These Black entrepreneurs worldwide are proof that Black excellence in business doesn’t stop at any border. From Lagos to London, Kingston to California, they are building empires, disrupting industries, and reshaping what global business looks like. This is our international spotlight — eleven founders and moguls proving that ambition speaks every language.
Africa: Black Entrepreneurs Worldwide Building Empires
Aliko Dangote — Nigeria. The richest Black person in the world, with a fortune built on the Dangote Group’s cement, sugar, and fertilizer empire. His $19 billion oil refinery near Lagos — the largest single-train refinery on earth — is redefining Africa’s energy future.
Strive Masiyiwa — Zimbabwe. The telecom pioneer who fought his own government in court for the right to launch Econet Wireless, igniting Africa’s mobile revolution. Now London-based, he leads Cassava Technologies, sits on the boards of Netflix and Unilever, and is building Africa’s first AI factory.
Patrice Motsepe — South Africa. From mining magnate to one of Africa’s most influential businessmen, Motsepe built his fortune in gold and diversified across finance, telecom, and sports — including ownership of one of Africa’s top football clubs. Together, these African giants show how Black entrepreneurs worldwide are rewriting the rules of wealth creation on the continent and beyond.
Europe: Black Entrepreneurs Worldwide — The New Guard
Oliver Kent-Braham — United Kingdom. The British-Jamaican founder of Marshmallow, the tech-driven car insurance company that hit unicorn status at a $1 billion valuation — making it the UK’s second Black-founded unicorn. He started it with his identical twin brother to disrupt an industry that had ignored underserved drivers.
Kike Oniwinde Agoro — United Kingdom. Founder and CEO of BYP Network, the platform advancing Black professionals worldwide. With over 150,000 members and 20+ chapters across Dubai, Lagos, Nairobi, and beyond, she’s building the global infrastructure for Black career growth.
Steven Bartlett — United Kingdom. From breakout entrepreneur to one of Europe’s most-watched investors. He co-founded the marketing agency Flight Story, launched Flight Fund to back the next wave of European unicorns, and has invested in giants like Huel and Zoe. His rise reflects a wider wave of Black entrepreneurs worldwide reshaping European finance and media from the inside out.
The Caribbean: Island Innovation
Rihanna — Barbados. The Barbadian superstar who turned Fenty into a billion-dollar beauty empire, proving that cultural influence converts directly into business dominance. Her ventures span beauty, fashion, and lingerie — all built on celebrating the customers the industry overlooked.
Michael Lee-Chin — Jamaica/Canada. The Jamaican-born investor who built a $1.1 billion fortune through disciplined investing and financial services in Canada. His story is a masterclass in patience, compounding, and betting on yourself. His disciplined approach offers a timeless playbook for Black entrepreneurs worldwide building wealth across generations.
The Americas: Scale and Impact
David Steward — United States. Founder of World Wide Technology, one of the largest Black-owned businesses in America, with a personal fortune exceeding $12 billion. He built a technology services giant from St. Louis that serves the world’s biggest companies.
Robert F. Smith — United States. The Vista Equity Partners founder who turned enterprise software investing into an art form, amassing over $11 billion. His 2019 pledge to pay off the student debt of Morehouse College’s graduating class made him a legend beyond finance.
Tope Awotona — Nigeria to United States. The Nigerian-born immigrant who founded Calendly, the scheduling platform now used by millions worldwide. His $1.4 billion fortune started with a simple frustration — booking meetings was broken — and a refusal to accept it. His journey captures the immigrant drive powering Black entrepreneurs worldwide, turning everyday friction into billion-dollar opportunity.
The thread connecting every name on this list: they saw what the world overlooked and built it anyway. That’s the Black entrepreneurial tradition — global, relentless, and just getting started.
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