Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Job Crystal launches new AI recruitment tool to support SMEs and job seekers

March 13, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Kelly and Sasha, the owners of Job Crystal in South Africa, found that in their experience with starting businesses, the process of finding staff took far too long, and that this was often the breaking point for many businesses. After further research they found that for smaller companies, agencies were often too expensive and didn’t provide realistic payment plans. In short, there was no specific agency support tailored for SMEs. This led into the core drive of Job Crystal, their new AI recruitment tool to support SMEs and job seekers. They have a passion for helping people find jobs, combined with a focus on the SME market, with an agency who understands cash flow and an AI tool that understands time.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Black Beard Group prepares to launch its new online store

March 4, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Bontle Mmapela, founder, Black Beard Group (South Africa)

Black Beard Group is an interior design and decor boutique firm in South Africa, founded by entrepreneur Bontle Mmapela. In a drive to deliver innovative and practical solutions to its clients, Bontle and her team utilize their experience across the fields of interior design, decor and project management. The team are currently preparing to launch a new online store selling wallpapers, rugs, vases, sculptures, art pieces, candles, portraits, lamps and coffee tables.

Lioness Launch / Picnic lovers in Mozambique are in for a treat as Azura launches its specialist picnic hamper sales and rental service

February 13, 2022 Melanie Hawken

For all those people who love nothing more than getting outdoors into the fresh air with family, friends, and colleagues, then a picnic is the way to go, and in Mozambique, entrepreneurs Yolanda Matine and Sheila Loonat, cofounders of Azura, have just what you need. Their business specializes in selling and renting picnic hampers with the objective of offering unforgettable experiences for all occasions.

Lioness Launch / Specialist Nigerian baby product supply shop, Babies Essence, launches inspirational new kids book range

January 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Rainat Komolafe, founder, Babies Essence (Nigeria)

Babies Essence is a one-stop-shop selling baby, toddler and maternity items for parents in Nigeria, founded by entrepreneur Rainat Komolafe. She believes that at Babies Essence every step matters, and so is launching an inspirational series of two new books for kids between the ages of 5 to 12 years. The first book is the A-Z of Positive Affirmations for Kids, and this is accompanied by a Positive Affirmations Workbook, both written and produced by founder Rainat.

Lioness Launch / Uhuru Botanicals launches a new range of natural Chebe shampoo and conditioner bars

December 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Neo Mkwebane Chatyoka, founder, Uhuru Botanicals (United Kingdom)

Natural and organic skincare brand, Uhuru Botanicals, founded by Neo Mkwebane Chatyoka in the UK, has launched its new 100% natural Chebe hair shampoo and Chebe hair conditioner bars. Neo decided to launch the shampoo and conditioner bars in order to reduce plastic use, wastage and to encourage customers to use more sustainable products. Millions of plastic shampoo bottles are destined for landfill each year, but these shampoo and conditioner bars from Uhuru Botanicals help to reduce wastage and cut down on the carbon footprint of the business.

Lioness Launch / Ostibel Africa launches new limited edition range of seasonal candles

December 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lebitso Ramphore, founder, Ostibel Africa (South Africa)

Holistic Beauty and Wellness brand, Ostibel Africa, founded by Lebitso Ramphore has launched a limited edition of seasonal candles made with 100% soy wax and essential oils. Ostibel Africa was founded with holistic wellness in mind, to nourish the mind, body, and soul and this new range falls under the brand’s home and wellness gifts category.

Lioness Launch / New Silent Podcast series launched by Yellow Owl for South Africa’s deaf community

December 12, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Thuli Zikalala, founder, Yellow Owl (South Africa)

An exciting new silent podcast series for South Africa’s deaf community has just been launched by Yellow Owl in South Africa, the company founded by Thuli Zikalala, and a recent Silver Award Winner at the New Gen Digital Awards. The series, which premiered on 18 November 2021 is called 'Signs & Stories: the silent podcast' and it’s a visual podcast using South African Sign Language (SASL). This 10-episode podcast series captures the stories, experiences, culture and shared values within South Africa’s Deaf community.

Lioness Launch / Botswana’s agri-processing brand, Lemon & Vinegar, launches its new chutney product

December 5, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lemon & Vinegar Pty Ltd, founded by entrepreneur Thato Angelina Gabaitse, is an agricultural production and processing company launched in 2014, in Botswana. The business has built a reputation for generating value by leveraging the creativity of partnering with local suppliers in its processes. The company produces a variety of products including beef biltong, fruit jam, and conveniently dried and packaged trail mix snacks. The latest product to be launched is a new Green Tomato Chutney - a must have for the fine dining experience and a great addition for the cheese board!

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s BWGL Group (Pty) Ltd, launches its new range of 100% Natural and Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products

November 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Sibongile Mthimunye, founder, BWGL Group (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)

Both businesses and households know the importance of maintaining clean, safe and healthy environments for people to work and live in. That means ensuring they are cleaned regularly with effective products that are good at cleaning and disinfecting, and also kind to the environment. In South Africa, entrepreneur Sibongile Mthimunye, founder of BWGL Group (Pty) Ltd, is launching a range of powerful yet environmentally friendly cleaning products for every type of environment.

