Join us for a showcase of innovation and collaboration sparked by diaspora investment over the last decade. Learn about the stories of diaspora entrepreneurs and cross-sector leaders who have taken their ideas into action by galvanizing the power of connection to co-create solutions in their home countries. Five innovators will present their work for five minutes and participate in a fireside chat on the collective impact of the African diaspora.
Speakers
Menghis Bairu
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bio Usawa
Menghis Bairu
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bio Usawa
Menghis Bairu, MD is an internationally recognized physician, scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose career spans over three decades in the biotechnology industry with Genentech/Roche; Elan; J&J; Serenus Biotherapeutics and BioUsawa Biotechnology. As co-founder, CEO and President of BioUsawa, Dr. Bairu leads an ambitious mission to transform healthcare access across Africa and Low-Middle-Income-Countries by producing affordable, high-quality life-saving biologics. BioUsawa focuses on critical therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology, oncology, autoimmunity, and infectious diseases, for which cost barriers limit access to essential biologics. BioUsawa aims to deliver these treatments at ≤20% of Western reference prices, establishing Africa’s first biosimilar-manufacturing hub and setting new standards for accessible healthcare in underserved regions. He emphasizes local talent development, strategic partnerships, and robust regulatory engagement, fostering a sustainable healthcare ecosystem.
Terry Afram is the Managing Director of Bridge Partners | ADINA, a firm specializing in mobilizing and structuring diaspora capital for investments in Africa. Through strategic advisory services and investment initiatives, the firm connects global investors with high-potential opportunities on the continent.
He is also the founder of the ADINA African Diaspora Investment Network Alliance, a global platform designed to inspire, educate, and connect the African diaspora with investment opportunities in Africa.
With a background in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and prior leadership experience as Country Managing Director at the tech unicorn Jumia Group, Terry brings deep expertise in scaling businesses and driving economic growth in Africa.
Magdi M. Amin is the Managing Partner of African Renaissance Ventures, which backs early-stage ventures that use technology to impact climate, human capital development, and economic inclusion in Africa. Magdi’s career has focused on using the power of markets and technology to empower people. He spent two decades with the IFC and the World Bank in Africa, East Asia and MENA. Magdi was Managing Director at Omidyar Network from 2018-2020, and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Finance in the Transitional Government of Sudan. He teaches Responsible Digital Development at Johns Hopkins SAIS Magdi holds degrees from Princeton University and Johns Hopkins University. Outside work, his interests are Nubian history, jazz, cycling, and family.
Fridah Ntarangwi
Founder & Managing Director, Zidicircle
Fridah Ntarangwi
Founder & Managing Director, Zidicircle
Fridah is an active leader in facilitating the African Diaspora towards entrepreneurship and investments in Europe and Green SMEs development in Africa. Fridah is the Founder of Zidicircle, an organization that facilitates diaspora-led development by activating the entrepreneurial and investing potential of the diaspora through training and enabling the Pooling of diaspora angel investments into green SME’s through the Zidicircle Coop investment vehicle.
With a rich commercial, development and Finance background, Fridah sits in various boards and foresees the fund management of the Diaspora investment vehicle-Zidicircle Coop that she initiated.
She was recognized by the European Union(EMEN project) for promoting migrant entrepreneurship, the Duisenberg Woman in Finance award, listed by the municipality of Amsterdam as the top female entrepreneur and listed as a top female entrepreneur in the Netherlands by Sheatwork.
Rahama Wright
Founder, Yeleen Beauty
Rahama Wright
Founder, Yeleen Beauty
Rahama Wright is a social entrepreneur bridging beauty, policy, and international development. A former Peace Corps Volunteer, she founded Shea Yeleen, a social impact beauty brand creating living-wage jobs for women in Ghana. Her products are sold at Whole Foods Market, MGM Resorts, and Macy’s, with features in O, The Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, and MSNBC.
To address manufacturing barriers for BIPOC beauty founders, she launched Yeleen Beauty Makerspace, the first shared manufacturing facility in the U.S. beauty industry. She also founded the DC Pop-Up, a retail collective supporting women- and minority-owned businesses. Wright is the former co-chair of the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa and serves on the U.S. Trade Representative Trade Advisory Committee on Africa, advocating for inclusive economic
growth.
A global speaker, she has presented at the United Nations, World Bank, and Global
Entrepreneurship Summit. An avid traveler, she has worked in 36 countries and holds a BA in
International Relations and Political Science from SUNY Geneseo.
