7 Founders Shortlisted to Pitch at the Diaspora Investment Conference London

Seven outstanding founders in the UK, Sierra Leone and the United States will compete for the $5000 prize at the Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference. Inspired by the historic King Jimmy marketplace in Freetown, a place where commerce, opportunity, and enterprise have flourished for generations, the King Jimmy Landing Pitch Competition was created to showcase the next generation of entrepreneurs building solutions for Africa’s challenges.

We received strong applications from dedicated entrepreneurs spanning both Sierra Leone and the diaspora—including 49 founders applying from the United Kingdom, United States, China, Germany, and beyond.

After a competitive selection process, seven finalists have emerged representing industries ranging from clean energy and healthcare, to tourism, financial technology, and more. 

Bintu Kamara – Her Health, Her Power

For Bintu Kamara, healthcare is deeply personal.

A UK-based Sierra Leonean registered nurse, Bintu founded “Her Health, Her Power” (HHHP) following the loss of family members to reproductive cancers. Determined to prevent similar tragedies, she is leveraging technology, healthcare expertise, and community engagement to improve women’s health concerns.

Combining frontline NHS experience with a deep understanding of Sierra Leonean communities, Bintu is building a platform that bridges the gap between awareness and action while making health information more accessible to women and girls. 

Amieda Koroma – CareBridge 

Healthcare systems are only as strong as the people delivering them.

At just 23 years old, Amieda Koroma has already built an impressive career in adult social care services in the United Kingdom with progressive leadership experience across frontline care, safeguarding, workforce management, and regulated service delivery amongst other areas of expertise. 

Through CareBridge, she is applying that expertise to address one of Sierra Leone’s most pressing challenges: the shortage of trained healthcare workers. 

Her venture aims to provide internationally aligned health and social care training, helping to strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce while creating new opportunities for professional development. 

Leon Grovesnor – EcoKash

EcoKash is turning waste into wealth by rewarding households and public spaces for the recyclables they generate. Instead of ending up in drains, streets, and dumpsites, plastic bottles, cans, and other recyclables become a source of income.

By connecting communities directly to the recycling industry, EcoKash is building a cleaner Sierra Leone, creating economic opportunities, and driving the transition to a circular economy where waste is no longer wasted. Blockchain technology powers the rewards system, enabling secure, transparent, and efficient payments to users for the recyclables they collect and recycle.

Oswald Dundas – Water-Light Technology

Access to reliable electricity remains one of the biggest barriers to development across many communities. Oswald Dundas believes the answer may lie in something surprisingly simple: saltwater. 

As founder and CEO of Water-Light Technology, Oswald Dundas has spent years developing clean energy solutions capable of generating affordable off-grid electricity using saltwater. Since 2018, he has worked relentlessly to refine the technology, build prototypes, and conduct field demonstrations despite operating in a resource-constrained environment. 

His vision is to provide dependable energy solutions for homes, schools, and healthcare facilities across Sierra Leone and beyond. 

Jacinta E. C. C Paul – Salone Trails & Tales 

Sierra Leone has a rich history, vibrant culture, and countless stories waiting to be told.

Jacinta E. C. C. Paul is the Founder and CEO of Salone Trails & Tales, a tourism platform dedicated to transforming how travelers discover and engage with Sierra Leone. An entrepreneur with a strong background in project development and writing, she also operates a high-quality tie-dye fashion brand and a photography business, Shots by Oma. As a creative, Jacinta expresses herself through poetry and pursues interests in photography, videography, cinematography, and content creation. 

She is committed to showcasing Sierra Leone’s culture and natural beauty, aiming to strengthen the country’s global identity while supporting local communities and sustainable tourism. Through Salone Trails & Tales, Jacinta E.C.C. Paul is working to showcase the country’s heritage through storytelling, creativity, tourism, and digital content. A business owner, writer, creative entrepreneur, and aspiring media professional, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to promoting Sierra Leone’s unique identity.

Johnathan Bangura – QuickeDash

Every successful organization relies on efficient systems. 

Johnathan Bangura founded QuickeDash to solve workflow inefficiencies that slow down businesses and teams. With deep experience across operations, digital strategy, and product delivery, he has earned a clear right to win by solving the workflow inefficiencies he has personally encountered throughout his career. Johnathan brings more than 20 years of experience working within multinational corporations, where he helped teams move faster, reduce friction, and make better decisions by aligning technology with real business needs. 

His platform is designed to help people and businesses move faster, work smarter, and make better decisions by reducing friction in everyday operations. 

Alysious Konteh – Eastern Spring Water

While many entrepreneurs begin with an idea, Alysious Konteh has already begun building. 

The British Sierra Leonean entrepreneur behind Eastern Spring Water has self-funded the  development of a two-storey commercial compound on Combema Road, Kenema, housing Eastern Spring Water’s production facility, a pharmacy, solar retail, and building materials. 

While the facilities are already under construction and operations are taking shape, Alysious represents a founder focused on transforming vision into tangible assets that can drive long-term economic growth in Sierra Leone’s Eastern Province. 

Endless Possibilities at the King Jimmy Landing Pitch Competition

The King Jimmy Landing Pitch Competition serves as an opportunity for founders to gain visibility, connect with investors, access mentorship, and showcase the ingenuity that exists across Sierra Leone and the global diaspora. 

On June 20th, 2026, these seven finalists will compete for the VP’s prize, a $5,000 (£ 3,699) cash award, mentorship opportunities, access to diaspora deal flow, and high-profile media exposure. Additional awards include the Impact Award, the She Builds Award, and the People’s Choice Award.

The question now is simple: who will impress the judges and emerge as the first King Jimmy Landing Champion? 

Join us at the Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference (SLDIC) 2026 and witness the next chapter of Sierra Leonean innovation unfold. 

Register here: https://makesierraleonefamous.com/pricing-plans/