THE PERSON BEHIND THE PURPOSE

David Jeng. Purpose in every pursuit.

Entrepreneur · IP Expert · Business Consultant

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Purpose. Diversity. Innovation.

David Jeng wearing a navy suit and red tie — Purpose is where
**the journey begins.**

MEET DAVID

Building African enterprise.
Creating lasting opportunity.

David Jeng is an entrepreneur, IP expert and business consultant with 15+ years of experience. He has supported over 10,000 entrepreneurs and worked with MSMEs in more than 20 countries.

David is the Founder and Managing Consultant of Bliss Executives, an IP and management consulting firm founded in 2018, and a Director of SAS Consult GM Co. Ltd. He combines enterprise experience with intellectual property strategy, institutional consultancy and hands-on training.

His work has supported more than 10,000 entrepreneurs and MSMEs in 20+ countries. He partners with international organisations, public institutions and businesses on growth, IP protection and commercialisation, investment facilitation and lasting partnerships.

David is a 2024 Mandela Washington Fellow and holds a Master of Intellectual Property from Africa University, earned through a WIPO Academy scholarship, as well as a PatentX certificate from Harvard Law School.

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THE WORK, IN NUMBERS

15+

Years of experience

10000+

Entrepreneurs supported

20+

Countries with MSMEs supported

30+

Projects and programmes led

PURPOSE · DIVERSITY · INNOVATION

Values that guide the work.

To drive African development by supporting entrepreneurs with growth, IP protection and commercialisation, investment facilitation and partnerships.

Empowerment

Equips African entrepreneurs to lead boldly and build sustainable businesses.

Inclusive Access

Champions equal access to knowledge, opportunities and IP protection, regardless of background or identity.

Integrity in Impact

Works with transparency, accountability and purpose to create lasting value.

Knowledge & Protection

Combines strategic insight with IP protection and commercialisation so businesses can grow with clarity and security.

Connection & Collaboration

Builds partnerships, networks and collective opportunity for shared success.

Africa-Centered Growth

Rooted in the belief that Africa’s future is worth building, one idea and entrepreneur at a time.

Passion

Commitment to impact and Africa’s development sustains the work.

HONOURS & AWARDS

Recognition that
comes with responsibility.

Milestones in a continuing commitment to enterprise, innovation and inclusive opportunity.

2025

Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration

Prowess University, USA.

2025

Africa’s Under 40 CEO Award

Mayorkings Group, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2024 / 2025

100 Most Influential Young Africans

Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation.

2024

Mandela Washington Fellow

Young African Leaders Initiative, US Department of State.

2023

Most Influential Global Leader of the Year

Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation, Global Leaders Summit.

2022

Young Leader of the Year

West African Leadership and Empowerment Centre.

2022

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership

Professional fellowship; FCIML designation.

2022

WIPO Academy Scholarship

Full scholarship for the Master of Intellectual Property, Africa University.

2018

Next Einstein Forum Ambassador

Recognition for science, technology and innovation advocacy.

2015

UTGDA Leadership Award

University of The Gambia Debate Association.

200+

IP support across programmes and clients

David supports entrepreneurs with IP diagnostics, brand protection, commercialisation and business strategy across programmes and individual client engagements.

Explore IP expertise ↗

100

Women agripreneurs supported through WACEMS

Lead Consultant for WIPO’s programme in Ghana and Nigeria, supporting 100 women agripreneurs and producing an IP diagnostic of 105 women-led SMEs.

Explore WACEMS ↗

LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE

Current roles

October 2018–present

Founder and Managing Consultant

Bliss Executives

An IP and management consulting firm helping African entrepreneurs grow, protect and commercialise their ideas.

February 2026–present

Director

SAS Consult GM Co. Ltd

Leads proposals and consulting delivery, including IFC Local Champions creative-industries mapping.

March 2026–present

Board Director; Chair, Finance and Investment; Chair, HR and ESG

IGI Gamstar Insurance Company Limited

Supports governance, sustainable growth and institutional turnaround.

September 2022–present; re-elected 2025

Board Director and Director of Youth

Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The youngest-ever GCCI Board Director, representing youth enterprise and private-sector development.

January 2021–present

Board Director

Chapman Xpress Financial Services

Managing Director from January 2021 to August 2026; now provides board-level governance and strategy.

October 2024–present

Board Member; Chair, Technical Working Group

President’s International Award, The Gambia

Supports youth development and income-generating activities.

August 2025–present

Board Director

Women Empowered International

Supports leadership development and opportunity for women and girls.

May 2022–present

Member

National Intellectual Property Council of The Gambia

Contributes to IP policy, awareness and national innovation frameworks.

September 2024–present

Advisory Board Member

IoT4Ag Agricultural Systems Advisory Board, University of Pennsylvania

Contributes perspectives on agricultural innovation and technology transfer.

September 2026–present

Advisory Board Member

Agri Farming & Innovation Holdings Ltd

Supports governance, commercial strategy, investor relations and export-ready Gambian products.

May 2018–present

Co-Founder

The Gambia Disability Impact Trust Fund

With the Gambia Federation of the Disabled: 600+ persons with disabilities trained and 50 start-ups funded.

