Lioness Pitch Profile / Start-Up Night Africa, The Hague, 2025
Claudia Castellanos, co-founder and CEO of Black Mamba Foods in Eswatini, is passionate about The Black Mamba Manifesto: Building a Better World Through Good Food. Black Mamba is an African brand that makes bold, award-winning condiments with organically grown ingredients sourced from small-holder farmers. Exported to 12+ countries, the brand’s products deliver flavour with impact, uplifting 1,000+ people while proving food can be good for you, farmers, and the planet.
Contact Details
Claudia Castellanos, Co-founder, Black Mamba Foods (Eswatini)
Email: claudia@blackmambachilli.com
Website: blackmambachilli.com
LinkedIn: linked in.com/in/claudiacastellanos
Pitch Summary
Claudia Castellanos, co-founder and CEO of Black Mamba, describes how a kitchen-made hot sauce in Eswatini evolved into a purpose-driven brand supporting over 1,000 rural community members while exporting globally. The company partners with mostly women smallholder farmers trained in regenerative agriculture, buying their produce to create award-winning, clean-label condiments. Black Mamba targets booming markets—hot sauce projected to reach $6B by 2030 and a fast-growing spicy condiment segment—positioning itself at the intersection of flavor, ethics, and FMCG demand. With a goal to be the “Sriracha of Africa,” they’ve rebranded, received strong buyer feedback, and plan to scale revenue to $5M by 2030 while uplifting 5,000 people. They are raising $400,000 in seed funding, seeking strategic connections and advice to grow a values-driven social business.
Pitch Video