Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, a Ghanaian entrepreneur building a luxury, global handbag brand

April 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Discerning buyers in some of the most cosmopolitan fashion capitals of the world are already familiar with the brand, A A K S, and its talented creative founder, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi. She regular exhibits at some of the most prestigious fashion and accessory showcase events around the world, always capturing the attention of the media, as well as enthusiastic followers and buyers.

Eva Sonaike, a luxury interior and lifestyle brand builder with a vibrant West-African aesthetic

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

There is a growing global interest in African design, textiles and products, and talented Nigerian interior designer and lifestyle brand creator, Eva Sonaike, is taking the world by storm on the back of this trend. Her aim is to position the 'African' aesthetic in the global textiles and interior industry as part of her bigger brand-building picture.

Pifa Gove, a Mozambican milliner taking the art of hat-making to new heights

April 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Epifania Stella Ernesto Gove, founder of Pifa Gove Millinery (Mozambique)

Epifania Stella Ernesto Gove, or Pifa as she is fondly known, is a Mozambican entrepreneur who is building a global reputation for the beautiful hats she creates for her clients. No stylish woman who wants to make an impression at any special and glamorous occasion would be without one of Pifa’s unique and eye-catching hat creations. Her company, Pifa Gove Millinery, specializes in handmade modern millinery, offering a bespoke service and also a ready to wear collection for her clients. She has also recently launched a personal image consultancy.

Brenda Katwesigye, a Ugandan tech innovator providing access to quality eye care

March 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Wazi Vision’s co-founder and ceo, Brenda Katwesigye, has a big vision for her business - to help everyone access quality eye care, without paying hefty sums for it. She and her team understand that good eyesight is critical to overall health and well being – especially for children and that is why the company has created affordable eyeglasses that are designed in Uganda and cost 80% less than what is currently on the market. Wazi Vision’s virtual reality (VR) testing kit also helps bring eye care testing to communities that do not have optometrists or access to affordable eye care services.

Vicki Bain, a South African artisan chocolate maker creating luxury and jobs

March 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

In Johannesburg, South Africa, true chocolate lovers who are constantly on the search for the purest of taste sensations and the highest quality ingredients, know there is one destination to choose for their chocolate fix. Chocoloza, the brainchild of entrepreneur and passionate chocolatier, Vicki Bain, combines the best Belgian chocolate with the finest local, fresh African ingredients. The result is a taste sensation unlike anything else you will taste in the chocolate world.

Flora Mutahi, Kenya’s pioneering flavoured tea brand builder

March 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Flora Mutahi is the founder of Melvin Marsh International, the Kenyan-based family business that first began in 1995. Kenya’s first flavored teas were launched under the company’s renowned brand – Melvins Teas. Today, Melvins Teas serves millions of cups of tea a year. The product base has expanded to include not only flavored teas but herbal and fruit infusions.

Nicola Luther, a pioneer of South African eco-fashion

March 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Nicola Luther, ceo and creative director, LUNAR (South Africa)

At the latest Start-Up Night Africa London event in January, one eco-fashion brand got people talking, with its timeless luxury design combined with a strong sustainability story. LUNAR headed by CEO and Creative Director, Nicola Luther, launched its new SpringSummer2020 collection at the event, and is now promoting it to its global customer base.

Hend Riad and Mariam Hazem, eco-innovators reviving Egypt’s weaving industry

March 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Reform Studio was founded by Hend Riad and Mariam Hazem, an internationally awarded lifestyle brand based in Cairo, Egypt. Directly after the 2011 revolution in Egypt, they were excited to be part of the great change around them, eager to make a stand and to make a difference, and this is how Reform Studio was born.

Kerryne Krause, a game-changer in life sciences technology manufacturing in Africa

February 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Meet the Chief Excitement Officer at I-Slices Innovation.

Kerryne Krause, who calls herself "The Chief Excitement Officer", is the founder and CEO of I-Slices Innovations, a Top Technology 100 Company in South Africa. I-Slices® Technology is a first in the world, and is a unique Cryogel dermal delivery system with its applications in the cosmetics, veterinary & medical industries.

Temie Giwa-Tubosun, a medical pioneer saving lives through innovation

February 16, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder of Lifebank (Nigeria)

Every year in African hospitals, people die because health workers could not ﬁnd the essential medical products needed on time and in the right condition. This problem affects pregnant women, children under the age of 5, victims of traumatic accidents, and people suffering from sickle cell anemia and other chronic conditions. For entrepreneur Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder of Lifebank, these statistics needed to change. She did the math and found that over 14,965,000 people die annually in Africa from the shortage of essential medical products. Today, Temie’s business is working to harness the power of technology and innovation to find life-saving solutions.

Eugenia Langa, a procurement game-changer in Mozambique

February 9, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Eugenia Langa, founder of Nweba (Mozambique)

Over the past few years, entrepreneur Eugenia Langa, founder of Nweba, has built a significant reputation for herself and her business, providing world-class services in the highly specialized fields of Procurement and Logistics for the sectors of Construction, Oil & Gas, Mining and Energy. Nweba is the first Mozambican company of its kind, with an experienced team holding CIPP (Certified International Procurement Professional) credentials and more than 10 years’ experience providing solutions to the specific challenges of these sectors in Mozambique.

Pumza Ndlotyeni, a powerhouse driving South Africa’s energy future

February 2, 2020 Melanie Hawken

One of the big challenges facing South Africa and the region is maintaining power supplies for business and consumers. To achieve that goal requires continual specialist engineering construction and maintenance services to be provided from highly professional and experienced businesses that have a track record in getting the job done. In South Africa, one such company bringing such specialist solutions to the table is Gebane Engineering Services. This fully integrated and innovative Black Woman Owned (BWO) engineering services company is headed up by entrepreneur Pumza Ndlotyeni, who is steering the company to new heights in the industry, continuously expanding its capabilities, knowledge, personnel and geographical footprint.

Suzie Wokabi, leading lady of Kenya's beauty industry

January 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

The African continent represents a rapidly growing marketplace for the beauty and wellness industry. What is really exciting is the emergence of a generation of African women beauty brand-builders who are creating world-class beauty and skincare products that are specifically formulated to meet the needs of African women consumers. In Kenya, Suzie Wokabi is one such trailblazer with her SuzieBeauty brand that is winning legions of consumer fans, both at home and abroad.

Africa’s high growth women entrepreneurs pitch to UK investors

January 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community took part in a special business event on 16 January in London designed to champion African women in business, ahead of the UK-Africa Investment Summit next week. Start-up Night Africa! London saw 11 women Founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to a room of UK investors, buyers, influencers and media as one of a number of focused events organized in the lead up to the summit.

UK Start-Up Night! Africa - London set to showcase 14 high-growth women entrepreneurs to investors

January 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Getting access to global markets and access to finance are two of the biggest challenges facing Africa’s growth-focused women entrepreneurs. The 2nd UK Start-Up Night! Africa showcase event, taking place in London on 16 January 2020, looks to create a solution. The UK government, in partnership with Lionesses of Africa (a 1 million strong community of African women entrepreneurs), will be hosting this impact driven event.

Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, the ecopreneur saving Uganda’s gorillas with her high impact coffee brand

January 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee (Uganda)

A new generation of environmentally conscious women entrepreneurs on the African continent, or ecopreneurs as they are better known, are making a real and tangible difference by building socially and environmentally conscious, impact driven businesses. Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee in Uganda, is one such woman.

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