In the quiet stillness of Ingri Juu, a village tucked within the folds of Tanzania’s Rorya District, a boy once stood helpless as his sister slipped away, not due to fate, but failure. At just 13, Franc Mussa Israel watched the life of a loved one fade, stolen not by disease, but by distance, by inaccessibility, by a system that forgot its rural citizens. That moment, devastating in its finality, was not an end. It was ignition.
“I lost my sister due to postpartum hemorrhage, a death that could have been prevented with timely and accessible medical care.” His voice doesn’t shake when he says it, but it anchors every decision he has made since.
Today, Franc Mussa Israel is not only a co-founder of EvMak Tanzania, a fintech company revolutionizing digital payments for African SMEs, he is the living embodiment of how personal tragedy can seed professional triumph.
From Ingri Juu to Innovation
Born and raised in Ingri Juu village, Franc grew up in a world many only read about, one where healthcare was a dream and infrastructure a rumor. Yet, from that rural soil, something remarkable took root.
“Growing up in a rural community with limited access to healthcare and basic infrastructure, I experienced firsthand the harsh realities of inequality,” he says.
Determined to change the narrative, Franc pursued a degree in Public Health at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. He entered university not just with ambition, but with a mission. His academic foundation was rigorous, but it was the disillusionment he encountered, watching brilliant graduates struggle to find jobs, that shifted his lens.
“My education gave me the technical foundation, but it was witnessing the struggles of older graduates to find employment that sparked my shift toward entrepreneurship. I wanted to become a creator of solutions, not just a job seeker.”
That intention would later become the guiding principle of his career.
Building from Pain
Franc’s early ventures were driven by his passion for health equity. He co-founded AfyaLead, a health-focused startup aiming to make medical care more accessible in underserved areas. But leadership sometimes requires letting go.
“I stepped down from the company last year,” he says without hesitation, not from failure, but from evolution. He was ready for a new problem to solve.
That new problem came from his brother, Evans, who was struggling to accept digital payments in his own small business. The brothers realized this wasn’t an isolated issue. It was widespread across the continent, affecting millions of entrepreneurs and business owners in low-income or rural areas.
So they built EvMak Tanzania — a fintech company headquartered in Tanzania, offering digital payment systems and essential business tools to SMEs who often operate in the margins of the formal economy.
“EvMak now empowers businesses with seamless payment systems and business tools. Our aim is to transform financial access for underserved communities.”
The company has already supported hundreds of small businesses. But for Franc, numbers are not the only measure of success.
“These impacts, more than awards, fuel my passion. Recognition like the Global Student Entrepreneurship Award (back-then) and being named Best Health Innovator twice in Tanzania are affirmations, but they are not the destination, impact is.”
Staying Ahead in Africa’s Digital Revolution
Franc operates in a rapidly shifting digital landscape. The African economy is transforming, tech-first, mobile-driven, innovation-led. A decade ago, the infrastructure for mobile payments was almost nonexistent. Today, it’s the foundation of commerce.
“To stay ahead, I rely on continuous learning, listening to market data, customer feedback and policy changes. Agility and strategic partnerships are core to our adaptability.”
He also credits mentorship for his growth as a leader.
Franc is not merely reacting to trends, he’s forecasting them. One of his most exciting projects involves integrating artificial intelligence into EvMak’s platforms.
“I’m excited about the role of artificial intelligence in powering smarter business tools for African SMEs. There’s also exciting work happening in tech and we’re exploring scalable digital outreach models.”
Pressure, Doubt and Defiance
For all the milestones and forward movement, Franc’s journey has not been without struggle. The life of an entrepreneur in Africa, particularly one with a social mission, is a tightrope walk between vision and viability.
“The entrepreneurial journey is filled with challenges — financial limitations, community pressure and self-doubt.”
And one of the most personal challenges? Managing the expectations of loved ones.
“One of the hardest parts has been managing expectations from family and friends who didn’t fully understand the path I chose.”
But Franc views obstacles not as roadblocks, but as lessons.
“Every obstacle taught me something valuable. I learned the importance of resilience, staying focused on the mission, and building strong partnerships that share your vision.”
Leadership Beyond Titles
Franc’s understanding of leadership is refreshingly grounded, not in corporate lingo or startup glamour, but in trust.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that leadership is not about titles, it’s about responsibility and trust. Building trust with your team, customers and community is the foundation of long-term success.”
He leads not by command, but by conviction, a trait that has kept both his ventures and his vision alive.
Giving Back and Looking Forward
Though Franc is focused on scaling EvMak, he remains deeply involved in the larger entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“I’m passionate about working with fellow young innovators and entrepreneurs. I actively collaborate on early-stage projects that address local problems.”
Outside of business, he finds solace in football though, as he admits with a laugh, “I rarely find time to play these days.”
He’s also laser-focused on what’s next. More innovation, more scale, more impact.
“Much more is coming, and we’re just getting started.”
Advice from the Ground Up
For aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those starting with limited resources, Franc’s advice is simple but profound:
“Start small but think big. Focus on solving a specific problem that matters to your community. Use whatever resources you have around you; don’t wait for perfect conditions.”
He believes the real edge lies not in having the best funding, but in staying the course.
“Consistency and resilience are more important than having everything figured out.”
The Boy Who Built Bridges
It is easy to marvel at Franc’s accomplishments, a thriving startup, national recognition, a growing network of influence. But the power of his story lies not in the spotlight, but in the shadows he stepped out of.
From losing his sister in a remote village, to building a company that gives power back to the people often forgotten by financial systems, Franc Mussa Israel has become more than an entrepreneur. He is a bridge between grief and growth, between isolation and inclusion, between what is and what could be.
His story is a reminder that even the smallest village can raise giants and that sometimes, the greatest innovations begin in the silence of sorrow.
And for Franc, that silence was never the end. It was just the beginning.
