He is an experienced entrepreneur, an expert in strategic planning and sales management. He is actively involved in promoting entrepreneurship in Africa.

Jean-Patrick Ketcha (photo) is a Cameroonian entrepreneur and the founder and executive director of Le Boukarou, an organization dedicated to supporting businesses and innovators.

Founded in 2016, Le Boukarou assists young entrepreneurs and women in sub-Saharan Africa by providing modern co-working spaces, mentorship and training programs, as well as funding solutions to help them turn their projects into reality. The organization guides them through every stage, from structuring their ideas to launching their businesses. With the backing of 13 partners, Le Boukarou claims to have reached more than 42,000 people and supported over 40 startups. Among the entrepreneurs it has assisted is Arthur Zang, the inventor of the CardioPad, a connected electrocardiogram device.

Committed to fostering entrepreneurship in Africa, Jean-Patrick Ketcha serves on the strategic advisory board of the Centre d’Employabilité Francophone of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie and is a board member of Afric'innov, an association providing support organizations with tools and resources to better assist entrepreneurs across the continent.

Before launching Le Boukarou, he co-founded Spread Ideas Kamer, a non-political association promoting idea-sharing, skill exchange, and the recognition of individual expertise.

Jean-Patrick Ketcha holds a master's degree in law from Paris Nanterre University (2006) and a master's in international business and trade from OMNES Education in France.

He began his professional career in 2010 as a sales manager at Société de Bétons Industriels du Cameroun, where he was promoted to operations director in 2014. In 2016, he joined real estate firm Millenium Immobilier as head of internal control.

By Melchior Koba,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji