Two Ugandan entrepreneurs were among the six Africans that were awarded $15,000 by the Pamoja Founders Project, to scale their ventures.
Brendah Nantongo of Veathari Ventures Limited and Juliet Namwanje of Ziimba Uganda were lauded for their innovative ventures which aim to address critical food security challenges in Uganda.
The Pamoja Founders Project is a collaborative development program by IREX, the PepsiCo Foundation, and PepsiCo.
The announcement of the winners at the weekend followed a competitive pitch competition held in Nairobi, Kenya, post a four-day boot camp for the Pamoja entrepreneurs.
“We are here to celebrate and acknowledge the entrepreneurial spirits and journeys of the inaugural cohort of the Pamoja Founders Project,” said George Kogolla, IREX’s Country Director for Kenya and East Africa.
C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation & Global Head of Social Impact for PepsiCo said they believe no single entity can solve an issue alone .
“Working together with our partners and the communities we serve is key to ensuring our solutions are locally tailored for lasting impact,” he said.
Roshan Paul, Director of Leadership at IREX said the cohort exceeded their expectations with their passion, thoughtfulness, and commitment to advancing food security across Africa.
Wael Ismail, Vice President – Corporate Affairs in Africa, Middle East, and South Asia (AMESA), PepsiCo said they are committed to working with innovators and changemakers to catalyze and shape a more sustainable food system for Africa.
“Each of the Pamoja entrepreneurs’ ventures addressed critical challenges and we look forward to being an integral a part of their journey to further success,” he said.
IREX will support the entire cohort for the next three months as they complete the program. After the project, the Pamoja Founders will join a vibrant, supportive pan-African network of IREX alumni.
2024 winners of the $15,000 grants
- Abdul de Almeida, Co-Founder, Crimas, Orza and FAE; Mozambique
- Juliet Namwanje, Founder, Ziimba; Uganda
- Brendah Nantongo, Founder, Veathari Ventures Limited; Uganda
- Okullow, Founder, Agriboom; Kenya
- Dr. Akpem Terese Shadrach, Founder, Vet Konect; Nigeria
