Valid8: Meet the great minds behind the innovative pre-accelerator
Valid 8 pre-accelerator comes to break the barriers of turning your ideas into reality. This is the second blog post about the Valid8 pre-accelerator launched by Ambitious.Africa, the Great Zambezi Initiative, and TampereES. In this blog, we will present to you our team and the motivation behind this innovative pre-accelerator that not only connects Zambezi startups but also brings a bridge with the Finnish ecosystem.
Our Ambitious Zambia team, passionate and highly motivated to bring change to Africa and to the Nordics, is a joint of different backgrounds and stories that cross in one point: innovation and future. These two words enabled us to create not only the great organizations, companies, and associations that have been changing our communities but also to enable others to bring their ideas into action.
The team of changemakers from Ambitious Zambia, from the top left: Stephen, Chisha, Lukonde, Tiia, Faith, Franciska, Ajex, Leticia, and Joseph.
Meet our ambitious team below and don’t hesitate to reach us out to know more about us:
Tiia Madekivi, Head of HR at Ambitious.Africa is a 26-year-old Industrial Management Engineer from LUT-University, Finland. She is currently based in Zambia, where she has been involved in development projects since 2017. Tiia is passionate about improving the well-being of people in Africa through international collaboration, technological innovations, and youth empowerment.
Francisca Gomes, Chairperson of Tampere ES is a 21-year-old Business Graduate from SeAMK, Finland, She was born in Portugal with her family background in Angola. She is motivated and passionate about education and empowering people. She is currently building her own startup in Education to boost African schools through digital skills.
Stephen Muraga, Serial Entrepreneur who is Co-Founder/CEO at Nyamula Logistics Solutions and Co-Founder/COO at NyamukAfrica Solutions the proprietors of Nyamukabooks a cloud-based accounting solution for MSMEs in Africa. Stephen is also a Contributor at the Great Zambezi Initiative where he is the current COO. He is the current Head of Projects and Operations at Ambitious Zambia whilst also working with the Ambitious Zimbabwe team. Stephen is a self-driven critical thinker and collaborator who is passionate about impactful change. Favorite SDG is number 17- Partnership for the Goals.
Ajex Ajilo is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded HanJex and Buoyant Africa. He has seven years experience of working in marketing for expensive brands as a graphic designer, web developer, and marketing manager. Alex is also working with the Great Zambezi Initiative as the CTO and an aspiring mentor. Ajex graduated from Midlands State University in Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Science in Media and Society Studies. He is also studying Technology Entrepreneurship with Cambridge University and Software Development with ALX.
Beatrice Lukonde Chilengwe known as Ms. Lukonde is an enthusiastic young entrepreneur inspired to bring about impactful change to society and empower fellow young people. She is the Co-founder of Tivale Mall, a digital marketplace for locally owned businesses in Zambia and Zimbabwe. She is also co-founder of Ladies in Designing, an initiative that brings together young fashion enthusiasts and provides them with a platform for interaction to foster partnerships and collaborations. She is currently working as the Executive Assistant to the Managing Director of Nyamula Logistics Solutions. Beatrice is also Co-Founder and CMO of the Great Zambezi Initiative and proudly so as she identifies herself with efforts and commitments to empower youths, bringing about change, influence and emphasize the importance of inclusive start-up ecosystems among many other things that motivated her to be a part of this great movement and its projects thereof.
Joseph Chakopo is an Entrepreneur and Business Executive with a passion for mentor Early-Stage Startup companies. Joseph’s endeavors are driven by the belief that all private sector players have a key role to play in the Growth and Development of Africa by investing in sectors that have the potential to catalyze Africa's development. This, therefore, calls for our society to adopt entrepreneurship as a core enabler in the quest to achieve economic and social emancipation. Joseph currently serves as Co/Founder and CEO of NyamukAfrica Solutions who have also seen the deployment of a cloud-based accounting solution – NyamukaBooks. Further, He is the Current Ambitious Zambia Team lead. Further, he is part of the Great Zambezi Initiative Core who is on the journey to redefine the Entrepreneurship landscape in Zambia and Beyond.
Leticia Tomas Fillol known as Leti is an enthusiastic Industrial Engineer with a master's in Sustainable Energies and currently the Head of Events in Ambitious Zambia. Her vision is to make this world a better place and to contribute to the improvement of living conditions in countries with a low Human Development Index through her knowledge and actions. She has a special interest in the development of sustainable technologies and rural electrification, and gained experience in renewable energy projects implementing solar PV systems in rural Ghana.
Chisha Sabina Menna is an Entrepreneur, Social Media Manager. Business graduate. Currently studying International business logistics. Also part of the Marketing team of Tampere ES. Zambian living in Finland. Positive-minded enjoys learning new things.
Faith Mukumbiri is the administrator of the Great Zambezi Initiative. Currently pursuing a BSc in Public Health with University of Lusaka, Zambia, and a diploma in Digital Marketing with Alison. Faith is a Zimbabwean based in Zambia since 2016. Faith is passionate about positive change and the betterment of livelihood for people in Africa through community involvement and participation especially youths. Helping homegrown innovations thrive through collaboration.
About Valid8:
VALID8 pre-accelerator finals are and will be streamed on our channels. Valid8 Pre-accelerator is a wave of new startups, new teams, and new opportunities to change local problems into opportunities to grow and flourish the ecosystem in our local communities.