Zimbo Entrepreneur, Madongorere Ropes in Burna Boy
The Texas-based MOON Ultra also announced that it had raised a US$15 million series B funding round.
US-based Zimbabwean multi-media entrepreneur, Edward Madongorere, has roped in multi Grammy Award-winning artist Burna Boy and producer LA Reid to join his company as investors.
Madongorere, who was born in Harare and raised in New York, co-founded MOON Ultra with Dishen “Dixon” Yang. He Is thrilled to fulfil their mission to develop innovative products to help creators capture their best moments.
“It started with a mission to create beautifully designed and well-executed products, but the mission became much more than that.
“It became about inspiring so many underrepresented, underestimated men, women, boys and girls from Africa, the diaspora, and around the globe, to see the same potential in themselves.
“Now, leveraging our network of investors, influencers, celebrities, pro athletes and content creators, we are building a brand that stands for boldness, and empowers everyone to be seen in every way.”
Music entrepreneurs, LA Reid and Burna Boy have joined other sports and entertainment stars as investors in MOON Ultra, regarded as one of Time Magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2020”.
“Burna Boy is such a pioneer and visionary with what he’s doing in his career. On top of that he wants to see change within our culture for more innovation.
“He shared the same vision as I around global innovation by Africans. His love for what we had created and enthusiasm for our growth potential made it easy for us to have him invest in our company.
“LA Reid is a legend, pure and simple. He has had influence, through his music, pop culture, and iconic artists he discovered, nurtured and introduced to everyone around the globe.
“From the instant we met, he saw the vision and was ready to help execute many of the objectives we had set by investing and using his industry influence and access to help us grow our brand into a household name.”
Madongorere said his company focuses on content, whether it’s music, entertainment, food, fashion and media.
“We want to enable the content creators of the world, which in today’s world is all of us, to tell better stories using our innovative products and tools to do so in the most effective and elegant way possible.
“I believe everything starts with seeing yourself in someone else that has taken a path that was once not seen as a viable one.
“This journey for me has also become about inspiring the youths in Zimbabwe to dream big and see tech and innovation as a path to greater pastures.
“As we scale and bring the products to Zimbabwe, we also plan to collaborate with content creators, distributors and other brands to do some creative things. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with people from where I was born. It truly means so much to me.”
The entrepreneur wants to partner with distributors and mapped his 2030 vision.
“I am planning to partner with distributors, retailers and telecom companies in the country to ensure consumers can find and have access to our products. I also want to grow MOON Ultra into a global household name and find creative ways to reinvest in youth innovation.
“I feel technology and innovation is the way forward to making Zimbabwe a middle class economy. Helping to identify gaps in technology education and incubation is how we can start to open up the youths’ minds to finding new creative ways to start and join companies.
“Entrepreneurship and investments into these new ideas will set us on a path to potentially cultivate unicorn companies that will give back through more job opportunities and tax which will hopefully have benefits to the local economy.
“Innovation also drives manufacturing and there’s a great opportunity to be the country that helps manufacture technology products. This is where the government might be able to step in to help subsidise tech companies and invest in them.
“I feel if citizens come together with ideas and resources to see these ideas through, we will collectively inspire, compete and generate revenues, and allow many more generations to experience wealth building. It’s a lot of work, but doable.”
The Texas-based MOON Ultra also announced that it had raised a US$15 million series B funding round.
Madongorere drew inspiration from his design background, resulting in the company’s products being recognised by Fast Company (2022 Innovation by Design Awards), GDUSA (American Graphic Design Award – Best of 10 000+ entries) and TIME Magazine (Best Inventions of 2020), among others.
