Young Entrepreneur of the Week – Benin – Vital Sounouvou

Founder: Exportunity

His is the tale of a graduate who grew up in poverty, cheated death and ended up crippled. These tough times steeled him to make his fortune. Sounouvou says, at the age of six, he had malaria and doctors gave him an injection to cure it, but it also attacked his bones and killed the nerves. He was almost paralyzed on his left leg and has had to use a walking stick since then.

Sounouvou founded Exportunity, a site that promotes export opportunities for Africans by connecting producers with traders. It allows a farmer in Benin to sell his produce to a buyer in South Africa – or the United States – through a cell phone. Through the trade events, Sounouvou claims Exportunity has engaged with over 750 clients, and built a database of 85,000 companies trading with Africa. He also employs 17 people.

 

Inspired by a college professor Vital Sounouvou started Exportunity, an online hub platform for African buyers and sellers to come together and make each other’s lives much easier. It has the ability to reach those without smart phones which is the majority of the African entrepreneur population. Not only itis  bolstering trade across African borders but across continental borders as well. Above and beyond that Exportunity provides due diligence services so consumers know what they are getting into, and intermediation among parties. It gets down and dirty with credible farmers and vendors to ensure fair rates for all those involved. Additionally Exportunity is engaged in the actual exporting and importing of the product in question, meaning that if I wanted to sell my goods to someone in South Africa not only would Exportunity put us in contact but it would also facilitate for the exchange of the product.

(source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2016/06/06/africas-most-promising-entrepreneurs-forbes-africas-30-under-30-for-2016/#619b7c1c1f43  &   http://inspireafrika.com/en/a-true-initiative-exportunity/ )