Getting access to important new markets and networks is key for women entrepreneurs who are building global brands in Africa and the Diaspora. So on the evening of 26 April, Lionesses of Africa in partnership with Standard Bank Wealth International, will be bringing Start-up Night! Africa to London. The event aims to showcase a number of exciting women owned businesses and brands from across the African continent and from the Diaspora in London, that are ones to watch globally in 2018 and beyond.
Start-up Night! Africa in London will be held at the Oxo2 venue in Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, London SE1 on the evening of Thursday 26 April. Lionesses of Africa, the fastest growing network of women entrepreneurs on the African continent (over 600,000 women entrepreneurs in the network across 49 countries), has selected 10 leading women entrepreneurs from Africa and the Diaspora in London to pitch their businesses and brands on the night. Each will be given 3 minutes to introduce their businesses to the audience of investors, retailers, startup eco-system supporters and the media, followed at the end by a networking session. The event aims to excite the London market about a new vanguard of talented and innovative women entrepreneur brand builders from the African continent and the Diaspora.
The women entrepreneurs and brands to be showcased from Africa:
Adele Dejak, founder of Adele Dejak, luxury jewellery designer from Kenya
Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of AAKS, luxury handbag designer from Ghana
Kim Addison, co-founder of 57 Chocolate, artisanal bean-to-bar chocolatier from Ghana
Swaady Martin, founder of Yswara, luxury African tea brand from South Africa
Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee, a high impact coffee brand from Uganda
The women entrepreneurs and brands to be showcased from the Diaspora in London:
Afua Dabanka, founder of MONAA and MO SAÏQUE, a handcrafted African inspired shoe and accessory brand
Eva Sonaike, founder of Eva Sonaike, a luxury African interior product brand
Hazel Aggrey Orleans, founder of Eki Orleans, a luxury African printed silk design brand
Mimi Shodeinde, founder of Miminat, a contemporary African inspired furniture brand
The event will also feature a panel discussion with leading African women brand builders, including Margaret Hirsch, co-founder of Southern Africa’s largest home appliance retailer, Hirsch’s Homestores; Bernie de la Cuona, founder and ceo of luxury fabric brand, De La Cuona; and Brenda Wilkinson, co-founder of South Africa’s multi-award winning Rio Largo Olive Oil brand. They will share their valuable and hard won insights and experiences into building leading brands.
Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa
MC for the evening will be Lionesses of Africa founder and ceo, Melanie Hawken, who will also introduce the mission and vision of Lionesses of Africa to empower and support 1 million women entrepreneurs across the African continent and the Diaspora. She will be joined by a Standard Bank Wealth International senior executive who will provide an overview of how the bank is helping Africa’s women entrepreneurs to grow and thrive with their businesses and brands globally.
Lionesses of Africa’s Start-up Night! Africa 2018 series of events to showcase the continent’s most exciting women entrepreneurs, started on 20 March this year in Berlin, Germany, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, and championed by Former Minister Brigitte Zypries who originally conceived the idea. On that occasion, the aim was to showcase and celebrate innovative digital women entrepreneurs from both Germany and Africa, and to connect them with important new markets.
Speaking about the importance of the Start-up Night! Africa London event, Melanie Hawken, founder and ceo of Lionesses of Africa said:
“The African continent has a wealth of exciting businesses and brands being created by passionate women entrepreneurs who want to extend the reach of their world class products into more global markets. But getting access to those markets can be a challenge. At Lionesses of Africa, we are creating powerful digital platforms and global events such as Start-up Night! Africa London, to provide that all important market access. These events aim to excite investors, retailers and other decision-makers in each city in the sheer depth of entrepreneurial talent that we have in Africa and the Diaspora. The women entrepreneurs we are showcasing in London are some of the most successful and innovative brand builders in their fields.”
The Start-up Night! Africa London event will be live-streamed, giving other women entrepreneurs from across the African continent the opportunity to see their fellow Lionesses in action as they pitch their businesses and brands. To find out more about the Lionesses of Africa Start-up Night! Africa events, go to http://www.lionessesofafrica.com/startup-night-africa/