• Home
    • All Articles
    • Editorials
    • Entrepreneur Smarts
    • Contributor Articles
    • Startup Stories
    • 100 Lionesses
    • Daily Inspiration
    • Lioness Launch
    • Lioness Co-LAB
    • Community Newsmakers
    • Award Winning Women
    • Video
    • Radio
    • Image of the Day Gallery
    • Book Reviews
  • Blog
  • Community
  • 100 Lionesses
  • Startup Stories
  • Radio
    • Events Homepage & Booking
    • Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference
    • Startup Night! Africa Series
    • Lioness Lean In Series
    • Young Lioness Lean In Events
    • The Intrapreneur Sessions
    • Our Programs
    • Accelerator Cohort 3
    • About Us
    • Manifesto
    • Impact Partners
    • Contributor Team
    • Contact
    • Join the Community
    • Signup for FREE Newsletters
    • Share Your Startup Story
    • Share Your Lioness Launch
    • Share Your Lioness Co-Lab
    • Become a Contributor
    • Nominate to '100 Lionessess'
    • Become an Impact Partner
    • Contact LoA
Menu

Lionesses of Africa Website

276 5th Avenue
New York, NY, 10001
(212) 634-4540
The Pride of Africa's Women Entrepreneurs

the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs. join the community | NEWSLETTERS

Lionesses of Africa Website

  • Home
  • Sections +
    • All Articles
    • Editorials
    • Entrepreneur Smarts
    • Contributor Articles
    • Startup Stories
    • 100 Lionesses
    • Daily Inspiration
    • Lioness Launch
    • Lioness Co-LAB
    • Community Newsmakers
    • Award Winning Women
    • Video
    • Radio
    • Image of the Day Gallery
    • Book Reviews
  • Blog
  • Community
  • 100 Lionesses
  • Startup Stories
  • Radio
  • Events +
    • Events Homepage & Booking
    • Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference
    • Startup Night! Africa Series
    • Lioness Lean In Series
    • Young Lioness Lean In Events
    • The Intrapreneur Sessions
  • Programs +
    • Our Programs
    • Accelerator Cohort 3
  • About +
    • About Us
    • Manifesto
    • Impact Partners
    • Contributor Team
    • Contact
  • Connect +
    • Join the Community
    • Signup for FREE Newsletters
    • Share Your Startup Story
    • Share Your Lioness Launch
    • Share Your Lioness Co-Lab
    • Become a Contributor
    • Nominate to '100 Lionessess'
    • Become an Impact Partner
    • Contact LoA

Asma Dukanda - The startup story of a unique baby clothing entrepreneur celebrating traditional South African textile design

May 17, 2015 Melanie Hawken
Asma Dukanda , founder of  Mokopu  (South Africa)

Asma Dukanda, founder of Mokopu (South Africa)

The African marketplace for beautifully designed and crafted baby and children’s wear and toy products is continually growing, and with it are emerging some wonderful new design talents in this space. South African entrepreneur, Asma Dukanda, is just such a talent, creating a great new niche for herself and her clothing and products, all of which celebrate the best of the country’s traditional fabric design culture.  

 

LoA caught up with Asma whilst she was exhibiting her wonderful Mokopu brand at the Kamers2015 Johannesburg show recently to find out more.

Tell us a little about your company

Mokopu is a South African startup company, launched in December 2014, that designs and produces a range of baby products and clothing, and we specialise in locally sourced and created products. The name Mokopu comes from the Southern Sotho word for Pumpkin. We are based in Johannesburg and we are currently in the process of launching a retail store in the Maboneng area of the city, so that is very exciting for us right now. We are also very busy promoting our brand and our products at various markets in order for more people to connect with Mokopu and what we do.

"As a young start-up and brand, you really have to find the right spaces in which to retail your product. You may do the initial research before setting up the business, but it doesn’t always translate into the retail sales you imagined on paper. You therefore have to be flexible enough to figure out what is going to best work for you and your retail sales needs, and try out different marketplaces and retail environments until you find what does actually work best."

