Smart Capital, Stronger Futures: What Defines an Effective Agent of Change in Financing Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs?

April 4, 2026 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Dr Jemimah Njuki, Pascalle Grotenhuis, Melanie Hawken, Melissa Basque-Roux

WSME Investment Roundtable | The Hague

At a high-level roundtable convened in The Hague on 31 March 2026, Melanie Hawken, founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa, delivered a compelling call to action for a shift in how capital is deployed to support women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) across the African continent. Framing the discussion around the theme of smart inclusive investment, she challenged stakeholders to move beyond intent and towards practical, scalable solutions that can unlock sustainable economic growth.

From Conversation to Action: Key Takeaways from the WSME Investment Roundtable in The Hague

April 1, 2026 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Melissa Basque-Roux, Pascalle Grotenhuis, Melanie Hawken, Dr Jemimah Njuki, Bintou Diallo

WSME Investment Roundtable | The Hague

On 31 March 2026, Lionesses of Africa convened the Start-Up Night Africa WSME Investment Roundtable in The Hague, co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The gathering set out to examine one of the most pressing questions in African enterprise development today: what will it take to unlock smarter, more inclusive investment for women-led small and medium enterprises?

Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger, co-founders of a first-to-South African-market serum-only skincare range

February 23, 2026 Melanie Hawken

Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger, co-founders, Twenty 4 Skin (South Africa)

Startup Story

Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger are co-founders of Twenty 4 Skin, a unique South African medical-grade skincare brand. Juanri is a medical doctor with a special interest in regenerative medicine, so you could say she is a holistic regenerative GP, and Bernadette is a somatologist. The brand focuses on hormone optimization, aesthetic medicine, as well as skincare formulations.

Busting the Bias of Africa: Why We Need to Change the Way We Write About the Continent

February 12, 2026 Melanie Hawken

by Marilize Jacobs

For decades, the dominant narratives about Africa have been shaped by stereotypes. Poverty, conflict, corruption, and disease. While these challenges exist, they do not define the continent. Africa is also a land of innovation, economic growth, technological advancement, and cultural richness. Yet, mainstream storytelling often ignores central characters. Women, minorities, and young people – all who could help tell a more complete story.

Lioness CoLab / From Juggling Acts to Industry Authority: The PR Power-Up You Might Be Missing

January 16, 2026 Melanie Hawken

Lioness CoLab

From Juggling Acts to Industry Authority: The PR Power-Up You might be Missing

Elize Fisher from WorkingMama and Marilize Jacobs from VocalCord PR, South Africa

You are a master of logistics. A virtuoso of negotiation. A calm captain in the storm of a crisis. Your to-do list is a masterclass in making miracles happen before lunch. As a Lioness, you’ve built a formidable network of peers, mentors, and champions who cheer you on. But here’s the quiet question that may nag so many of us: What happens when the networking event ends, the LinkedIn post fades, and you’re back to being the best-kept secret in your industry? Networking gets you in the room. But Public Relations complements this tactic by building you a platform in that room, so the right people come to you.

Gillian Holl, a South African architectural entrepreneur building a sustainability-focused business that responds to the needs of both clients and the environment

January 16, 2026 Melanie Hawken

Gillian Holl, founder, VELD Architects (South Africa)

Startup Story

Gillian Holl, founder of VELD Architects in South Africa, has built a business renowned for creating spaces that serve not as statements but as sanctuaries. It’s an architecture deeply connected to the African landscape, fostering a sense of belonging and calm.

Becoming a Beauty Insider: My Melanin Beauty Circle Journey

January 16, 2026 Melanie Hawken

by Memuna Williams, DBA

What happens when a doctoral practitioner who is also a beauty enthusiast and has dark skin walks into a research dinner? She gets her skin measured under bright lights before the salad even arrives. Unexpected? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely. Earlier this year, this was my experience after I received an exclusive invitation to join the Melanin Beauty Circle by a new beauty brand, facilitated by a research group. They are developing a custom foundation technology for melanin-rich skin, and my skin (quite literally), and that of others who accepted the invitation, was in the room where it happened.

Júlia Silota, a Mozambican green business builder, focused on environmental waste management

December 8, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Júlia Silota, founder and CEO, J&G Environment Ltda (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Júlia Silota is the founder and CEO of J&G Environment Ltda, a Mozambican company operating in the environmental field, focused on the purchase and sale of solid waste, and providing solid waste collection services, solid waste management training, and environmental project evaluation. It was founded in August 2020 and began operations in 2023. It employs four people, two full-time and two part-time.

Claudia Machaieie, a Mozambican green business innovator transforming marine waste into reading glasses

December 8, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Cláudia Machaieie, founder, Sea Glasses (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Cláudia Machaieie is the founder of Sea Glasses in Mozambique. She is a 28-year-old with a degree in Marine Biology, a postgraduate degree in Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Biology and Conservation Ecology. She has completed several technical courses in monitoring and project management. She began her activity as a volunteer and social activist at the age of 14 and is currently a founding volunteer of SOA Mozambique and a volunteer with Solo Adventures. She has worked in public (IIP), private (SEPPA, Centro Terra Viva), and international organizations (Girl Move Academy, UN - World Food Programme) developing activities in administration, monitoring, and management of humanitarian and environmental programs. Currently, she is the social responsibility coordinator at TOPACK Mozambique.

Matilde Mawelele Rungo, a Mozambican tech-preneur helping to drive digital transformation in the country

December 7, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Matilde Mawelele Rungo, founder, RealityTech Advisory (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Matilde Mawelele Rungo is a digital transformation consultant, cybersecurity specialist, and founder of RealityTech Advisory in Mozambique, where she leads technology-driven projects for businesses and startups. She is also an evangelist and the creator of MTI – A Triad of Hope for Children, an initiative that integrates Evangelism, Technology, and Innovation to empower young people and communities. With a global vision, Matilde is committed to advancing individuals, organizations, and ecosystems through technology, faith, and meaningful social impact. The business was launched in 2024 and today has created jobs for 6 people.

Yanara Tavares Viana, a Mozambican entrepreneur developing a smart urban housing solution in the country

December 7, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Yanara Tavares Viana, founder, Vila Viana (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Yanara Tavares Viana is an engineer and project manager with over 15 years of experience in procurement, finance, and the development of sustainable solutions. Founder of Vila Viana, an ecological and agro-productive housing project in Catembe, she creates urban models that integrate solar energy, water harvesting and reuse, family farming, and micro-animal farming. Her vision is to combine accessible architecture with practical sustainability, inspiring communities to build in a greener, more resilient, and income-generating way. Yanara is dedicated to developing smart urban solutions for the future of Mozambique and the region.

International Anti-Corruption Day: Combating Corruption in the Workplace through Effective Screening and Audits

December 7, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

Every year on December 9, the world observes International Anti-Corruption Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about corruption and its adverse effects on society, governance, and the economy. Corruption remains a pervasive problem that undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development, and contributes to governmental instability. In South Africa, the fight against corruption is particularly pertinent, especially in the wake of numerous high-profile scandals.

Business Growth: Efficient Processes for Managing Rapid Business Growth

December 7, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Michélle Booysen

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.”  — James Cash Penney

As part of our series exploring the role of process in business growth, this week I’d like to focus on the systems and workflows needed to manage rapid growth efficiently. Whether you're a tech startup scaling across Europe, an e-commerce business expanding from Johannesburg to Nairobi, or a services company growing regionally across Kenya, having the right processes in place is the difference between sustainable success and operational chaos.

Resilient Influence: Building a Life That Speaks When You are Not in the Room

December 6, 2025 Melanie Hawken

By Sandra B Zaca

I used to think influence was about being seen. That if I wasn’t in every room, posting every day, or building something loud enough, then I wasn’t doing enough. But life has taught me that true influence is not about noise, it's about presence. Not presence in the sense of popularity, but in the depth of your convictions, the clarity of your vision, and the courage to keep building quietly when no one is clapping.

Walk With Me: Understanding Data Breaches – When Prevention Becomes Protection

December 6, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Shenea Graham

In my last post, I spoke about regulatory compliance — how the rules, laws, and frameworks guide the way we handle personal data. But what happens when, despite all the rules and good intentions, something still goes wrong? That’s how I found myself diving into the topic of data breaches — one of the most sobering parts of learning about data privacy.

Tired of Carrying the Weight Alone? Why Peer Circles Are the New Engine for Exceptional Leadership

December 6, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Adeolu Adewumi-Zer, Founder & CEO, ZER Consulting Africa

"Our legacy is more than just our business. When we empower others, especially our fellow women, we create a ripple effect that extends far beyond our immediate sphere."

Africa is alive with audacious dreams, bustling tech hubs, and villages brimming with innovation. And guess who's increasingly at the forefront, turning those visions into reality and disrupting industries? African women entrepreneurs! But here’s the honest truth: even the most brilliant idea, the most meticulously crafted strategy, can feel like a marathon without the right gear and running buddy.

Your Identity is Your Equity: The 5 Personal Branding Shifts That Will Dominate in 2026

December 6, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Marilize Jacobs

For years, I was known as a “full-time mom.” It was my most important role. But when I stepped back into the “corporate world”, I didn't hide that chapter; I leveraged it. That journey, which I detailed on various platforms, wasn't just my story - it was my strategy. It proved that personal branding isn't a luxury; it's the core of modern business credibility. It transformed my identity into my most valuable professional equity.

Isabel Mandofa, a Mozambican woman entrepreneur building a successful, high-impact agri-food business

November 25, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Isabel Mandofa, founder, Tropicalisa, Lda (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Isabel Mandofa is the founder of Tropicalisa, Lda, a Mozambican agri-food industry business focused on the sustainable transformation of local fruits into high-value-added products. It operates an integrated chain that buys surplus from small producers, processes, freezes and distributes fruit pulps, natural juices, syrups, sauces and frozen fruits, guaranteeing standardized quality, traceability and food safety. Tropicalisa’s core business is to make the most of national fruit, reduce post-harvest losses and supply the market during the off-season, providing practical, healthy and competitive solutions for supermarkets, restaurants, confectioneries, ice cream parlors, hotels and end consumers.

Five female founders win over $100,000 in TechFoundHER Africa Challenge

November 23, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge

Winners from Nigeria, Kenya, DRC and South Africa recognised in competition for building tech-enabled businesses solving real market problems

Ten women entrepreneur founders from across Africa pitched their technology businesses at the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge finale on 19 November 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa, with five receiving equity-free grants totalling over $100,000. Naspers and Prosus developed the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge in partnership with Lionesses of Africa, a network of 1.8 million women entrepreneurs across the continent. The partnership enabled the Challenge to reach founders across diverse African markets and sectors. The winners will also receive mentorship from experienced investors and entrepreneurs within the Naspers and Prosus ecosystem, connections to institutional investors, and support navigating business development across African markets.

Kumasi Drinks: squeezing cacao fruit to reduce waste and generate extra income for farmers

November 10, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Linda Klunder, CEO, Kumasi Drinks BV (Netherlands)

Lioness Pitch Profile / Start-Up Night Africa, The Hague, 2025

Linda Klunder is the CEO of Kumasi Drinks BV, which produces 100% natural soft drinks made from the sap of the cocoa pod, normally discarded during cocoa production. The drink has a tropical flavour resembling a mix of lychee, mango, and white peach, and is available either sparkling or still.

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