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HOW WE MADE IT IN AFRICA: THE BOOK
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Private rail in South Africa: ‘A once-in-a-generation opportunity’

The Tanzanian businesswoman seeing millions in fish feed

From beverage cans to gyms: Verod’s investment playbook for West Africa

How to build a $1bn African investment firm

How this entrepreneur turned Nigeria’s cassava into a thriving business

The story of a Made-in-Nigeria footwear company

Entrepreneur interviews

Building a restaurant chain in Nigeria: The story of Toasties

Published by Jaco Maritz on 1 June 2026

Eka Obaigbena noticed a gap in Nigeria’s restaurant market for the fast-casual chains she had grown accustomed to while living overseas.

Private rail in South Africa: ‘A once-in-a-generation opportunity’

Published by Jaco Maritz on 12 May 2026

Youssef Elgonaid, CEO of African Rail Company, discusses building a private rail business on the continent.

The Tanzanian businesswoman seeing millions in fish feed

Published by Jaco Maritz on 7 April 2026

This year, Tanzanian entrepreneur Diana Orembe expects her business, NovFeed, to generate well over $1 million in sales.

Businessman bullish on ‘Made in Africa’

Published by Jaco Maritz on 30 March 2026

Every month, thousands of shipping containers arrive at African ports, filled with goods that Saikat Chowdhury believes should be made on the continent.

How this entrepreneur turned Nigeria’s cassava into a thriving business

Published by Jaco Maritz on 13 March 2026

Yemisi Iranloye quit her job to build an agribusiness company with clients like Nestlé and Unilever.

The story of a Made-in-Nigeria footwear company

Published by Jaco Maritz on 9 February 2026

How Yinka Atunde built Nigerian footwear manufacturer Yikodeen.

Singaporean builds rum brand in Africa

Published by Jaco Maritz on 17 January 2026

Rohan Shah relocated to Rwanda to build a spirits brand that tells Africa’s stories and supports local farmers.

Tearing up the business plan to build Rwanda’s largest chicken farm

Published by Jaco Maritz on 11 January 2026

When Shumei Lam first visited Rwanda in 2011, chicken was considered a luxury that most Rwandans could only afford on special occasions.

Investor interviews

From beverage cans to gyms: Verod’s investment playbook for West Africa

Published by Jaco Maritz on 27 April 2026

Danladi Verheijen discusses his journey as an investor and the lessons he has learnt along the way.

How to build a $1bn African investment firm

Published by Jaco Maritz on 16 April 2026

Richard Okello compares investing in Africa to riding a speedboat through rough seas while trying to drink a glass of wine without spilling a drop.

From Nigeria to Senegal: Investor unpacks West Africa’s agribusiness opportunities

Published by Jaco Maritz on 1 March 2026

Tosin Ojo, a partner at Sahel Capital, shares her insights on successfully investing in West Africa’s agribusiness sector.

Build for the 94%: Nigeria’s Iyinoluwa Aboyeji on business and investing

Published by Staff Writer on 5 October 2025

Iyin Aboyeji reflects on his journey building Andela and Flutterwave, and his shift to investing with Future Africa.

Is social commerce the next big thing for retail in Africa?

Published by Jaco Maritz on 5 September 2025

Natalie Kolbe, general partner at Africa-focused venture capital firm Norrsken22, believes social commerce could transform how Africans shop. In this interview, she explains why.

Behind the scenes of building a private equity firm in Nigeria

Published by Jaco Maritz on 31 July 2025

Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, founder of Aruwa Capital Management, on building and running an investment firm in West Africa.

Investing in African agribusiness, Warren Buffett style

Published by Jaco Maritz on 2 January 2025

Luni Libes, founder and CEO of Africa Eats, discusses investment opportunities in Africa’s agribusiness sector.

How this African-focused investor made her millions

Published by Sanja Gohre on 6 October 2024

Before Sarah Dusek began investing in African startups, she and her husband built Under Canvas, a luxury camping business in the US, which they eventually sold for $100 million. Here is her story.

Takeaways

Where this investor sees the best opportunities in Africa

Published by Staff Writer on 23 May 2026

Richard Okello, co-founder of Sango Capital, highlights the markets where he sees the strongest investment potential.