Screen Shot 2015-05-17 at 4.50.12 PM.png
Screen Shot 2015-05-17 at 4.50.48 PM.png
Screen Shot 2015-05-17 at 4.51.32 PM.png
Screen Shot 2015-05-17 at 4.50.12 PM.png Screen Shot 2015-05-17 at 4.50.48 PM.png Screen Shot 2015-05-17 at 4.51.32 PM.png

How did you become an entrepreneur, and what was the inspiration for starting up the company?

Actually, it is an interesting story. I am a qualified civil engineer and I was working for a company, practicing my trade and earning good money, but I was not happy in my work. I felt it was not creative enough for me personally and I felt the time was right to take a chance and do something creative that would fulfil me instead of running the risk of working in my profession and getting older, then regretting that I hadn’t taken the chance of doing something I really loved. So, that is how I started my entrepreneurial journey, and how my company Mokopu came into being. The inspiration came initially from the fact that my husband’s family have been selling South African fabrics for the last 60 years or so, and I loved these fabrics. Each time I went into the family store, I found all the designs and the textures of all these fabrics simply mind-blowing. I realised you could do so much creatively with all these fabrics and make some really wonderful things with them. So, I attended a friend’s baby shower on one occasion and made some things for the baby using the fabrics from the family’s store. I gave the gifts to the new parents and they loved them - this is where the initial concept for Mokopu came from.

Share with us some of the products that Mokopu is becoming renowned for.

We produce a range of baby clothes celebrating these great South African fabrics, but recently we have also added some fun new products to the range, including a children’s teepee, which is the cutest thing. It is produced in fabrics that will appeal to both boys and girls and it is such a fun and comforting space in which to play and let the creative imagination run riot. As a company, we have just started making these new fun products such as the teepees, and also great new storage containers for children. As we grow as a company, we will continue to add great new products to the range. We are trying to find a niche for ourselves as a business in this great market for babies and children. I am also continually inspired by fabrics and things that I feel are cute and could make great new appealing products to add to our Mokopu range and keep it fresh. 

Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.37.43.png
Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.37.59.png
Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.38.43.png
Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.39.11.png
Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.39.32.png
Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.37.43.png Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.37.59.png Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.38.43.png Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.39.11.png Screenshot 2015-05-17 19.39.32.png

"I use a lot of traditional South African Shwe-Shwe fabric, and the printing process used to produce the fabric is so unique to our country, that I would like to showcase it to a much wider global marketplace and proudly showcase what we can do here in terms of textile design and production."

 

Do you hand-make all the Mokopu products by hand yourself?

Initially when I launched the company and the brand, I made all the products myself, including the teepees. But at this point in the company’s growth, I can’t keep up with the demand anymore so I am fortunate that I have manufacturing capacity on a larger scale. I also have a supplier base that can help me with the right quantities of materials that I need to produce more substantial numbers of products that will help me to expand over time. I know that my company’s growth should be organic, but there are so many opportunities presenting themselves to grow that I want to take advantage of them as they arise and be ready to meet those challenges.

Where are you retailing your products at the moment?

Right now, my focus is on retailing at various markets and events, but with our soon-to-be-launched Maboneng store, that will really become our flagship retail outlet. We also have an on-line presence. When I first started, I had assumed that most young people shop on-line and I had also assumed that our on-line retail presence would be a gateway to more customers and that it would be easy to build a retail consumer base in that space. Yet, it has been harder in reality - South Africans are gradually getting used to shopping on-line, but it is still a very new concept for them. The bigger on-line retail companies have their customer bases and can attract the retail numbers, but for single independent companies, it is very difficult to break into the on-line retail market and get the traffic. And, even if you do get the traffic, people are more likely to email you and ask you where you will be in person next, showcasing and retailing your goods, or where can they find your physical retail store, rather than ordering directly from you on-line. So, customers currently prefer to rely on traditional sales methods and outlets rather than the on-line environment. In fact, this is one of the bigger challenges to be addressed for a new company such as ours. On paper, the on-line marketing presence would seem to offer so many opportunities, but in reality, you need to build your brand presence out there in the marketplace first, people need to see your brand and your products in person, and it is a lot more work than you might at first have imagined. 

 

"As an entrepreneur, to be in charge of your own destiny and to enjoy what you do each day is absolutely priceless."

- Asma Dukanda, founder of Mokopu

Tweet:
 

What other challenges have you faced as a young start-up?

As a young start-up and brand, you really have to find the right spaces in which to retail your product. You may do the initial research before setting up the business, but it doesn’t always translate into the retail sales you imagined on paper. You therefore have to be flexible enough to figure out what is going to best work for you and your retail sales needs, and try out different marketplaces and retail environments until you find what does actually work best. This trying process can be tedious and it can be costly, so if you can find a marketplace where you and your products and brand belong, that is key. 

Where to next for Mokopu, what are your aspirations for the company and the brand?

Now that we are creating a retail store, I would really like to have more stores across South Africa, in key cities such as Cape Town and Durban, and to grow organically from those bases. Because of what I do, and the fact that all our products are created using South African-made and designed fabrics, I would like to see Mokopu go overseas. I use a lot of traditional South African Shwe-Shwe fabric, and the printing process used to produce the fabric is so unique to our country, that I would like to market it to a much wider global audience and proudly showcase what we can do here in terms of textile design and production. In fact, the company producing this fabric currently is doing so much in terms of expanding their designs and their colour ranges. I feel like there is a perception, particularly amongst South Africans themselves that they think they know what this fabric is all about, but the fact is that new and innovative designs and colour combinations are being produced all the time, and more people need to get to know about them. Also, people from overseas love these fabrics because they are uniquely and proudly South African. So, in the future, I would like more people to connect with our products and our fabrics in overseas markets. From the experience I have had so far in selling the fabric to Europe and the US, the reaction has been really positive.

".... you have to put yourself out there in the marketplace and you have to get used to making yourself available 24/7 to deal with potential customers, market enquiries, etc."

Screenshot 2015-05-17 20.03.39.png
Screenshot 2015-05-17 20.04.34.png
Screenshot 2015-05-17 20.05.56.png
Screenshot 2015-05-17 20.07.02.png

As a young woman entrepreneur just starting out on her own business journey, what advice would you give to other women who might be thinking of launching a new startup?

It is not easy - I planned a lot, and saved up my money ready for the day I was to launch. You forget that in the initial stages it is slow, and you have to remember that you are building a new business and a brand. In all the initial excitement and with so much to do, it is easy to forget that you are a new startup and you are often tempted to raise your own expectations to impossible limits, or to look at others that are so much further down the business journey than you are and wish you were there already, so you have to continually remind yourself that you are just starting out on your own journey and that it takes time to become established. One of the key challenges is to manage your own expectations. 

Another piece of advice is that you have to put yourself out there in the marketplace and you have to get used to making yourself available 24/7 to deal with potential customers, market enquiries, etc. It requires a major mind shift in the early days. The other challenge to be faced is that it is very comfortable being in a corporate 9-5 job and to get that comforting sms from the bank each month saying that your salary is in your account. It is very difficult to let go of that initially and to realise that you are solely responsible for that money being generated and ensuring that it lands in your account on a regular basis. However, it is worth it at the end of the day. As an entrepreneur, to be in charge of your own destiny and to enjoy what you do each day is absolutely priceless.


Contact or follow Mokopu

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

Email: info@mokopu.co.za


Why LoA loves it….

