He represents a new wave of African entrepreneurs dedicated to the continent's digital and social advancement. Working at the intersection of technology, finance, and social impact, he develops innovative solutions to empower the informal economy.

Brian Makwaiba, a South African technology entrepreneur, is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Vuleka, a platform that integrates e-commerce and financial technology services.

Established in 2017, Vuleka connects manufacturers and wholesalers with small store owners, enabling these store owners to sell their products directly to consumers. The platform manages the collection of goods from suppliers and ensures their delivery to retailers.

Vuleka also provides a secure payment solution and develops credit profiles for informal entrepreneurs who lack traditional banking access, thereby facilitating their access to financing. Through its buy-now-pay-later system, it assists micro, small, and medium-sized merchants in optimizing their cash flow and securing their supply chain.

In addition to Vuleka, Makwaiba operates All Data, a firm specializing in the collection, cleaning, analysis, and interpretation of data from the informal sector. He also heads Multi Media Villa, a consulting company, and leads CIBIO, a technology venture focused on agriculture. Furthermore, he serves as Vice President of the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry in South Africa.

As an active investor, Makwaiba supports Lucre, a startup microcredit fund. He also chairs the board of ASANDE Investments, a social enterprise addressing critical issues facing South African society.

Makwaiba earned a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Stellenbosch University in 2005. In 2015, he pursued entrepreneurial studies at the University of Pretoria. He further obtained a Master of Commerce degree from the Stellenbosch Business School in 2020.

Between 2012 and 2022, Makwaiba served as a director at IAM Emerge, a South African creative agency. More recently, in 2023 and 2024, he worked as a business coach at Old Mutual South Africa, a financial services company, and subsequently at alx_africa, an online training platform.

By Melchior Koba

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji