Tracy Batta
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Smoothie Express, Tracy Batta’s quest to live her life like a healthy fruit basket started in 2014. Blending fruits together into a smoothie detox and packaging them to work proved tedious and time-consuming for 29-year-old Batta, prompting her to decide on starting a smoothie delivery company on a professional scale. With $10,000 startup capital raised together with her husband and business partner Omowunmi Akande from their savings, she built a website, purchased a motorcycle for deliveries, and started Smoothie Express.
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Despite being confronted by numerous challenges which threatened the existence of the business, Smoothie Express has grown to be headquartered in Lagos with three modern stores. The company currently has a team of 35 workers with produce coming from over 15 farms across Nigeria. Tracy Batta plans to go global with Smoothie Express, with locations across African countries by 2025.
Olajumoke Oduwole
After quitting her previous job, Olajumoke Oduwole, 28, (Founder and CEO and Senior Web Developer, KJK Communication Limited) ventured into the tech world in May 2014 with her bedroom capital of $300. KJK Communication Limited was founded by Olajumoke as a one-woman business, capable of writing 16 programming languages. The realization that not many small businesses accessed skilled programmers and tech experts was the motivation behind the establishment of her company.
This meant small businesses have a disadvantage from the start.
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This observation piqued my interest in serving this under-served population.
Olajumoke Oduwole
Presently, the business has 18 full-time employees and works on a project basis with 37 contract programmers. One of the apps built by the company includes tru-DATA, an app owned by TrippleGee & Co. Plc. a security company, and resulted in a contract worth $2 million.
Swanky Jerry
Nigerian celebrity fashion stylist, Jeremiah Ogbodo Ike, popularly known as Swanky Jerry is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Swanky Signatures. The world of red carpets, glamour, lights and cameras are synonymous with 28-year-old Swanky Jerry. A household name in African fashion industry, Swanky has dressed popular African and International celebrities such as Davido, Pearl Thusi, Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage, Nyanda, AKA, Sarkodie, D’Banj, African presidents and first ladies.
Swanky Jerry whose love for fashion started at a young age launched his brand, Swanky Signatures Styling in 2012, an outfit that has gone on to become one of the most influential and popular brands in the African fashion world. Featured internationally by CNN, Swanky is also synonymous with titles like social influencer and consultant, designer, celebrity stylist, creative director, and wardrobe stylist.
Source:
Forbes Africa
Featured Image Sources: Top Naija NG
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