At LoA, we think Asma Dukanda has a great eye for design, particularly when it comes to appreciating the unique beauty and cultural traditions behind South African traditional textile design, and understands what appeals to both children and parents alike. Her Mokopu childrenswear and toy brand is a real celebration of what makes South African traditional fabrics so special and so appealing for this young market. Her fabulous fabric teepees are also really special, and help to bring children’s imaginations and playtimes alive. --- Melanie Hawken, Lionesses of Africa founder and editor-in-chief 
In Startup Story Tags Baby Clothing & Products, South Africa
← Essential Read: 'Mumpreneur' by Annabel KarmelLaura Nyahuye - The startup story of an avant garde Zimbabwean designer challenging existing notions of jewellery design →
Screenshot 2015-09-18 12.31.25.png
Screenshot 2015-09-09 10.18.54.png
Screenshot 2015-09-09 10.19.15.png

Subscribe to our mailing list

Newsletters
Follow
Tweets by @lionessesA
Image of the Day: ‘Happy Valentines Day’… from the The House of Agness, a floral design company in Mozambique inspired by modern, minimalistic aesthetics but with a classic touch. Founder Mariana Agness Francisco Eria's products and services include deliveries of her signature boxes, bouquets and gift boxes and onsite floral services. Learn more → @thehouseofagness Let's #LIONESSLEANIN Johannesburg! Make sure to book your FREE seat for our 1st Jozi event of the year - presented in partnership with  @volkswagensouthafrica - Book here: https://buff.ly/2RnX6E2 … Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, UK Secretary of State for International Development welcomes Lionesses of Africa.⠀
⠀
Pictured: Toyin Odulate, founder of Olori Cosmetics; Dr Amy Jadesimi, CEO, LADOL; Melanie Hawken, founder and ceo, Lionesses of Africa; the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, Secretary of State for International Development; and (far right) Manji Cheto, Business Development Manager, Africa-Primary Markets, London Stock Exchange Group Lionesses of Africa invited to showcase Africa’s women entrepreneurs at the Companies to Inspire Africa 2019 launch at the London Stock Exchange on 16 January 2019. #InspireAfrica #InspireAfrica2019 Image of the Day @inverroche : ‘Coco Carissa Gin’… a new gin from Inverroche, infused with red berries of the Carissa Bispinosa tree from the forests of the Southern Cape. Lorna Scott is the founder of Inverroche Distillery, a small batch, artisanal gin producer in the Western Cape, South Africa who sell their products throughout South Africa and in 14 countries across Europe, America, Asia and Africa. Lorna uses the extraordinary bounty of rare, aromatic medicinal and culinary herbs, flowers and berries, which grow all around her as the inspiration to create a range of uniquely South African gins. #QOTD @ethelcofie --- Ethel Cofie is a leading tech entrepreneur from Ghana and the founder and CEO of Edel Technology Consulting, a company that provides IT and software services as an enabler and catalyst for businesses to achieve their goals. Ethel is the founder of Women in Tech Africa, initiator of the 1st Pan African woman in tech meet-up and was shortlisted for the UN GEM Tech Award for work supporting women in ICT. She has been featured by the BBC and CNN for her work in technology and promoting women's leadership. Ethel sits on numerous boards and is also a President Obama Washington Fellow for Leadership (YALI). More about Ethel. Let’s #LIONESSLEANIN #Abidjan! We have a great program lined up for our community of women entrepreneurs in Abidjan tomorrow. Prepare to be inspired! Image of the Day @boldinafrica : ‘Bold Women’… from BOLD Africa, a retail brand changing the face of African fashion. Founders Nunu Mugyenyi, Janet Mugume and Angel Kalisa have built an award-winning retail outlet that houses over thirty up and coming designers from countries across the African continent including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Nigeria, Ghana, Tunisia and South Africa. They create opportunities for designers to retail their collections in affordable spaces with excellent exposure. Their mission is to increase the support of the African fashion industry, both locally and internationally. #QOTD @melvins_tea --- Flora Mutahi is the founder & CEO of Melvin Marsh International, the manufacturer of Melvin's Tea, a popular Kenyan brand launched in 1995. She has also been appointed to the board of the United Nations Global Compact and is Head of the Anti-Counterfeit Agency in Kenya. Flora holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town and a B.Sc Finance and Accounts (UK). Image of the Day @adeledejak : ‘Bold & Powerful’… Adele Dejak is an authentic jewellery and fashion accessories brand that connects buyers to a true luxury African experience. The brand consists of a wide variety of handcrafted pieces including bracelets, earrings, necklaces and handbags inspired by African textiles, cultures and traditions directly made in Adele’s studio in Nairobi, or through collaboration with her established network of partners. #QOTD @midunuchocolates --- Selassie Atadika is the founder of Midunu Chocolates in Ghana, a chocolatier creating artisanal handcrafted chocolates made with Ghanaian cocoa. Selassie distills the essence and unique flavours of the African continent and now offers them to the world in Ghanaian chocolate. Her company is adding value to a cocoa heritage dating back to 1879, with Ghana renowned for both the quality and quantity of its cocoa. Image of the Day @boldinafrica : ‘African Fashion Forward’ … from BOLD, a retail brand changing the face of African fashion. Founders Nunu Mugyenyi, Janet Mugume and Angel Kalisa have built an award-winning retail outlet that houses over thirty up and coming designers from countries across the African continent including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Nigeria, Ghana, Tunisia and South Africa. They create opportunities for designers to retail their collections in affordable spaces with excellent exposure. Their mission is to increase the support of the African fashion industry, both locally and internationally. #QOTD @i_amthecode - Mariéme Jamme is the founder of iamtheCODE, the first African-led global movement to mobilise government, private sector, and investors to advance STEAMED (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, and Design Education). Mariéme  was named on the Powerlist 2017 of Britain’s 100 most influential people of African and African Caribbean Heritage. She is a Senegalese-born British businesswoman in technology and the founder of Spotone Global Solutions. Marieme was honoured as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was named as one of the 100 most influential Africans of 2014 by the Africa Business Magazine and Forbes Magazine. Image of the Day @akikidolls : ‘Story Time’ .… Fatuma Abdullah is the Kenyan-born founder of Akiki Dolls in South Africa, a company that makes and distributes African dolls known as Akiki Dolls. Fatuma is also an author and has published her first children's book based on the Akiki character called, 'Akiki’s Short Stories'. The Akiki Doll was born out of Fatuma's need as a mother to empower her daughter and her vision is to have all children embrace diversity and ethnicity by giving them access to a great playmate. #QOTD @monchoco_artisanchocolatier --- Dana Mroueh is the founder of MonChoco, an artisan chocolatier in Côte d'Ivoire. Her products are made from organic cocoa beans sourced from Côte d’Ivoire and she makes raw chocolate to preserve the taste and the natural nutrient of cocoa beans. Her chocolate is very pure, it is made only from organic cocoa and brown sugar. Her approach is environmentally responsible and sustainable, trying at all times to reduce the impact on the environment. Image of the Day @katannutadiamonds : ‘Love & Eternity’… a beautiful Celtic Knot ring from Katannuta Diamonds, an independent jewellery design and manufacturing company in South Africa. Clare Appleyard launched the company in 2007 to design and manufacture engagement and wedding rings, all manufactured to order. Additionally, the company sells loose gemstones such as tanzanite, rubies, sapphires and other precious and semi-precious gems. #QOTD @liviya_lingerie - Michelle Rumbelow is the founder of Liviya in South Africa, a ladies clothing brand that blurs the lines between underwear, sleepwear and leisurewear, and is as versatile and adaptable as women are today. The brand name, Liviya (meaning “Lioness”), is symbolic of how women should feel when wearing the clothing. A lioness is African - strong, powerful and beautiful. Michelle has a background in sportswear design - counting designing for the Asics brand as one of the highlights of her career. She also spent time in London where she gained valuable experience before returning to South Africa to manage a sportswear manufacturing business. In 2017, she launched Rumbles Sportswear, which runs alongside Liviya, catering for children and adults sports clothing. Image of the Day @miminat_designs : ‘Okuta Ceramic Pitcher Set’ .… is part of an exquisite new homeware accessory collection from Mimi Shodeinde, founder of Miminat Designs. This talented creative celebrates African design in a contemporary, minimal context, combining the best of tradition with technological innovation. Her Okuta Collection is inspired by ancient Yoruba stone murals, and explores the organic and natural forms of late 14th century Yoruba design. Its combination of wood, brass, glass, ceramic and gold leaf, embodies the richness that the African continent and Yoruba culture have to offer. #QOTD - Anicha Abdul is the founder of EP Management & Consultancy Services in Mozambique, a Management and Human Capital Consulting Firm founded in 2010. Over the years Anicha has successfully grown her business and has gained an impeccable reputation for service delivery. Today, EP Management & Consultancy Services is a 100% Mozambican company and one of the major players in this industry sector in the country. Her head office is in Maputo and she has branches in Matola, Beira, Tete, Pemba and Nacala. The range of services offered includes: Payroll Services, Labor broking/Outsourcing, Immigration Services, Commercial and HR Advisory Services, Recruitment and Selection, and Headhunting. Image of the Day @ekiorleans : ‘#lagosfashionweek’ … the latest collection shown on the runway at Lagos Fashion Week from Eki Orleans, a luxury fashion brand designing their own African silk inspired prints. Founder Hazel Aggrey-Orleans is a brand builder using her West African heritage to create truly unique, luxury ready to wear and bespoke fashion collections, swimwear, and scarves.
Instagram
Follow Lionesses of Africa's board Image of the Day on Pinterest.

