IREX, the PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo enter into a strategic partnership through the Pamoja Founders Project: Accelerating African Entrepreneurs' Impact, a regional catalytic leadership development program for entrepreneurs working at the intersection of food security, sustainable supply chains, and resilient food systems in Africa. This pioneering program, run collaboratively with longtime partner D-Prize, is designed to propel African entrepreneurs toward significant growth, sustainability, and impactful change within their communities and beyond. 

The inaugural cohort of the Pamoja Founders Project social impact entrepreneurs is a group of 12 stellar young leaders from six African nations. Through a comprehensive curriculum encompassing mentorship, skill-building workshops, access to networks, and funding opportunities, the Pamoja Founders Project cohort members will gain the necessary tools and resources to scale their ventures and amplify their impact within their sectors and across their target markets. 

"In the PepsiCo Foundation, we have found partners who recognize the immense potential of social impact entrepreneurs and who share our commitment to empowering these visionary leaders by providing them with the guidance, resources, and connections essential for their success," said Kristin Lord, President and CEO, IREX.  

The Pamoja Founders Project will offer participants a unique opportunity to engage with industry experts, receive sector-specific coaching, access professional networks, and join a vibrant community of like-minded entrepreneurs. 

“By fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable business practices, the Pamoja Founders Project aims to create a ripple effect of positive socio-economic change across the African continent. Investing in food and agricultural enterprises—and their leaders—at the moment they are ready to go to scale supports our PepsiCo Positive ambition to transform the global food system and create opportunities for the people in our communities to thrive,” shared C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation & Global Head of Social Impact for PepsiCo. 

"In Africa, the echoes of a food security challenge call for thoughtful, decisive responses to secure future prosperity. At PepsiCo, we firmly embrace the potential of youth as catalysts for change, guiding us toward a more resilient food world. With the creation of the Pamoja Founders Project, offering a platform to the youth in the African continent, we understand that industry collaboration for food security is not merely advantageous—it's indispensable. Together, we strengthen the bridge between potential and progress, empowering the youth as architects of positive change,” said Paul Andersen, CEO of PepsiCo West, East, and Central Africa (WECA). 

Pamoja Founders Project cohort members are leading new ventures working at the intersection of food security, sustainable supply chains, and resilient food systems in one of six countries: Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Mozambique. Read more about the members of the inaugural cohort and their ventures here.