Over the last four years, the Alliance has diversified its ecosystem, unlocking $1.24 million through a growing network of corporations, foundations, investors, and Harambeans themselves. This growth reflects the Alliance’s deepening impact in Africa and its commitment to empowering entrepreneurs across the continent.
Founders Club: A Strategic Hub for Africa’s Top Entrepreneurs
A pivotal moment in the Alliance’s evolution, the Harambeans Founders Club was formally launched at the 2023 Global Summit in Franschhoek, South Africa. This exclusive group of influential Harambeans from across Africa has already demonstrated its commitment by contributing $29,000 toward sponsoring the Summit. The Founders Club represents a new phase of strategic engagement, reinforcing the Alliance’s position as a key driver of African entrepreneurship.
Leveraging Strategic Partnerships for Long-Term Business Success
Colin Coleman, former CEO of Goldman Sachs for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Rob Dower, Executive Director of Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies, joined Founders Club members at the 2023 Global Summit to discuss the power of transformative partnerships. Their session, inspired by the Harvard Business Review’s paper What Makes Creative Partnerships Work, highlighted the essential role of strategic partnerships in building long-term business success.
“Partnerships matter, and when done right, can become a competitive advantage. The most valuable alliances are those that are not merely transactional but where both partners ultimately create new value together,” said Idris Bello H’11, Founding Partner at LoftyInc Capital Management and member of the Harambeans Founders Club.
Lord Hastings Reflects on Organizational Strength at Historic Dinner
The Founders Club also convened for a dinner hosted by Lord Hastings at the House of Lords, where he shared valuable insights on the organizational principles that contributed to the British Empire’s lasting influence. Reflecting on the Empire’s legacy, Lord Hastings underscored the importance of strong organizational foundations. In his address, he reiterated the directive he gave to the Alliance in 2010—“co-resource”—which has now been realized through the Founders Club. His latest command to the Alliance: “Thou shall organize!”
Harambeans Driving Sustainable Growth Across Africa
The Harambeans Founders Club is composed of a distinguished group of African entrepreneurs who are not only scaling their businesses but also investing in the broader ecosystem. Members such as Eric Muli H’14, Naadiya Moosajee H’15, Adetayo Bamiduro H’15, Velani Mboweni H’18, Janade du Plessis H’18, Zachariah George H’19, Tesh Mbaabu H’20, Aéko Ongodia H’20, Mike Mompi H’20, Douglas Hoernle H’22, Hema Vallabh H’22, Katlego Maphai H’23, and Kiiru Muhoya H’23 are playing a pivotal role in driving innovation, supporting the ecosystem, and contributing to the continent’s economic development.
“Partnerships are important for the success of any effort, and the Founders Club is a sign that our ecosystem is reaching maturity. It demonstrates that Harambean companies are not only growing but are choosing to support the ecosystem in increasingly meaningful ways,” said Okendo Lewis-Gayle, founder and chairman of Harambeans.