Bridgitte Anderson

Founder of African Marketplace, empowering women entrepreneurs across sub-Saharan Africa

Bridgitte Anderson (b. 1985) is a Nigerian social entrepreneur who made a transformative difference through her creation of African Marketplace in 2012. This digital platform connects over 50,000 women-owned businesses across 23 African countries with global markets, enabling them to bypass traditional trade barriers. Anderson's initiative addresses the $32B funding gap for African women entrepreneurs identified by the World Bank, providing not just e-commerce solutions but also access to microloans and business training through partnerships with institutions like UN Women.

Her most impactful innovation is the 'Impact Pricing' model where 10% of all transactions fund community projects chosen by sellers - this has built over 80 schools and health clinics in rural areas. In 2018, her work was recognized with the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, which she used to launch the first pan-African women's business accelerator.

Anderson's approach to tech-driven social change has inspired similar platforms in Kenya (SHE Trade) and South Africa (Ubuntu Market). Her TED Talk "How to Build a Marketplace That Helps Women Help Themselves" has been viewed over 2.1 million times, spreading her vision of 'trade as empowerment.'