The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network has recognized Emmanuel Olorunshola with the prestigious **Tech Founder of the Year Award, celebrating his outstanding contributions to Africa’s technology ecosystem and digital transformation through innovative hospitality solutions.
The announcement was made on November 26, 2023, through an official certificate from the Young African Leaders Initiative, acknowledging Emmanuel’s remarkable achievements in revolutionizing Nigeria’s hospitality industry through his groundbreaking ventures Foodkix and Kixmenu, which have transformed how restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels operate across the country.
The regional network lauded Olorunshola as a visionary entrepreneur whose food technology innovations have created measurable impact on business growth and operational efficiency throughout Africa’s hospitality sector.
Speaking about the recognition, YALI Network officials emphasized the significance of the award for hospitality innovation. “The YALI Network established the Tech Founder of the Year Award to recognize exceptional young entrepreneurs who are driving technological innovation and creating lasting impact across Africa. Emmanuel Olorunshola’s transformative work with Foodkix and Kixmenu has revolutionized Nigeria’s hospitality industry, demonstrating how locally-adapted technology solutions can drive significant business growth and operational improvements across thousands of establishments.”
Emmanuel Olorunshola, expressing his gratitude for the recognition, shared his reflections on the award:
This honor validates the transformative potential of food technology in Africa’s business landscape. Foodkix and Kixmenu were built to solve real problems facing Nigeria’s hospitality industry—from delivery logistics to restaurant digitization. Seeing over 2,500 hospitality businesses transform their operations through our solutions while creating employment opportunities for thousands of young people represents the kind of impact that technology should achieve. This recognition reinforces my commitment to continuing to innovate within the hospitality sector and expand these solutions across Africa.”
The award specifically recognizes the impact of Foodkix, Emmanuel’s bicycle-first delivery platform that created sustainable employment opportunities for young riders while providing reliable last-mile delivery for restaurants during challenging economic periods. The platform’s innovative approach to urban logistics demonstrated how understanding local constraints could create superior solutions compared to traditional models.
Equally significant is Kixmenu’s transformation of restaurant operations across Nigeria. The digital hospitality management platform has modernized over 2,500 establishments including restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, and cook-on-demand services through QR code menus, contactless ordering, integrated POS functionality, and business analytics. The platform has processed more than ₦2.1 billion in annual transaction value while proving that small hospitality businesses can offer world-class digital experiences.
Together, Foodkix and Kixmenu represent a comprehensive approach to hospitality industry transformation—addressing both customer experience and operational efficiency through technology solutions designed specifically for African market conditions. The platforms have created thousands of jobs, improved business profitability for participating establishments, and demonstrated the potential for African food technology innovations to compete globally.
His work extends beyond technology implementation to include training over 10,000 entrepreneurs across multiple countries, with many participants launching successful hospitality businesses using insights gained from his programs. During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, he authored “The Online Selling Manual,” providing crucial guidance for restaurant owners pivoting to digital operations.
This milestone establishes Emmanuel’s position as one of Africa’s most influential food technology entrepreneurs and validates YALI’s mission of recognizing young African leaders who create lasting economic and social impact through innovation. His success with Foodkix and Kixmenu serves as inspiration for entrepreneurs across the continent seeking to transform traditional industries through thoughtful technology application.
The YALI Network continues to recognize and support young African leaders who drive change through innovation, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership, with Emmanuel Olorunshola’s recognition highlighting the transformative potential of food technology in Africa’s economic development.
