What’s the biggest roadblock for young African entrepreneurs?
At the Anzisha EEA Summit 2025, we put that question to the audience during the fellows panel, Rewriting the Rules of Work—and the verdict was loud and clear. Regulatory hurdles topped the list with 40% of the votes, followed closely by lack of access to finance at 35%. Age bias barely registered at 6%, while mentorship and societal validation tied at around 10% each.

But the panel pushed back hard. They argued—rightly—that the real obstacle isn’t regulation or money. It’s that young entrepreneurs lack societal validation. And I’m here to say: they’re on to something—and it matters more than the numbers suggest.

Meet the Panellists

• Hamza Abu-alkhair (Egypt | Tech | 2023)
  Founder of Lothgha App, using 2D tech to support people with speech difficulties—pairing tailored sessions with speech therapists. It’s a lean operation, bringing in about $100–150/month.
• Esther Olalude (Nigeria | Health | 2023)
  At 21, she’s behind Venille, biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana stem. It addresses period poverty and plastic pollution. She’s won a spot in Because International’s accelerator and her pads degrade within six months, unlike conventional ones.
• Ryan Andriamahery (Madagascar | Education | 2023)
  Co-founder of Haute École d’Informatique (HEI), training over 150 young people in digital skills since 2021. It’s a mission to tackle local unemployment and fill global tech gaps.
• Suzan Nassolo (Uganda | Agriculture | 2023)
  Through EverGrow Organics, she’s tackling unsafe agrochemical use. Her organic mineral-based fertilizer is a simple solution with social impact—and over $326 in revenue to date.
• Fadwa Moussaif (Morocco | Art/Textiles | 2017)
  Founder of Boucharouette Eco-Création, later IDYR, reviving Boucherouite weaving using recycled scraps, empowering rural Berber women to make real income. Now her products reach Morocco, France, Cyprus, South Africa—and beyond.

Each Poll Answer—What It Gets Right, and What It Misses

Regulatory Hurdles
Yes, they’re real—licensing and taxes frustrate entrepreneurs everywhere. But they don’t target youth specifically. Without societal backing, even well-drafted policy doesn’t translate into traction.

“In Uganda, navigating the maze of agricultural regulations feels like a full-time job,” reflects Susan. “It’s discouraging.”

Access to Finance
Credit is scarce. Young ventures struggle when banks won’t lend. But money alone won’t fix the problem if the ecosystem doesn’t assume youth entrepreneurs are worthy of investment.

“In Madagascar, the high interest rates make it nearly impossible for young entrepreneurs like me to get started and stay afloat.’ Expresses Ryan.  “With rates often exceeding 50%, it’s a constant struggle to keep up with repayments, let alone grow our businesses.”

Age Bias
Youth unemployment in Africa is high. That’s the symptom, not the diagnosis. The deeper issue is that being young still signals “inexperienced” to many stakeholders—so the real problem is perception, not age per se.

Lack of Mentorship
Mentorship helps—but it doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It comes when you’re seen as someone whose success matters. Validation is what unlocks genuine support.

Low Societal Validation
This is the real deal. Social bias places entrepreneurship at the bottom of respectable career paths. A study in Congo found negative societal attitudes upon graduation push youth away from starting anything new.

Why Societal Validation Matters Most—and Why It’s Especially Pressing in Africa
In much of Africa, the dominant narrative is: “Secure a government job.” That’s not just career advice—it’s a societal barrier. If communities, schools, families, and media don’t treat young entrepreneurs as valid leaders, then policy, capital, or programs will struggle to gain real impact.

Think about it:

• Lothgha: therapists and parents must first believe in time-based, app-driven speech support for youth ventures to grow.
• Venille: schools, mothers, NGOs need to see banana-fibre pads as legitimate and dignified alternatives.
• HEI: job markets must recognise the value of youth-trained digital talent—even if they didn’t come out of traditional universities.
• EverGrow: farmers must trust the organic alternative and see youth as credible experts.
• IDYR: rural women and markets must believe these handmade goods are worthy of pride, price, and next-gen craft.

The Panel’s Truth: We Aren’t Underfunded. We’re Under-seen.
At Anzisha, these fellows aren’t just building ventures. They’re building trust. They’re shifting attitudes from “someone who can’t” to “someone who can—and is doing.”

“Seeing youth as leaders isn’t just about giving them a chance—it’s about recognising that they bring fresh ideas, energy, and perspectives that our society needs to move forward,” says Fadwa. “When we invest trust in young people, we’re investing in a future that’s more innovative, inclusive, and resilient.”

What Comes Next—for Ecosystem Builders Like You

• Support narrative change: Feature youth entrepreneurs in mainstream media. Fund case studies. Celebrate the story, not just the business.
• Redesign programs with validation in mind: Young founders need more than incubation—they need societal endorsement.
• Push public sectors to treat youth-led business as respectable: Prize it, elevate it, make it visible.

What’s the takeaway? The big barriers people name—regulation, finance—are real, but pale in comparison to this: so long as youth entrepreneurship remains undervalued, every other fix is hamstrung.

These fellows don’t just make things. They prove worth. They make society see—and that’s powerful.

Let’s write that into our institutions, our programs, and our cultural DNA.