inaugural Ted-Women in Kigali. She previously moderated for KAM, EAC, UN Women, AU, IFC, AfDB and The World Bank.

She has extensive knowledge of global economic themes underpinned by a degree in Journalism and mass communicatin, Post Graduate diploma in economics and public policy and a certificate in Financial Journalism.

Yvette Ishimwe's mission to offer Rwandans affordable drinking water began when her family moved to the countryside, where it was in short supply, and people were at risk from waterborne diseases. Demand from communities led to the business management graduate establishing IRIBA Water Group in 2017 to distribute purified water through a network of community cyclists. IRIBA’s evolution to novel water ATMs in schools and communities and solar water pumps in hard-to-reach valleys incorporates advanced filtration technology and water storage tanks. Iriba makes clean water accessible to more than 74,500 people daily through 73 sites run by women and youth franchisees.

Dr. Chibuzo Opara co-founded Drugstoc, a cutting-edge, cloud-based pharma tech distribution platform in Nigeria, in 2015, with dreams of becoming Africa’s most significant last mile pharmaceutical distribution player. Deeply affected by the challenges faced in his own medical practice, Chibuzo’s determination was further fueled by the tragic loss of his father, a professor of surgery, due to the lack of medicines that should have been easily accessible. By embracing technology and innovation, Drugstoc has triumphed over the hurdles of poor supply chain management and counterfeit drugs to procure and deliver verifiable pharmaceuticals from reputable manufacturers to more than 3,000 healthcare providers.

Huguette Umutoni Bitega is a global advocate with extensive experience in high-level partnerships and diplomacy. She collaborates with heads of state, private sector leaders, and key figures from the creative industries to drive transformative initiatives. Her work spans education, youth empowerment, investment, and the creative sectors, leveraging influential voices and global platforms to champion causes that foster both social and economic transformation.

Throughout her career, Huguette has built strategic alliances with global leaders to advance key development goals. Her involvement in policy discussions and collaborations has helped accelerate innovation and drive sustainable change. This exposure to high-level engagements has enabled her to tap into influential networks, facilitating meaningful dialogues that shape global development agendas.

At the heart of her work is storytelling—she believes in the power of narratives to change perceptions and inspire action. By crafting compelling stories, she aims to reshape how regions like Africa are viewed globally and how Africans perceive themselves. She strives to ensure that education, creativity, and youth empowerment remain critical tools for societal transformation.

Mike Ndimurukundo is the Managing Director at Andela Rwanda, a role he has been in for the past three years. Before this, he was the Senior Manager of the Developer Community, where he spearheaded unique, data-driven initiatives and scalable programs.

Mike has 16 years of experience driving organizational growth, leveraging expertise across tech, ed-tech, entrepreneurship, and business. He has a passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and Ed-Tech, and how this can be leveraged to empower Africans.

Abdelhameed Sharara is the founder and CEO of RiseUp, the Middle East and Africa's leading startup platform, renowned for organizing the annual RiseUp Summit. This summit attracts over 5,000 attendees from 52 countries each year, serving as a pivotal event that unites the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Prior to establishing RiseUp in November 2013, Sharara worked at INJAZ Egypt, where he played a significant role in creating the first startup pipeline across all Junior Achievement countries worldwide. This program design was honored with the MetLife Foundation Award for its outstanding impact.

Sharara's professional journey also includes experience as an English conversation and soft-skills trainer at Dale Carnegie and Berlitz. Additionally, he co-founded and served as the business development manager of Adams, a soft skills and training company. He holds a degree from Ain Shams University's Faculty of Law (English Section) and was the founder of the Ain Shams Model Arab League.

Recognized for his contributions to entrepreneurship and innovation, Sharara is a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers Community, a network of young individuals distinguished by their exceptional potential, achievements, and drive.

Under Sharara's leadership, RiseUp has been acknowledged as a top ecosystem enabler in the MENA region, connecting thousands of startups to essential resources and fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial culture.

Wairimu is a seasoned finance and operations executive with over 13 years of experience in financial services, healthcare, and management consulting. As the Chief Operations Officer at Food4Education, she drives strategic operations, business scaling, financial strategy, risk management and the implementation of robust internal controls.

Passionate about financial excellence, leveraging technology for operational efficiency and sustainable growth, Wairimu plays a key role in advancing Food4Education’s mission. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the award-winning, locally rooted, and African-led nonprofit organization is committed to ending classroom hunger. Currently serving over 500,000 nutritious meals daily to children in more than 1,300 schools across Kenya; the organization has set ambitious goals to feed 1 million children per day in Kenya by 2027 and expand its reach to serve an additional 2 million children daily in two other African countries by 2030. With over a decade of experience in school feeding, Food4Education is pioneering a scalable, nutritious, and affordable blueprint to transform school feeding programs across Africa—shaping the future of the world’s youngest continent.

Wairimu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from KCA University, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K), and earned an Executive MBA from United States International University - Africa. She has also completed an Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School.

Fiona Muthoni Naringwa is a leading business journalist and event moderator. She currently hosts a weekly business program on Rwanda Broadcasting Agency and previously served as a senior producer and anchor on CNBC Africa's flagship market show, Power Lunch East Africa, for six years.

Fiona has moderated and hosted a range of prestigious events, including the official launch of BioNTech's inaugural mRNA vaccine manufacturing plant in Rwanda, attended by multiple Heads of State and Government. Her portfolio also includes events like the CAF President's Outstanding Award Ceremony, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), and the Africa CEO Forum, among others.

Driven by a curiosity to tell impactful stories, Fiona is passionate about understanding how everyday actions shape the economy. Her work is deeply rooted in promoting sustainable development in Africa, focusing on key areas such as finance, technology, business, women and youth empowerment, climate change, and the continent's creative economy.

Christelle Kwizera, is a Rwandan mechanical engineer, social entrepreneur and climate finance specialist. She is the CEO and Founder of Water Access Rwanda, an award-winning innovative social enterprise focused on affordable provision of safe and conveniently piped water in Africa. More than10 years, the company is the very first private utility in Rwanda. An activist at heart, Christelle is involved in initiatives around environmental, youth and gender issues, for which she has received multiple awards and fellowships.

Nino is a curious, and open-minded learner passionate about improving the internal infrastructure of business industries and organizations by using technology and data to spark change in growth and development.

With core technicalities in Business, Technology, and Research, and keen interests in the Sustainability and Healthcare space, he is actively working to develop sustainable and technology-enabled solutions to challenges in those fields.

Currently, he is building a startup, Sekofia – a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform in the health insurance management industry while he continues to seek opportunities in finding creative and sustainable solutions to the biggest challenges in Africa.

Outside of work, he loves playing soccer, listening to music, writing poetry pieces, and watching thrilling movies.