Jaco Maritz

Founder and Contributor at How We Made It In Africa

Entrepreneur. Founder of How we made it in Africa. Writer. Speaker. Author of HOW WE MADE IT IN AFRICA: THE BOOK

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Articles

Tanzania: From rejections to $40m - an entrepreneur’s rocky road to success

1 day ago | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz

Published by Jaco Maritz on 14 May 2025 When Benjamin Fernandes returned to Tanzania in 2017 after completing his MBA in the US, he had a plan: build a digital payments company from the ground up. What followed was a turbulent path marked by investor rejections, threats from large competitors and a failed first product. Yet last year, Nala – his cross-border payments startup – raised $40 million from global investors.
Nigeria: Entrepreneur turns 960 naira (less than $1) into national food business

1 week ago | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz

Interview with Debby LawsonFOUNDER, FASTIZERS FOOD AND CONFECTIONERYLives in: NigeriaFastizers Food and Confectionery, a Nigerian snack food company best known for its cookies, was founded in 2010 by Debby Lawson. She started the business with just 960 naira – about 60 US cents at today’s exchange rate.
Nigerian entrepreneur adapting to a tough business environment

1 week ago | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz

Published by Jaco Maritz on 4 May 2025 Nigeria’s difficult economic environment is forcing snack food manufacturer Fastizers to rethink aspects of its operations – from shrinking pack sizes to launching new product lines such as bread – as it grapples with rising input costs and pressure on consumer spending. “It’s a really tough terrain now. It’s very, very tough,” the company’s founder, Debby Lawson said in a recent interview with How we made it in Africa.
Changing how Zambia cooks - and building a business around it

2 weeks ago | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz

Interview with Marion PetersonCO-FOUNDER, SUPAMOTOLives in: Lusaka, ZambiaCharcoal remains the dominant cooking fuel for many Zambian households, despite its environmental and health costs. Emerging Cooking Solutions – operating under the brand SupaMoto – offers a cleaner and cheaper alternative. The company was founded by American-born Marion Peterson and her husband, Mattias Ohlson.
Businessman sees global opportunity for Nigeria's cassava

1 month ago | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz |Tony Bello

Interview with Tony BelloFOUNDER, SHINE BRIDGE GLOBALLives in: United StatesNigerian-born Tony Bello, a food scientist by training, played a key role in developing the low-fat Baked Lay’s and Lay’s Stax potato crisps during his time at US snack giant Frito-Lay. He now wants to apply that experience to products made from Nigerian-grown cassava, with ambitions to take them to both international and African markets.
Botswana - a medical tourism hub?

1 month ago | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz |Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane

Published by Jaco Maritz on 21 March 2025 Botswana has the potential to establish itself as a regional hub for medical tourism, says Dr Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane, founder of Gaborone-based Kalafhi Medical Center. She points to the country’s central location, stable political climate, low crime rate, and relatively affordable healthcare as key advantages in attracting patients from neighbouring countries.
Botswana: Doctor-turned-entrepreneur eyes stock exchange listing

2 months ago | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz |Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane

Interview with Dr Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane FOUNDER, KALAFHI MEDICAL CENTERLives in: Gaborone, BotswanaFounded in 2018 as a single clinic with just one employee – its founder, Dr Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane – Botswana-based Kalafhi Medical Center has since grown into a diversified healthcare business. Today, it runs a day hospital, five clinics, and pharmacies, while also offering physiotherapy, dental care, and aesthetic services.
Investing like Warren Buffet in Tanzania, Malawi and beyond

Jan 5, 2025 | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz

Luni Libes, an American serial entrepreneur and founder of Africa Eats, has set out to build a holding company inspired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway – but with a distinct focus on Africa’s agricultural value chain. His ambition is to unlock value for investors by backing businesses that address critical gaps in the continent’s agribusiness sector. Africa Eats holds stakes in 22 companies, spanning diverse markets and industries.
Investing in African agribusiness, Warren Buffett style

Jan 2, 2025 | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz

Luni Libes, founder and CEO of Africa Eats, discusses investment opportunities in Africa’s agribusiness sector.
2024's top interviews

Dec 30, 2024 | howwemadeitinafrica.com | Jaco Maritz

How we made it in Africa editor-in-chief, Jaco Maritz, picks his five favourite interviews from 2024. 1. Entrepreneur turns Nigerian superfood into a global export businessTimi Oke is the co-founder and CEO of AgroEknor, a company exporting dried hibiscus flowers grown in Nigeria to global markets, including the US, Mexico and Europe. He secured his first agricultural trading deal through LinkedIn while still working at a bank in the UK. Watch the full interview2.