In a world defined by volatility, few figures embody optimism and resilience like today’s founders. From Lagos to London, Mumbai to Mexico City, entrepreneurs are rewriting the rules of what’s possible, creating companies that balance profit with purpose. These innovators aren’t just chasing valuation milestones; they’re tackling humanity’s biggest challenges with creativity and courage.
As we move through 2025, Bidaya spotlights the founders redefining leadership, sustainability, and the very meaning of success.
1. Kristina Karlsson – Building Joyful Brands With Global Purpose
Kristina Karlsson, founder of kikki.K, re-emerged after her business faced pandemic-era collapse, this time with a renewed mission: helping entrepreneurs build businesses that spark joy. Through her Dream Life Academy, Karlsson teaches thousands how to align purpose with profit.
“Purpose is not a luxury; it’s the new bottom line,” Karlsson told Bidaya.
Her comeback story mirrors a broader shift in entrepreneurship, one where emotional intelligence and authentic storytelling are as valuable as financial capital. In an era of burnout, Karlsson’s model of heart-led business is inspiring a new generation of founders to lead with empathy.
2. Gbenga Olagbaye – Powering Africa’s Energy Transition
In Nigeria, SolarEase founder Gbenga Olagbaye is tackling one of the continent’s most pressing problems: unreliable electricity. His company provides pay-as-you-go solar energy systems that have already reached 250,000 households across West Africa.
Backed by the African Development Bank and several impact investors, Olagbaye’s innovation fuses technology and inclusion, a model now being replicated in other emerging markets.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Africa’s renewable energy sector could generate over 4 million jobs by 2030, making founders like Olagbaye central to both economic growth and climate resilience.
3. Lina Torres – Redefining Fashion Through Regeneration
Colombian designer Lina Torres, founder of AmaTerra Studios, is revolutionizing fashion by turning waste into wearable art. Using mycelium-based fabrics and regenerative supply chains, Torres challenges the fast-fashion model head-on.
Her collections have caught the attention of Vogue Italia and sustainability investors alike. “Circular fashion isn’t a trend, it’s survival,” Torres says.
In 2025, she plans to launch AmaTerra Circular, a blockchain-backed platform for transparent garment traceability, ensuring every item’s origin can be verified by consumers.
4. Rajat Malhotra – AI for Good in the Global South
Bangalore-based engineer Rajat Malhotra saw AI’s potential beyond Silicon Valley. His startup, DataDharma, helps NGOs use machine learning to predict disease outbreaks and improve rural education systems.
Partnering with UNICEF and Google’s AI for Social Good program, DataDharma now serves over 10 million people across India and Southeast Asia.
“AI doesn’t have to replace human effort, it can amplify it,” says Malhotra.
His philosophy underscores a global movement toward ethical AI, one where data serves humanity, not just investors.
5. Amira El-Tayeb – The Fintech Pioneer Empowering Arab Women
In Cairo, Amira El-Tayeb is breaking barriers in finance with NisaaPay, a mobile banking app built by and for women. By combining microloans, community savings tools, and financial education, NisaaPay has become a lifeline for thousands of female entrepreneurs.
Recent reports from the World Bank show that only 35% of women in MENA have access to formal financial services, a gap El-Tayeb is determined to close.
Her model exemplifies the next wave of fintech: inclusive, hyperlocal, and impact-driven.
The Common Thread: Purpose as the New Power
What unites these founders isn’t just innovation, it’s intention. Whether in fashion or finance, AI or energy, they share a belief that business can be both profitable and profoundly human.
These leaders remind us that entrepreneurship, at its best, is not just about disruption. It’s about construction, building a more equitable, sustainable world.
Key Takeaways for Emerging Entrepreneurs
- Lead with purpose: Consumers and employees increasingly back value-driven brands.
- Think global, act local: Scale sustainably by understanding community context.
- Invest in resilience: Adaptation not perfection defines long-term success.
- Build partnerships: Collaboration accelerates impact faster than competition.
- Measure meaningfully: Redefine success beyond revenue, track social and environmental returns.
