What Enterprising Africa Regional Network does

Enterprising Africa Regional Network (EARN) is a South African privately held holding company founded in September 2014 by Joshua Chimakula Ngoma, operating a four-subsidiary platform that develops young African entrepreneurs through training and commercial operations. The group encompasses African Greeneurs (a GlobalGAP-certified agricultural training farm with an 8.5-hectare site in Centurion and a 100-hectare production farm in Ekurhuleni with 6 hectares under multi-span greenhouse cultivation of chrysanthemums and Lisianthus), African Technopreneurs (a VR/AR/XR consumer electronics and IT distributor based in Centurion), EARN Business Solutions (a 360-degree business support services provider), and African Lakeside Properties (a property acquisition, development, rental, and hospitality training arm).

EARN's underlying technology combines climate-smart farming methods, satellite IoT, and LoRaWAN sensor networks for remote agricultural monitoring — most recently demonstrated through a March 2026 proof-of-concept with SES and Advannotech that delivered real-time soil moisture, temperature, water level, and environmental data to young farmers in areas without cellular connectivity. The group also distributes VR/AR hardware and software and is building training infrastructure that integrates immersive technology.

EARN's business model rests on a hybrid of agricultural production, technology distribution, professional services, and property revenue streams, with the enterprise described as self-funded through its own commercial operations. The company generates revenue from fresh-produce and cut-flower sales to local and international markets, IT hardware and software distribution through African Technopreneurs, business support contracts, and property/hospitality operations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Primary customers are youth agripreneurs in training, young tech entrepreneurs, B2B buyers of XR/IT hardware, and produce/flower buyers in export and domestic channels; the group also runs corporate partnerships such as the Exxaro Agripreneur Development Programme.

Name

Enterprising Africa Regional Network

Legal name

Enterprising Africa Regional Network (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://earninternational.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EARN is a South African holding company running four subsidiaries — African Greeneurs (GlobalGAP-certified agripreneur training farm), African Technopreneurs (XR/IT distribution), EARN Business Solutions, and African Lakeside Properties — that develops young African entrepreneurs through training and self-funded commercial operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Development and Training Services

NAICS

Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Workforce, Employability & Youth Skills Partnerships (EDADALAI), Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship development services
• Agripreneur training programs
• XR hardware distribution
• Business support solutions
• Climate-smart agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Centurion

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Production and Sales: EARN operates its own farms through African Greeneurs, growing fresh produce and cut flowers for local and international markets. Farms include an 8.5-hectare property in Centurion and a 100-hectare property in Ekurhuleni with 6 hectares under greenhouse cultivation
2. Business Support Services: EARN Business Solutions provides 360° Business Support Solutions to subsidiary companies and external clients
3. Technology Distribution: African Technopreneurs distributes XR consumer electronics and IT hardware and software
4. Property and Hospitality Services: African Lakeside Properties manages property acquisition, development, rental, and hospitality business development

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Enterprising Africa Regional Network (EARN) is a holding company that develops young African entrepreneurs through four operating subsidiaries. African Greeneurs runs a GlobalGAP-certified training farm producing fresh produce and cut flowers; African Technopreneurs distributes XR and IT hardware/software; EARN Business Solutions provides 360° business development services; and African Lakeside Properties manages property, rentals, and hospitality training. EARN also delivers structured agripreneur training programs, including satellite IoT-enabled precision farming, that combine classroom instruction with hands-on commercial farm experience.

Product overview

Enterprising Africa Regional Network (EARN) is a holding company operating as a platform of four subsidiary companies. EARN Business Solutions provides 360° business support services; African Technopreneurs distributes VR/AR/XR consumer electronics and IT products; African Greeneurs operates GlobalGAP-certified agricultural training farms and fresh produce/flower supply; and African Lakeside Properties manages property development and hospitality services. The subsidiaries work together to develop young African entrepreneurs across agriculture, technology, business support, and hospitality sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EARN Biz Solutions: Business support solutions division offering 360° services to subsidiary companies
• African Lakeside Properties
• African Technopreneurs
• African Greeneurs

