I’m a Polish-born entrepreneur and investor, and the Founder and CEO of Samana Group, a real estate venture and development company building sustainable communities on the Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. Through Samana Legal, we also advise buyers and developers on Dominican property.
My entrepreneurial journey has taken me across multiple continents and industries, with years of building in Nigeria, South Africa and the Dominican Republic. I co-founded Jumia Travel, which became Africa’s largest hotel booking platform and part of Jumia Group – later listed on the New York Stock Exchange. I’m also a co-founder of SunRoof International, a European company developing integrated solar roofs that combine renewable energy with modern architecture.
My experience building startups in emerging markets – and navigating the realities of entrepreneurship outside Silicon Valley – became the story behind my book Chasing Black Unicorns, which went on to become a bestseller. (Subscribe to my newsletter to get the e-book for free).
Today my main focus is Samana Group and the long-term vision we are building in Samaná – a place that has become my home. Our projects – including Nomad City and the pioneering Samaná Land Trust – aim to demonstrate a different approach to real estate development: one that protects nature, respects local communities, and preserves the character of the region while allowing thoughtful growth. The ambition is not simply to build properties, but to help shape a sustainable future for one of the most extraordinary places in the world.
Racing
One of my biggest passions is motorsport. I am a racing driver, competing in TCR and GT4 in the Polish racing championships with Rataj Racing. My results so far:
- 2026 – Polish GT4 Endurance Champion
- 2026 – Polish GT4 Sprint Vice-Champion
- 2025 – Polish TCR Second Vice-Champion
Racing has become an important outlet for the same mindset that drives entrepreneurship: focus, precision, and the constant pursuit of improvement.
Outside of business and racing, I’ve followed a somewhat unconventional path. I’ve worked as a snowboard instructor and a bartender – experiences that taught me resilience, independence, and how to connect with people from every walk of life.
My long-term goal is simple – to leave the world in slightly better shape than when I arrived.
In the media
- Dominikana, Karaiby: Polski biznesmen Marek Zmysłowski buduje prywatne miasto – Forbes Polska, 5/2023
- Misja „Samana” Marka Zmysłowskiego: jak kontrolować chaos i budować miasta – Wprost, 06/2023
- Teksańska utopia Elona Muska i eko-wioska Marka Zuckerberga. Po co światowi bogacze budują prywatne miasta i jak zrobić to lepiej od nich? – Forbes Polska
- Polak buduje technologiczną Afrykę. „Tutaj robi się to inaczej” – Forbes Polska
- O Polaku, który w Nigerii robi start-upy – Forbes Polska
- Technologia z łodzi podwodnych na ratunek rolnikom – Forbes Polska (SeedsBot)
- The Only Foreigner to Defeat the Corruption in Nigerian Police: Marek Zmysłowski’s Story of Resilience – ACCESS Newswire via Yahoo Finance, 11/2024
