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Africa’s 20 Entrepreneurs Make Business Case
Africa’s 20 entrepreneurs will be presenting a business case for investment at Viridis Africa in October and among them will be Ben van Rooyen, CEO, ZEO Africa
Zeo Africa was established in 2013 in order to commercialise ZeoForm, a patented product developed by Zeo IP, an Australian company.
ZeoForm granules and products made from the granules are completely biodegradable, non toxic, and compostable.
These capabilities are developed through chemical bonding at the molecular level, making ZeoForm and its derivatives nanotechnology compounds and products.
Zeo Africa has exclusive rights to all proprietary intellectual property of Zeo IP in South Africa, including patents, trade secrets, methods and plans for the production of ZeoForm granules and products, and all trademarks and copyrights.
Zeo Africa also has non-exclusive rights to the technology for the rest of the African continent, with a first right of refusal for an exclusive license in any country.
“Zeo Africa’s mission is to develop and commercialize ZeoForm and derivatives – transforming recovered and renewable cellulose fibers into an array of new eco-materials for specialized and everyday use. By doing this we intend to be a leading African supplier for companies seeking biodegradable and recyclable raw materials,” said Ben van Rooyen, CEO of Zeo Africa.
Another entrepreneur is Joel Arcus, BioWaste Technologies. Joel is a man of vision and intention. A dedicated father and husband who is passionate about the environment and believes that a community involved in sustainable, bio-friendly solutions is the way to heal our planet.
“I am a firm believer that education, integrity, purpose and uplifting others will build humanity as a whole and allow for the alleviation of poverty and afford others the opportunity to achieve success and establish a bright future for generations to come.”
Joel is the general manager of Green Waste Energy Development Africa which is developing green waste to energy projects in Africa.
He is also the director of BioWaste Technologies (PTY) LTD. BioWaste Technologies (PTY) LTD is a consulting and solutions based company that addresses a huge need for developing South African entrepreneurs by creating and driving functional, adaptable and sustainable Green Projects in partnership with our clients.
The company’s vision is Zero Waste to Landfill. BioWaste Technologies is a services oriented company delivering green waste management solutions through the implementation of a few niche products.
“We drive functional, adaptable and sustainable green projects in partnership with our clients, assisting them with their waste management strategies. We thus enable them to contribute to a greener and healthier environment, while simultaneously adding valuable cost saving solutions to their existing waste removal practices, through the implementation of either one of our product solutions.” said Arcus.
“BioWaste Technologies was created in 2010 out of a deep passion to do something constructive about our South African environmental degradation and climate change.”
Joel Arcus and Ray Finch, founding partners, left their jobs and set themselves the challenge to find sustainable technology solutions for dealing with organic waste. Today they and their team of partners are pioneers and leaders in the field.
“Recycling” is growing or “recyclables” with up to 25% of plastics, glass, metals, paper & cardboard now being recycled in our biggest cities. Organic waste though, is posing significant unsolved challenges. Not only in South Africa, but all over the world.
“Realistically the only “long term solution”, is that we need to find ways to USE or RECYCLE, EVERYTHING so, we have set our Vision for South Africa to achieve “Zero Waste to Landfill”.”
“We are investing heavily in bringing innovative solutions including: In-Vessel Composting plants; Waste to Energy Plants; and comprehensive waste management facilities where recyclable is recycled, organic waste is composted and the rest is gasified to produce electricity,” concluded Arcus.
The intention of Viridis Africa is to bring together investors such as Inspired Evolution, Sterling Waterford Securities, Lerako Metier, the IDC, Curatio Capital, Vantage Capital and the Technology Innovation Agency and entrepreneurs from Africa and the rest of the world, to jointly explore commercial initiatives in green technologies.
The programme includes the presentation of 20 projects of business initiatives, ranging in size and scope and encompasses priority areas such as bioenergy, hydro, wind power, green chemistry, recycling, water treatment, desalination, amongst others.
Principals who would present their business opportunities at this event would have the audience of numerous local and foreign investors who have $300 Million available for investment into these various initiatives (Solar Energy – Bio Energy – Waste Energy).
Investors would include venture capital, private equity, project and corporate finance outfits and others dedicated to the clean tech sector. Also included are major companies who seek strategic alliance and acquisitions.”
New technologies currently being developed by academic and research institutions will also have their opportunity so as to introduce potential business opportunities through the commercialisation of the above.
“Additional business proposals are invited from clean tech sub-sectors including clean energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, clean coal technologies), storage (fuel cells, advanced batteries, hybrid systems), efficiency (smart grids, waste heat recovery), water & waste water (water treatment, water conservation, waste water treatment, desalination) and recycling and waste (recycling, waste treatment, organic matter, plastics) etc.” said Adam.
The event will also introduce parties with complementary technologies and business models to one another in order to explore mutually beneficial opportunities.
The main purpose of the conference and its exhibitions will endeavour to bring about a vibrant market trading place for entrepreneurs and corporate to propose and conclude investment deals with funders
Although the event is to be held once a year, it is designed to give the participants long term continuity vis a vis the provision of web-based interaction platforms, inducing social networks.