2014–present

National Master Trainer

UNCTAD-Empretec

Entrepreneurship training, trainer mentoring and enterprise development.

2020–present

Founding Member

Africa Tech and Creative Group / MyAfCFTA

Promotes innovation, creative industries and intra-African trade.

Earlier roles

2021–August 2026

Managing Director

Chapman Xpress Financial Services

Led operations, planning and company management.

June 2015–September 2018

Business Support Coordinator

Startup Incubator Gambia

Coordinated incubation programmes and support to early-stage ventures.

2019–2023

Strategy Chair

Next Einstein Forum Community of Scientists

Led strategy for science, technology and innovation advocacy.

2019–2022

Board Director

The Gambia Robotics Hub

Supported youth-led robotics, AI and STEM initiatives.

2016–2020

Chairman

University of The Gambia Alumni Association

Mobilised alumni and strengthened links with students and the University.

LEARNING & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Education & professional development

2022

Master of Intellectual Property

Africa University

WIPO Academy scholarship supported by Japan Funds-in-Trust. Research on trademark exploitation by agricultural SMEs.

2014

BSc in Marketing and Finance

University of The Gambia

Research on SME marketing in the food-processing sector.

2024

PatentX: Patent Law and Global Public Health

Harvard Law School

Patent law, innovation and global public health.

2024

Leadership in Business

University of Notre Dame

Mandela Washington Fellowship.

2024

Professional Development Fellowship

Penn Center for Innovation, University of Pennsylvania

Technology commercialisation and intellectual property management.

2025

IP Basics for Innovators

European Patent Office

IP foundations for innovation.

2025

Patent Drafting Programme

ARIPO and European Patent Office

Patent drafting training.

2024

Alternative Dispute Resolution for IP and Technology

WIPO

IP and technology dispute-resolution training.

2025

Creative Intelligence Coach

Global League of Creative Intelligence Certified Coaches

Creative intelligence coaching certification.

2025

Creative Champion

Miami University

Creative Champion certificate.

2018

Start and Improve Your Business Trainer

International Labour Organization

Formalize, Generate, Start and Improve Your Business modules.

2017

Design Thinking Trainer

International Trade Centre

Design Thinking training-of-trainers certification.

2016

Empretec Certified Master Trainer

UNCTAD

Entrepreneurship development and trainer certification.

Professional memberships

2024–present

AUTM International Strategy Committee

Africa region

Technology transfer and IP commercialisation.

2023–present

UN Business and Industry Major Group

International Organisation of Employers

Private-sector input to UN sustainable-development processes.

2023–present

WINIPE

WIPO International Network for Intellectual Property Education

IP education, professional exchange and research.

2024–present

ITCILO Alumni Network

International Training Centre of the ILO

Professional learning and exchange.

BE PART OF WHAT COMES NEXT

Let’s turn shared purpose
into lasting progress.

Start a conversation ↗

WRITING & RESEARCH

Ideas in print.

Explore David’s co-authored publication, interviews and institutional features.

Media & publications ↗

THREE WAYS TO WORK WITH DAVID

David Jeng. Purpose in every pursuit.

Building African enterprise. Creating lasting opportunity.

Values that guide the work.

Empowerment

Inclusive Access

Integrity in Impact

Knowledge & Protection

Connection & Collaboration

Africa-Centered Growth

Passion

Recognition that comes with responsibility.

Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration

Africa’s Under 40 CEO Award

100 Most Influential Young Africans

Mandela Washington Fellow

Most Influential Global Leader of the Year

Young Leader of the Year

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership

WIPO Academy Scholarship

Next Einstein Forum Ambassador

UTGDA Leadership Award

IP support across programmes and clients

Women agripreneurs supported through WACEMS

Current roles

Founder and Managing Consultant

Director

Board Director; Chair, Finance and Investment; Chair, HR and ESG

Board Director and Director of Youth

Board Director

Board Member; Chair, Technical Working Group

Board Director

Member

Advisory Board Member

Advisory Board Member

Co-Founder

National Master Trainer

Founding Member

Earlier roles

Managing Director

Business Support Coordinator

Strategy Chair

Board Director

Chairman

Education & professional development

Master of Intellectual Property

BSc in Marketing and Finance

PatentX: Patent Law and Global Public Health

Leadership in Business

Professional Development Fellowship

IP Basics for Innovators

Patent Drafting Programme

Alternative Dispute Resolution for IP and Technology

Creative Intelligence Coach

Creative Champion

Start and Improve Your Business Trainer

Design Thinking Trainer

Empretec Certified Master Trainer

Professional memberships

AUTM International Strategy Committee

UN Business and Industry Major Group

WINIPE

ITCILO Alumni Network

Let’s turn shared purpose into lasting progress.

Ideas in print.

Three perspectives. One purpose. Your next step.

Entrepreneur

IP Expert

Business Consultant

Stay connected to what’s next.

Building African enterprise.
Creating lasting opportunity.

Recognition that
comes with responsibility.

Let’s turn shared purpose
into lasting progress.

Three perspectives.
One purpose. Your next step.