LIONESS LAUNCH: Akojo Market, a new e-commerce platform championing independent designers from across Africa launches to much acclaim

June 26, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Natasha Buchler and Annie Rudnick, co-founders Akojo Market (UK)

Entrepreneur co-founders, Natasha Buchler and Annie Rudnick, have just launched Akojo Market, a new online platform dedicated to raising awareness of talented design talent from across the African continent, and connecting them to global buyers. Since going live on 1 April 2019, Akojo Market has built a community of incredibly talented designers and loyal customers, all committed to shopping ethically and supporting independent business promoting African culture and development. This entrepreneurial duo sell products from 19 designers, 17 are female founded businesses. The product ranges come from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, DRC, South Africa and Morocco.

LIONESS LAUNCH South African entrepreneur Jessica Alily and her family launch a uniquely African online comic book site

June 23, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Jessica Alily, founder of Vanimax Comix (South Africa) — **Jessica Alily**, founder of Vanimax Comix (South Africa)

Comic books are big business around the world, with millions of dedicated fans following their favourite heroes and heroines in illustrated stories each week. In South Africa, fans of comic books are now going to get their own uniquely African characters to engage with, thanks to Vanimax Comix. This new online comic book site, created by Jessica Alily and her family, is set to win a host of new fans across the African continent and globally.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Unaiza Suliman, founder of UniqBrows by Unaiza in South Africa launches a new growth serum to stimulate lash and brow growth

May 19, 2019 Melanie Hawken

For all those people who want great brows but suffer from thinning, weak or poorly defined brows and eyelashes, then specialist help is at hand. This month, South Africa’s renowned brow queen, Unaiza Suliman, founder of UniqBrows, has launched an exciting new growth serum specially formulated to make those brows and lashes grow.

LIONESS LAUNCH: New essential finance handbook for entrepreneurs launches this month

May 12, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Precious Mvulane, founder of GAD Consulting Services Inc (South Africa) — **Precious Mvulane**, founder of GAD Consulting Services Inc (South Africa)

Effectively managing your business finances and setting a strong foundation for growth is key to success, but many entrepreneurs struggle with this concept in practice. But help is at hand with the launch of a new edition of The Essential Finance Handbook for Entrepreneurs, authored by finance expert Precious Mvulane, founder of GAD Consulting Services Inc in South Africa. She is well known for providing specialist business training to entrepreneurs, focusing on financial literacy, but now is providing essential advice and guidance on implementing successful growth strategies in business.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Liberian entrepreneur Lena Marshall launches new specialist Food Safety training programme for the country’s street food sellers

April 28, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lena Marshall, founder of Marshall and Nimene Group of Companies (Liberia) — **Lena Marshall**, founder of Marshall and Nimene Group of Companies (Liberia)

Across Liberia’s cities, women who make their living as street food sellers are about to get the opportunity to access critical basic food hygiene training because they are selling foodstuffs for public consumption. Lena Marshall, founder of Marshall and Nimene Group of Companies in Liberia has developed specialist food hygiene training courses specifically aimed at training these women food sellers. The course is being offered as part of Lena’s Women Empowerment Program.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Renowned South African spa product brand, Elim Spa Products, launches new UV Spritzer to protect delicate hands

April 13, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Shantelle Booysen, founder of Elim Spa Products (South Africa) — **Shantelle Booysen**, founder of Elim Spa Products (South Africa)

Customers who regularly use UV lights in salons will have a new product to help them protect the delicate skin on their hands during these sessions, thanks to a great new UV spritzer being launched by Elim Spa Products in South Africa. Founder Shantelle Booysen is not only creating greater awareness amongst women of the need to protect their skin when using UV lamps in salons, but is also now creating a specialist skincare solution with the launch of her new UV spritzer.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Chabana Farms launches Botswana’s first honey processing factory

April 7, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Serial entrepreneur Mavis Nduchwa, founder of the successful agribusiness Chabana Farms in Botswana, is making news again this month with her launch of the first honey processing factory in the country. Her new business venture will be processing and packaging various types of honey including the rare white honey, yellow honey, as well as the black honey. Currently, the business is supplying honey to Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa and Namibia.