We feature truly inspiring startup stories submitted to us by women entrepreneurs across Africa. Read their inspiring stories.

Featured
Dieketseng Mangope, a South African wedding planner making clients’ dreams come true
Dieketseng Mangope, a South African wedding planner making clients’ dreams come true
Keren Pybus, an entrepreneur with a vision to demonstrate that ethical manufacturing can be done at scale in Africa
Keren Pybus, an entrepreneur with a vision to demonstrate that ethical manufacturing can be done at scale in Africa
Andrena Sawyer, a woman entrepreneur from Sierra Leone on a mission to help non-profits and small businesses thrive 
Andrena Sawyer, a woman entrepreneur from Sierra Leone on a mission to help non-profits and small businesses thrive 
Rumbi Serima-Fowler, a Zimbabwean organic skincare entrepreneur building a global ethical beauty brand
Rumbi Serima-Fowler, a Zimbabwean organic skincare entrepreneur building a global ethical beauty brand
Suzanne Mouelle, an entrepreneur in Cote d’Ivoire helping companies to find their market and brand niche
Suzanne Mouelle, an entrepreneur in Cote d’Ivoire helping companies to find their market and brand niche
Antoinette Stoltz, a South African entrepreneur creating unique bags that celebrate a love of interesting African fabrics
Antoinette Stoltz, a South African entrepreneur creating unique bags that celebrate a love of interesting African fabrics

More Startup Stories  →

Would you like to share your own startup story?  We've made it really easy for you - just click here to get started


Featured
100 LIONESSES: Carrol Boyes, the woman who's made business an art form
100 LIONESSES: Carrol Boyes, the woman who's made business an art form

Carrol Boyes is an iconic South African designer who has built a global brand. She founded Carrol Boyes (Pty) Ltd in 1991 combining her artistic flair and talent in sculpture with her jewellery experience to create an extensive range of distinctive homeware, giftware, flatware and table top products. Today, her company designs and manufactures a meticulously crafted product range of well over 1000 items and sells over a million items every year. Products are always imbued with Carrol's trademark artistic flair and finesse. The brand is available through her 35 branded shops in South Africa and in over 30 other countries around the world.

Read More →
Meet 8 Women-Owned Companies to Inspire Africa in 2019
Meet 8 Women-Owned Companies to Inspire Africa in 2019

On 16 January 2019, London Stock Exchange Group launched the second edition of its ‘Companies to Inspire Africa’ report, identifying and celebrating some of Africa’s most dynamic growth businesses. Lionesses of Africa saw eight of its most inspirational women entrepreneurs and their companies from across the African continent making it into the final publication.