Gyms in Nigeria: ‘We could be a thousand times larger’

Published by Jaco Maritz on 15 May 2026

“Our membership base is basically 1% of 1% of the population of Nigeria. It’s literally nothing. We’re still just scratching the surface.”

Sell first, produce later

Published by Staff Writer on 4 May 2026

A Tanzanian agribusiness entrepreneur’s business advice.

‘All businesses are hard,’ says Tanzanian entrepreneur

Published by Staff Writer on 23 April 2026

The grass isn’t always greener elsewhere.

‘New Week, We Try Again’: The mantra driving a South African township delivery service

Published by Jaco Maritz on 9 February 2026

Every Monday, employees of Delivery Ka Speed, a South African township-focused logistics company, slip a note into parcels that reads “New Week, We Try Again”.

How these Kenyan entrepreneurs achieved financial freedom by their forties

Published by Jaco Maritz on 4 January 2026

Kenyan entrepreneurs Leonard and Emily Mcharo spent years living far below their means. There were no holidays, no weekend road trips, and no bikes for their children.

The challenge of building an African consumer brand abroad

Published by Jaco Maritz on 18 December 2025

Why African entrepreneurs should think twice before launching in markets like the US and Europe.

From avocados to apples: Entrepreneurs building agribusiness ventures in Tanzania

Published by Staff Writer on 26 August 2025

Avocados and apples are the focus of two ventures that show the range of farming opportunities in Tanzania.

HWMIIA Classics

South Africa: 10 rand (50 US cents) coffee idea grows to 65 stores

Published by Jaco Maritz on 15 February 2025

Xpresso Café is a takeaway coffee chain that started with a simple idea: every item on the menu cost just 10 South African rand.

Is this crop Nigeria’s next big agribusiness opportunity?

Published by Staff Writer on 22 January 2025

Fonio – a gluten-free grain with many nutritional benefits – has been cultivated as a subsistence crop in West Africa for thousands of years.

Malawi: Entrepreneur unlocks agribusiness opportunities

Published by Jaco Maritz on 17 January 2025

The founders of Ziweto Enterprises have capitalised on opportunities in Malawi’s agriculture industry to build a rapidly growing business.

Zambia: The entrepreneur who sold her house to build a fintech business

Published by Jaco Maritz on 22 November 2024

Chilufya Mutale and her husband-turned-business-partner risked everything – their savings, their house, and their cars – to launch their venture.

Backing African Business

Press Office

Africa's Business Heroes Initiative

From Idea to Scale: Why Africa’s entrepreneurs must apply to ABH now

Africa's Business Heroes Initiative

Africa’s entrepreneurs are building the future and time is running out to join them

Africa's Business Heroes Initiative

Africa’s Business Heroes launches 8th edition with $1.5m in funding available for African entrepreneurs

Africa's Business Heroes Initiative

Diana Orembe from Tanzania Wins the 7th Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition

Backing African Business

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Building a restaurant chain in Nigeria: The story of Toasties

Published by Jaco Maritz on 1 June 2026

Where this investor sees the best opportunities in Africa

Published by Staff Writer on 23 May 2026

Gyms in Nigeria: ‘We could be a thousand times larger’

Published by Jaco Maritz on 15 May 2026

Sell first, produce later

Published by Staff Writer on 4 May 2026

From beverage cans to gyms: Verod’s investment playbook for West Africa

Published by Jaco Maritz on 27 April 2026

‘All businesses are hard,’ says Tanzanian entrepreneur

Published by Staff Writer on 23 April 2026

How to build a $1bn African investment firm

Published by Jaco Maritz on 16 April 2026

The Tanzanian businesswoman seeing millions in fish feed

Published by Jaco Maritz on 7 April 2026

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How we made it in Africa is published by Maritz Publishing CC. South African company registration: 1986/016729/23. Maritz Publishing disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, injury or expense however caused, arising from the use of, or reliance upon, in any manner, the information provided through this service and does not warrant the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information provided. The publisher's permission is required to reproduce the contents in any form. Copyright © 2026 — Maritz Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

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