LIONESS LAUNCH: An exciting new natural skincare brand launches in Mozambique this month

March 30, 2019 Melanie Hawken

In Mozambique this month, there is an exciting buzz in the air as a new natural skincare brand gets set to help customers to have great looking skin whilst at the same time taking care of the planet. Muthiana Orera is a specialist Mozambican skincare brand specialising in the production of natural cosmetics for the skin. The aim of the company and its founder, Marla Taquidir, is to encourage people to stop using chemicals on their skin and instead choose natural ones. For the customer, this means cheaper products, but above all, better quality products, helping them to avoid skin diseases and allergies, etc.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Gugu Intimates introduces the first skin coloured underwear brand in Africa

March 24, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Gugu Nkabinde, founder of Gugu Intimates (South Africa) — **Gugu Nkabinde**, founder of Gugu Intimates (South Africa)

Gugu Intimates introduces the FIRST skin coloured underwear brand in Africa specialising in affordable luxury undergarments to match your skin tone (across 5 shades). Founded by entrepreneur Gugu Nkabinde, Gugu Intimates aims to create beautiful underwear in nude shades more representative of the African skin palette.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Star Reflexion launches its new range of bespoke leather boots

March 17, 2019 Melanie Hawken

South African leather accessory manufacturing brand, Star Reflexion, founded by entrepreneur Olaotse Disipi, launches its new range of bespoke leather knee-high boots this month, made to fit the shape and size of any customer’s legs.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Atelier Fifty Five launches an exciting new digital space to support the development of the African design industry

March 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Launching this month is Atelier Fifty Five, an exciting new digital space that supports the development of the African design industry and brings the work of talented designers, makers, and creatives from the continent and its diaspora to the attention of local and global audiences.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Sapelle launches a new value-added service for design focused SMEs to connect with global consumers

March 2, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Sapelle, the global fashion and lifestyle brand that empowers African creative producers and manufacturers to access global retail and wholesale markets, is making real waves this month. It is launching a new value-added wholesale service that will provide great opportunities for design focused SMEs to get their products to the right consumers in the right markets.

LIONESS LAUNCH: The Confident Creative Academy launches in South Africa

February 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Abigail Klopper, The Confidence Crusader

For all those female creatives out there who are in need of a real source of confidence boosting advice, information and support, help is at hand. South African entrepreneur Abigail Klopper, better known as The Confidence Crusader, is launching her new online platform, The Confident Creative Academy this month.

LIONESS LAUNCH: AAKS showcases its new Spring/Summer19 collection at Maison et Objet in Paris

January 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

The month of January saw award-winning Ghanaian accessory brand AAKS, founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, launching the company’s exciting new Spring/Summer19 Collection at the prestigious annual MaisonetObject show in Paris. Akosua also took the opportunity to showcase the company’s new impact-driven home decor line of products, including some cutting edge lighting designs, created in collaboration with UNHCR.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Mozambican fashion company, Amorambique, launches its latest capulana-inspired collection

January 19, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Patricia Vasco, founder of Amorambique (Mozambique) — **Patricia Vasco**, founder of Amorambique (Mozambique)

A new fashion collection launches this month, designed by the wonderfully creative Patricia Vasco, founder of growing Mozambican fashion brand, Amorambique. A celebration of the world-renowned and loved capulana fabric, this latest collection is going to win over new and loyal fans alike.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Sukha Yogi Retreats announce a special launch event on 20 March 2019

January 13, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Sukha Yogi Retreats will be hosting a special launch event on 20 March 2019 - an all-inclusive Yoga Retreat at Victoria Falls (Session I) Mar 20, 2019 – Mar 24, 2019. Join an exciting, yet relaxing yoga retreat at the breath-taking, all-inclusive Zambezi Sands Resort, an ecotourist destination, which is a part of the Imvelo Safari Lodges in Zimbabwe, Africa.

LIONESS LAUNCH: African Queen Magazine Online launches in Zimbabwe and globally

December 30, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Tofara Lindsay Chokera, founder of African Queen Zimbabwe

African Queen Zimbabwe has already built a reputation as a supplier of high quality African Print Fabric and Finished Products. But it is now launching an exciting new online publication, African Queen Magazine, which is aimed at motivating women and young people to start and grow their businesses online. The company is also offering advertising services in the magazine. TofaraOnline (Internet Marketing Coaching) also aims at assisting small businesses on strategies to grow their businesses online. These are exciting times for African Queen Zimbabwe.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Amorambique launches the 'clutch', which is made of capulana and interlaced fabric

December 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Amorambique in Mozambique recently launched their new clutch called ‘Méryda Mini’, which is made of capulana and interlaced fabric. It is a small size clutch, ideal for both formal and casual events.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Nature’s Delights launches convenient fruit and vegetable baskets for busy people in Zimbabwe

December 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Today, more and more people are leading busy lives, often too busy to spend time shopping or queueing for groceries at the end of the day. That’s where Chiedza Mahovo and her company, Nature’s Delights, comes in, launching a fabulous new service selling carefully selected fruit and vegetable produce baskets for busy people. It takes all the hassle out of shopping for daily fresh produce.

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