LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Fetola, a business providing world-class entrepreneurial support programmes for African entrepreneurs
Catherine Wijnberg is a pioneering entrepreneur and visionary leader, serving as the Founder and CEO of Fetola in South Africa. With over 18 years of experience in entrepreneurial development, Catherine is renowned for her expertise in SME growth strategy, scalable business acceleration, and transformative leadership. She is also recognised on the Forbes Africa 50 Over 50 List of Africa's Female Powerhouses. Under her guidance, Fetola has emerged as a beacon for sustainable business solutions, fostering economic growth and social impact across Africa. Catherine founded Fetola in 2006 and today it has 34 employees.
Lioness Weekender spoke to the impact-driven Catherine Wijnberg to find out more about her passion for empowering entrepreneurs and providing catalytic finance solutions for SMEs.
What does your company do?
Fetola provides world-class entrepreneurial support programmes for African entrepreneurs, focusing on sustainable business solutions to address unemployment, inequality, and poverty. Our proven Fetola Growth Method© uses applied technology and catalytic SME finance for maximum acceleration success.
What inspired you to start your company?
My passion for empowering entrepreneurs to build businesses that last inspired me to establish Fetola.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Fetola is the leading provider of scalable, world-class entrepreneurial support programmes for South African entrepreneurs, alongside catalytic finance solutions for SMEs. At the forefront of innovation in this space, our Fetola Growth Method©, strategic partnerships with impact investors and proven results in which Fetola graduates have an 87% long-term survival rate, which is 9 times South Africa's national average, sets us apart, driving measurable social, environmental, and economic impact.
Tell us a little about your team:
Fetola's team is comprised of passionate individuals dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start and grow successful, sustainable small businesses, leveraging technology and strategic finance to accelerate business growth at scale.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My entrepreneurial journey started in Zambia with a small tomato farm and has included businesses in five different sectors and three African countries. This passion for entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable solutions excites me even more today.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future plans and aspirations for Fetola involve expanding into the global market, ensuring that our innovative solutions reach entrepreneurs worldwide. I aim to continue expanding our reach, empowering more entrepreneurs, and driving scalable impact across Africa that is both sustainable, good for the planet, and job-creating. Taking this vision forward includes integrating impact investment as a tool to catalyse SME growth and further enhance our efforts in fostering economic and social development. This strategic move aligns with our goal of attracting capital to support SMEs while creating a positive societal impact. By incorporating impact investment into our strategy, we aim to drive growth and development for both the SMEs and the communities they operate in that has long term sustainability, is good for people and for the planet.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
I find fulfilment in witnessing the growth and success of the entrepreneurs supported by Fetola, knowing that their businesses contribute to positive social and economic change as well as being better for the planet through circular economy practices.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
I advise aspiring women entrepreneurs to embrace courage, innovation, and perseverance, leveraging their unique strengths to pursue their entrepreneurial goals with determination and resilience.
Find out more:
Email: cwijnberg@fetola.co.za
Website: http://fetola.co.za https://catherinewijnberg.com/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/fetolasa/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fetolasa?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fetolasa/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fetola5203