Products and services

• EARN Business Solutions (EBS) A subsidiary of EARN operating as a one-stop shop offering 360° Business Support Solutions to EARN's operating subsidiary companies and other external clients, focused on developing, supporting, and promoting entrepreneurship through a step-by-step Business Development Process.
• African Technopreneurs (AT) EARN's subsidiary technology company positioned as one of South Africa's fastest-growing XR consumer electronics and IT distributors, acting as a full-service VR and AR hardware and software provider based in Centurion, South Africa.
• African Greeneurs (AG) A GlobalGAP-certified subsidiary of EARN focused on training and developing successful agripreneurs while growing and supplying high-quality nutritious food and fresh cut flowers to local and international markets, operating an 8.5-hectare climate-smart training farm in Centurion and a 100-hectare farm in Ekurhuleni with multi-span greenhouses.
• African Lakeside Properties (ALP) EARN's subsidiary company that acquires, develops and rents properties, manages Group development projects, leads hospitality business development and management, and creates technical and business skills training for the Hospitality Industry, particularly among the youth and women of South Africa and the broader African continent.
• Exxaro EARN Lephalale Agripreneur Development Programme A 12-month corporate-partnered agripreneur development programme co-run with Exxaro in Lephalale; graduates are equipped to independently establish, run and maintain profitable and sustainable agri-enterprises.
• Satellite IoT Technology for Young Farmers Satellite-enabled IoT solution for young farmers that monitors soil moisture, temperature, water levels, and environmental factors in real time, delivering data to farmers even in remote areas without cellular connectivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transformed farming from guesswork to precise, resource-efficient practices that conserve water and power
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SEScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026SES, a space solutions company, collaborates with EARN to bring satellite IoT technology to young farmers through the EARN program. The project uses IoT over satellite to deliver real-time data to farmers in remote areas where cellular connectivity is unavailable, enabling data-driven farming decisions.
• AdvannotechcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 March 2026IoT technology provider Advannotech works with SES and EARN to deploy satellite-enabled IoT sensors at the climate-smart training farm in Centurion, monitoring soil moisture, temperature, water levels, and environmental factors.
• Buy1Give1 (B1G1)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerB1G1 is a global business giving initiative that helps businesses achieve greater social impact by embedding giving at the heart of everyday transactions. EARN partners with B1G1 to contribute towards community development and international impact projects.
• ExxarocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExxaro partnered with EARN for the Agripreneur Development Programme at Lephalale. Ten Exxaro EARN Lephalale Cluster Agripreneurs graduated from the 12-month programme, demonstrating corporate collaboration for youth agricultural development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• One Acre Fund: Large-scale non-profit serving smallholder farmers in East Africa with training, financing, and input distribution. Directly comparable in farmer training, input access, and smallholder-focused operating model, though at significantly larger scale and longer track record than EARN.
• Generation: Global youth employment programme (founded by McKinsey) delivering short-term training and job placement across sectors including agriculture. Comparable to EARN's agripreneur development model in target beneficiary (underserved youth), training-led value proposition, and partnership-funded model with corporates and governments.
• African Leadership University: Pan-African university and entrepreneur development institution with campuses in Mauritius and Rwanda, focused on developing a new generation of African leaders and entrepreneurs. Comparable to EARN's mission of developing young African entrepreneurs, with a more academic, degree-based delivery model versus EARN's vocational training-farm approach.
• ThriveAgric: Nigerian agritech that supports smallholder farmers with technology, training, and access to finance and markets. Comparable in mission (empowering smallholder African farmers via technology) and target customer (young African agripreneurs), with a stronger software layer than EARN's hardware-led approach.
• Babban Gona: Nigerian agripreneur development company that trains, finances, and supports smallholder farmer cooperatives, providing inputs, training, and offtake services. Directly comparable to EARN's African Greeneurs model of training young farmers, providing agricultural inputs and access to market, and using commercial operations to sustain impact programmes.

Emerging players

• Twiga Foods: Kenyan B2B agricultural distribution platform connecting smallholder farmers to urban vendors. Comparable in aggregating African smallholder agricultural production for downstream markets, with stronger technology and logistics scale than EARN's farm-direct distribution.
• M-Kopa: Kenyan pay-as-you-go asset financing and distribution platform serving underbanked African consumers with solar, smartphones, and productive assets. Comparable in distribution-led model reaching underserved African customers and in the technology-enabled entrepreneurship narrative, though in adjacent (energy/telecom) verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Yara International: Norwegian global crop nutrition and agricultural solutions company with deep presence across Africa. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the African agricultural ecosystem and as a potential corporate partner for farmer training programmes, though operating at vastly different scale and scope than EARN.

Regional players

• Andela: Pan-African tech training and talent platform that trains and places African software developers globally. Comparable to EARN's African Technopreneurs subsidiary in mission (developing young African tech entrepreneurs) and target audience, though focused on software talent rather than VR/AR hardware distribution.

Others

• TechnoServe: International non-profit that works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. Comparable in mission and target beneficiary (African smallholders and entrepreneurs in agriculture), though as a donor-funded NGO rather than a commercial operator like EARN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EARN_AFRICA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfdk8WdUx_-YG5wzAOwTCAQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/enterprisingafrica

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Enterprising Africa Regional Network