From Trash to Treasure: The Inspiring Story of Alex Mativo

In 2014, at just 19 years old, Alex Mativo, now recognized as one of the winners of the Forbes "Under 30" program for his innovative work in sustainability and entrepreneurship, launched E-LAB, a startup focused on eliminating electronic waste in Africa and transforming it into products used in the fashion and interior design industries.

This young Kenyan businessman was even celebrated in 2016 by Queen Elizabeth II for his work with E-LAB, receiving one of the Queen's Young Leader Awards.

In an interview with Forbes Africa, Mativo explains that his greatest challenge was starting E-LAB at the age of 19, with no capital and no business experience. While his peers were entering university, he was fighting an environmental danger in his hometown of Athi River (outside of Nairobi).

He also states that electronic waste was unregulated, leading factories to dump mountains of electronic waste in his neighborhood.

He hopes that as a Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 winner, he will have a platform to amplify his message and inspire the next generation of innovators to create businesses that solve real problems in his native continent.