Ashish Takkar, born on August 5, 1981 (44 years old) in Leicester, United Kingdom, is the founder of the Mara Group, a multinational conglomerate operating across several countries and in industries such as technology, finance, and agriculture. Between 2010 and 2015 the company reached a remarkable peak in staffing, and the World Economic Forum categorized it as a “global growth company.”
Takkar’s story is as particular as it is surprising. He founded the Mara Group at age 15 after his family’s exile and escape from the genocides in Rwanda. Seeking to rebuild his family’s economic stability, Ashish launched his company at only 15 years old.
Even as a teenager, he requested a bank loan to import products for his future business. Today, at 44, Takkar serves as Chair of the United Nations Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council, advises several African heads of state, has served on an African corporate board, and has received multiple awards and distinctions for his economic and social impact on the continent.
La dura infancia de Ashish Takkar: de Ruanda a refugiarse en Uganda
Of Indian and African descent, the Takkar family settled for a time in the United Kingdom after difficulties remaining in Uganda due to government measures. His parents, eager to return, went back to Rwanda in search of a new opportunity. Due to the Rwandan genocide, they relocated to Burundi and ultimately settled in Uganda, where Ashish lived as a refugee.
At 15 years old, but with the mindset of a lifelong entrepreneur, the UK-born teenager made a crucial decision that transformed his future. He left school and committed fully to his venture with a $5,000 bank loan.
El nacimiento de Mara Group, la empresa que fundó Takkar con 15 años
Ashish began earning money by selling computers. He sold his first PC for $100 and soon became a regular buyer and reseller at a higher price. Mara Group began in the IT sector, offering innovative and new technology products and services in Uganda.
At 15, Takkar recognized he had the chance to build something significant in Uganda. He understood that Africans had limited access to technology. With his parents’ support, Ashish began traveling to Dubai to source tech products and bring them back to Uganda for resale.
The loan allowed him to open his own shop, selling imported items such as computers, keyboards, and mice. Mara Group’s growth was exponential from the outset. After his shop in Uganda came another in Dubai, and from there Takkar expanded his business beyond Africa.
In 2009, Mara Foundation emerged as a branch of the group focused on supporting African entrepreneurs through training and seed investments. A year later, the company was selected by the World Economic Forum and had around 11,000 employees. The Foundation was born out of Takkar’s profound concern for the African population.
Given the company’s growth, the entrepreneur consistently voiced his concern for Africa’s technological, social, and economic development. In 2013, alongside a partner, he founded Atlas Mara, a company that acquires and invests in banking institutions across Africa. That same year, he raised millions of dollars after launching the company on the London Stock Exchange. He also created a real estate fund listed on the same exchange, later merged with Mara Group and Standard Bank.
El incansable apoyo de Ashish Takkar en África
Mara Foundation has demonstrated unwavering support toward African populations. Since 2009, it has worked with multiple countries across the continent, and African sources report that more than 160,000 entrepreneurs have been supported by the businessman of Indian and African heritage.
Within Mara Group, Ashish Takkar launched an app called “Mara Mentor,” a platform where entrepreneurs interact with global leaders. These initiatives aim to connect talent from a specific region with major companies and CEOs. The application receives support from reputable organizations.
Such is the significance of Ashish’s contribution to Africa that in 2012 he was named a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum. He is also a member of the Forum’s Global Agenda Council for Africa.
From his exile with his family, the loss of all their assets during their escape from Rwanda, to their eventual settlement in Uganda—where he not only rebuilt his life but, with family support, created a technological empire.
