On November 15th, Matthew Ainembabazi licensed by TEDx hosted the highly anticipated TEDxMakerere University Business School 2025, a groundbreaking gathering that brought together 100 of Uganda’s top under-27 entrepreneurs and 10 global business leaders of African descent. The event responded to one of Africa’s most urgent challenges: the youth unemployment crisis, with over 71% of young Africans either underemployed or vulnerably employed.
As traditional job pathways narrow, the continent’s young people continue to turn to entrepreneurship as both survival and strategy. Today, 1 in 3 African youth is running or starting a business, though many struggle due to limited access to infrastructure, mentorship, financing, and global markets. TEDxMakerere University Business School 2025 created a rare platform where emerging founders connected directly with global thinkers, investors, and executives.
The event was moderated by Lyn Tukei, PR and Personal Branding Expert, corporate events MC, and Founder of Brand Help, who guided conversations with clarity, energy, and strategic insight.
Global and Continental Voices Took the Stage including : Troy Sandidge: 4x CMO | +$175M Generated | L.A. Wire’s Under 30, Timothy Armoo: 2x Tech Founder | +$534M in Exits | Forbes 30 Under 30, Kimberly Bryant: Founder, Black Girls CODE | CEO, Black Innovation Lab, Patrick Bitature: Chairman, Simba Group | Business Statesman, Maggie Kigozi: Director, Crown Beverages (Pepsi Uganda), Happy Mmila: Founder, MMILA TECHNOLOGIES Real Estate Investor, Daniella Ddamulira, Dorcus Mirembe among others.
Reflecting on the event’s significance, Lyn Tukei, TEDX MC and event moderator shared:
“Entrepreneurship isn’t just a path to income for Africa’s youth, it’s a path to identity, dignity, and possibility. When we give young founders the platforms, mentorship, and visibility they deserve, we’re not just reducing unemployment; we’re rewriting Africa’s economic story.”- Lyn Tukei
Event organizer Matthew Ainembabazi highlighted the mission behind this year’s TEDx:
“With over 71% of young Africans underemployed, we’ve stopped waiting for jobs that don’t exist and started creating our own. That’s why 1-in-3 African youth are now either starting or running a business; but half of these ventures collapse in their first year because the economic infrastructure just isn’t there. TEDxMakerere University Business School was about laying that intellectual infrastructure so young founders can build powerful, lasting businesses. Investing in Africa is not charity anymore—it’s smart business,” Matthew Ainembabazi
The event facilitated powerful conversations, mentorship moments, and cross-border connections that many participants described as “career-shifting.” With Turkish Airlines and the World Bank’s GROW project as partners, the gathering underscored Kampala’s growing role as a hub for innovation and youth entrepreneurship on the continent. Other sponsors included: Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Etroca, NSSF HiInnovator, Roke Telekom, Kolaborate and Paytota.
As attendees left the Protea Hotel, one message resonated clearly: Africa’s young entrepreneurs are not waiting for the future; they are building it.