Business Case Presenters:
Principals who would present their business opportunities at this event would have the audience of numerous local and foreign investors, stratified according to their interest and investment criteria.
The following are some of the clean tech sub-sectors in which principals may consider their company, initiative being presented: Clean Energy Generation: Wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, clean coal technologies
Mastercard has expanded its operations in West Africa by opening its first office in Ghana, in its capital Accra. According to the multinational payments network company, the expansion aims to bolster Ghana’s digital economy and support financial inclusion.
Mastercard says Ghana offers fertile ground for the company to enhance its geographical presence in West Africa, citing the country’s growth in key sectors like agriculture, mining and digital infrastructure.
In addition to the new office, Mastercard has partnered with several companies including Kalabash, KaiOS, Boost, Smile ID, Access Bank and Fidelity Bank to enhance cross-border payment solutions, empower local fintechs and enhance access to digital services for underserved communities.
“Our growth strategy for West Africa is ambitious, and establishing a formal presence here allows us to better serve the specific needs of our customers. We are eager to leverage our global expertise and innovative capabilities to introduce advanced payment technologies in this market,” commented Mark Elliott, division president for Africa at Mastercard.
For Folasade Femi-Lawal, country manager and area business head, West Africa, Mastercard, the expansion is about growing the local economy.
She says: “We are committed to attracting and nurturing top talent and fostering an ecosystem that aims to contribute positively to the local economy and technological advancement.”
As concerns about the use of AI in cyberattacks increase, companies worldwide are racing to bolster their cybersecurity strategies, according to a Kaspersky survey.
In a new study the cybersecurity company revealed that 92% of IT and Information Security professionals surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region expect the use of AI by malicious actors to escalate over the next two years.
This growing threat is prompting organisations to prioritise cyber defense expertise, with many turning to cybersecurity vendors for specialised support and training.
In its latest study titled “Cyber defense & AI: Are you ready to protect your organisation?” Kaspersky gathered insights from IT and Information Security professionals across SMEs and large enterprises. The findings underscore the urgent need to prepare for AI-driven cyberattacks.
To combat these evolving threats, companies place high value on cybersecurity expertise, with 94% of respondents in the META region highlighting the importance of growing internal expertise through training for in-house employees, and 93% underscoring the need for external expertise provided by cybersecurity vendors. This need spans sectors from retail to critical infrastructure, emphasising a universal demand for advanced threat protection.
To reinforce their cyber protection, organisations are actively integrating both internal and external expertise. Currently, 36% of companies surveyed in the META region are either implementing or planning to deploy external support to adapt to the evolving threat landscape, while 34% are doing the same through internal training initiatives. Additionally, 61% already use external cybersecurity expertise, and 62% have training programs in place, underscoring a dual approach in fortifying their protection.
Cybersecurity vendors’ expertise can come in various forms, from specialised professional services that help organisations deploy their protection solutions, to advanced expert centers that focus on specific security challenges.
One of these centers is the Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center. It brings together the company’s AI research and development efforts, to deepen the protective capabilities of cybersecurity solutions.
Vladislav Tushkanov, Group Manager at the Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center, says: “Our latest survey shows that businesses are acutely aware of the rising threat from AI-driven cyberattacks and are looking to reinforce their protection through comprehensive solutions, including the use of vendors’ extensive cybersecurity expertise.
The Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center plays a pivotal role by helping us leverage AI advancements to enhance our threat protection strategies and explore innovative ways of using AI in cybersecurity. It also enables us to address security concerns specific to AI itself, ensuring that businesses are prepared for the latest AI-driven threats.”
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismantled a fake hotel review syndicate and arrested four Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians for their roles in the elaborate internet fraud scheme.
Victims were allegedly first lured into rating hotels in exchange for small sums of money.
Eventually they would be encouraged to make bookings in any of the rated hotels for as much as $500.
They were told that the company would pay them back with chunky interest into a crypto wallet bearing their names.
However, the victims would in the end not be able to open the wallet.
EFCC announced that the suspects operated out of Naka Hall Plaza on Abutu Garba Street in Gudu, Abuja, where agents recovered 100 compact workstations.
Dele Oyewale, spokesman, EFCC, said the suspects used fake foreign identities to target unsuspecting victims, primarily U.K. residents.
Authorities said the criminal network was allegedly led by the Chinese nationals, who recruited and trained Nigerian youths with advanced technical skills to act as customer service representatives.
These representatives followed a predesigned script to deceive their victims online.
The operation follows a separate crackdown weeks earlier, in which 792 suspects — including 148 Chinese nationals — were arrested for involvement in cryptocurrency and romance scams.
The foreign nationals allegedly used corporate apartments disguised as business centers to train their Nigerian accomplices. These accomplices were reportedly taught to initiate romance and investment scams and use their own identities to carry out fraudulent activities.
The EFCC also highlighted a concerning trend of foreign nationals instructing Nigerians in internet-related crimes.
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