Celebrating Women Shaping Africa’s Startup Ecosystem

📅 Issue #5 – Laying the Digital Foundation for Africa's Construction Boom

Hello, Changemakers!

Welcome to another edition of Africa's Next Big Startup, where we spotlight the brilliant minds shaping the future of the continent. This week, we’re shining the light on Kagure Wamunyu, the visionary Co-Founder of Jumba, a Kenyan startup revolutionizing the construction industry.

Let’s dive in!

The Problem Solver

Kagure Wamunyu recognized a critical gap in Africa’s construction sector: inefficiencies, opaque pricing, and fragmented supply chains were making it difficult for builders to access reliable materials. Teaming up with her co-founders, she launched Jumba, a B2B tech platform that digitizes construction procurement, ensuring transparency, affordability, and efficiency.

The Mission & Impact

Jumba’s mission is to transform Africa’s construction industry by creating a seamless marketplace for building materials. Since its launch, the startup has:
✔ Connected thousands of builders with trusted suppliers across Kenya.
✔ Reduced procurement costs by eliminating middlemen.
✔ Secured partnerships with major financial institutions for flexible payment solutions.

Major Milestones

🏆 Featured in TechCrunch, Disrupt Africa, and Business Daily.
🚀 Raised $4.5M in seed funding from leading investors.
📈 Expanded operations nationwide, with plans to scale across East Africa.

Kagure’s leadership proves that women are building the future—literally!

Jumba’s Digital Supply Chain Platform

Why It Matters

Africa’s construction industry is worth over $5 trillion, yet it’s plagued by inefficiencies. Jumba’s platform:
✅ Provides real-time pricing—no more haggling or hidden costs.
✅ Guarantees material quality through vetted suppliers.
✅ Offers logistics support, ensuring timely deliveries.

By digitizing the supply chain, Jumba is laying the foundation for a smarter, faster construction sector.

Are you solving a big problem like Jumba? Tell us about your startup!

📖 The Playbook: Lessons from Kagure Wamunyu

Here’s what every entrepreneur can learn from Kagure’s journey:

🔹 Solve a painful problem—construction was ripe for disruption.
🔹 Leverage tech to bring transparency—even in traditional industries.
🔹 Build a strong co-founding team—complementary skills are key.
🔹 Fundraising is a marathon—persistence and a clear vision attract investors.

Which of these lessons resonates with you? Reply and let us know!

📰 Hot Off the Press: Female-Founded Startups Making Waves

✨ Shamba Pride (Kenya) – Agri-tech platform by Anne Mwangi, digitizing farm inputs.
✨ OkHi (Nigeria) – Addressing Africa’s addressing problem, co-founded by Neku Atawodi-Edun.
✨ Akiba Digital (South Africa) – Wealth-tech startup helping Africans invest, co-founded by Adeola Ayoola.

Women are breaking barriers in every sector!

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💰 Power Moves: Funding & Opportunities

💡 The Female Founders Fund – Grants for women-led startups in Africa.
💡 Google for Startups Black Founders Fund – $100K non-dilutive funding.
💡 Y Combinator Applications – Open for African startups!

Need funding? Check out these opportunities and apply!

🔥 Unfiltered: Founder Confessions

💬 "The construction industry is male-dominated, but that never stopped us. Every challenge just made us more determined to prove that women belong in this space—and can lead it." – Kagure Wamunyu

What’s the hardest challenge you’ve faced as a founder? Share your story!

Affiliates Corner

📊 Construction Management by – Columbia University 

The Construction Management specialization is curated for professionals in the construction and civil engineering industry looking to advance their careers.[Click Here to Learn More]

💡 Microsoft Project Management – Microsoft

Prepare for a new career in this high-demand field with professional training from Microsoft. [Click Here to Learn More]

🚀Financial Management –  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

This Specialization covers the fundamentals of strategic financial management, including financial accounting, investments, and corporate finance. [Click Here to Learn More]

📢 Want to be featured as an affiliate partner in our next issue? Reply to this email, and let’s connect!

🌍 Community Corner

🗳 Poll: What’s the biggest hurdle in scaling your startup?
A) Access to capital
B) Finding the right talent
C) Market penetration
D) Regulatory challenges

💬 Let’s discuss! Reply to this email.

That’s a wrap for this week! If you know a female founder we should feature, tag them below or send us a tip.

Until next time,
The Africa’s Next Big Startup Team 🌍✨

💌 ANBS: Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Across Africa