Read More →
100 LIONESSES: Teta Isibo, creative designer reinventing traditional crafts in Rwanda
100 LIONESSES: Teta Isibo, creative designer reinventing traditional crafts in Rwanda

Teta Isibo is the founder and creative force behind Inzuki Designs a young Rwandan brand specializing in jewelry, accessories and interior decor. Teta's creations are hand-made using local craft skills and materials - she works with numerous local women's cooperatives to create vibrant, quality pieces. With no background in fashion or business, Teta quit her job as an urban planner in Kigali to launch Inzuki, which means 'bees' in the local language. This has grown into a popular Rwandan brand with a boutique located in the Heart of Kigali City. Teta is now targeting international markets including the rest of Africa, Europe, Asia and North America through distributors and an online store. 

Read More →
100 Lionesses Project: Tabitha Karanja, founder of Keroche Breweries - Africa's gender and monopoly busting brewer
100 Lionesses Project: Tabitha Karanja, founder of Keroche Breweries - Africa's gender and monopoly busting brewer

Tabitha Karanja is founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries. She is one of Kenya's leading entrepreneurs, a remarkable trailblazer and an example of a woman made good against all the odds. Tabitha chose to venture where none before her had dared. She took on an 87-year-old business monopoly and entered an industry with a deeply entrenched male gender stereotype. Tabitha broke the mould to become Kenya’s first home-grown beer and alcoholic drink manufacturer. Today, her company's state-of-the-art production facility is targeting 20% of the Kenyan market.

Read More →
100 LIONESSES: Featuring Kofo Akinkugbe, innovator and smart card technology market leader
100 LIONESSES: Featuring Kofo Akinkugbe, innovator and smart card technology market leader

Kofo Akinkugbe is recognised globally for her entrepreneurial success story and strong business track record. She is founder & CEO of SecureID Nigeria Ltd a market leader in smart card technology and digital security. SecureID is a world-class manufacturing facility with the only smart card production plant in West Africa and one of only six on the continent. This company serves 16 countries across Africa and is fully certified by VISA, Verve and MasterCard. In 2012, Kofo won the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship Mature Business Award.

Read More →
Meet 9 African women entrepreneurs creatively fighting the war on plastic pollution
Meet 9 African women entrepreneurs creatively fighting the war on plastic pollution

From poisoning and injuring marine life, to the ubiquitous presence of plastics in our food, to causing major life-threatening diseases, the growth of plastic waste is threatening our planet's survival. Africa’s women entrepreneurs are rising to the challenge and are building game-changing eco-businesses combating one of the great environmental challenges of our time - plastic pollution.

Read More →
Featured
ESSENTIAL READ: Killing It: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Head Without Losing Your Heart by Sheryl O’Loughlin
ESSENTIAL READ: Killing It: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Head Without Losing Your Heart by Sheryl O’Loughlin

In Killing It, the former CEO of Clif Bar, Co-founder of Plum, and serial entrepreneur Sheryl O’Loughlin offers insights about launching and growing a business while maintaining a fulfilled life in this practical guide filled with hard-won advice culled from the author’s own sometimes dark, raw experiences. The book contains a foreword by Steve Blank.

Read More →
Essential Read: The Launch Book: Motivational Stories to Launch Your Idea, Business or Next Career by Sanyin Siang
Essential Read: The Launch Book: Motivational Stories to Launch Your Idea, Business or Next Career by Sanyin Siang

Every launch is a change from the status quo that generates uncertainty, fears of failure, and self doubt. But launches can and should inspire.The Launch book by Sanyin Siang draws on first hand stories from industry leaders and serial launchers. It weaves together wisdom and reflective exercises with authenticity and passion. Readers will find this a thoughtful and relatable guide to help them succeed with their practical launch journeys.

Read More →

About Us  |  Contact Us  |  terms OF SERVICE  | Community Guidelines  

© 2018 LIONESSES OF AFRICA public benefit corporation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.