Lioness Launch / Award-winning South African upcycling design company, Lilly Loompa opens ‘first of its kind’ concept shop

November 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

South African upcycling design company, Lilly Loompa, founded by the talented eco-designer Lizl Naude, opened its ‘first of its kind’ concept shop on 17 November 2021 in Paarl, Western Cape. Known for celebrating the possibilities of upcycling waste, Lilly Loompa is known far and wide for its quirky, upcycled décor items. But more than that, Lizl herself is known for her purposeful and environmentally-consciousness approach to design. A great example of this can be seen in the launch in 2020, during the pandemic, the “My Africa Lap Desk”, currently the brand’s most popular product and made with discarded, waste material.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Blazing Moon Corporate Training launches new Video and E-Learning programmes

November 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Brenda MacLaren, founder, Blazing Moon Corporate Training (South Africa)

These days, the need for virtual training and development services to supplement those that can be obtained by in-person programmes, has never been greater. In South Africa, Blazing Moon Corporate Training, founded by entrepreneur Brenda MacLaren, is a SETA accredited business that offers blended learning solutions. The company has developed a range of Video and eLearning programmes that are launching in the first quarter of 2022. The company has been a long standing training provider since 1999. It is accredited with the MICT SETA for its IT courses and the Services SETA for all its soft skills training courses, as well as being a registered training provider with COMENSA (Coach and Mentors of South Africa). The company offers both short skills programmes and learnerships that can be conducted in live online sessions and also facilitated in classroom sessions.

Lioness Launch / Africa’s luxury jewellery brand, Adele Dejak, launches its new Malaika Collection

October 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Adele Dejak, the brand, is an authentic jewellery and fashion accessories brand that offers a direct access to the true premium African experience. Founder Adele Dejak has built a powerful brand over the years, globally renowned for creating a wide variety of lovingly designed and handcrafted pieces including bracelets, earrings, necklaces and handbags. Every piece tells a story and is inspired by African textiles, cultures and traditions, with everything being produced directly in the Adele Dejak studio in Kenya or through collaboration with an established network of partners. On 5 November 2021, Adele launches the inspirational new Malaika Collection, a new capsule collection of jewellery and accessories for the modern warrior man and woman.

Lioness Launch / South African education and coaching company, Real Stuff for Success, launches new book to empower young people to success

October 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Candice Preston, founder of Real Stuff for Success

Many young people find it challenging to visualize their roadmap to success and it can all seem a little daunting. South African entrepreneur and life coach, Candice Preston, founder of Real Stuff for Success, has launched a new book, ‘Unlocking your superpowers: keys to achieving success in school and beyond" to help young people to navigate their own personal journeys to success.

Vanhu Vamwe, co-founded by award-winning Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, launches its new handcrafted handbag collection

October 10, 2021 Melanie Hawken

After 6 years off the design scene developing a framework around ‘Care in Design’ and ‘Putting People First’, a PhD and two years of design development, Vanhu Vamwe is back!! The collection designed by co-founder Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, together with husband and co-founder Simba Nyawiri is ‘MACRAME LUXE ON WHEELS’. The Multi Award Winning Brand has combined its love for storytelling, traditional craftsmanship and community to bring for the first time ‘A Made In Zimbabwe’, 100% Handcrafted Collection. During a pandemic, with impossibilities all round, Vanhu Vamwe established the first Macrame Community in Zimbabwe, bringing permanent employment, healing livelihoods and bringing hope to many families.

Lioness Launch / Burundi-based Margaux Wong launches its beautiful new Joy collection of wearable art pieces

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Margaux Rusita, founder of Margaux Wong (Burundi)

A highly personal and beautiful new collection of wearable art pieces has been launched by Burundi based designer, Margaux Rusita, founder of Margaux Wong. This new collection of wearable art pieces, Joy, celebrates strength & delight in two exciting capsules: Daisy & Veronica. Joy is named after and dedicated to designer Margaux Rusita’s mother, Joy Edlyn Frank Wong, who, this year, transitioned after an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Joy also battled mental health illness for many years. Being a beautifully gifted artist herself, Joy provided the love, inspiration and fighting spirit which Margaux today embodies.

Lioness Launch / Hope Distillery in South Africa launches its new Hope Rhum Agricole, its own unique take on a rum

September 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Hope Distillery is a small South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Established by Lucy Beard and her husband, Leigh Lisk, seven years ago as a small-batch gin distillery, Hope Distillery has grown into one of the leaders of the artisanal liquor scene, having grown from distilling its own boutique gin to launching various other spirits and distilling for a multitude of other craft brands. It has just launched its new Hope Rhum Agricole – their take on a rum.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Champions Uncovered, launches a new wellbeing personal coaching solution for women entrepreneurs

September 12, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Champions Uncovered Pty Ltd is a personal leadership development company founded by Carla Wasserfall in South Africa. The vision is to encourage and to inspire people into becoming their best selves. Be it inspirational podcasts, wellbeing coaching, the online learning academy (launching soon), wellness solutions for business to keep you moving! Champions Uncovered believe an inspired growth mindset leads to you move with intentional action, and so is launching a new wellbeing personal coaching service.

Lioness Launch / Addisson & Western (Pty) Ltd in Botswana launches new KYC (Know Your Customer) web and mobile app solution

August 29, 2021 Melanie Hawken

One Oreeng, founder, Addison & Western (Botswana)

In Botswana, Addison & Western (Pty) Ltd, founded by One Oreeng, is a company known for providing marketing and project management services to its clients, It’s sister company, Certus, which provides technology-driven service as a software solution to ease the traditional KYC onboarding process, is now offering a KYC (Know Your Customer) solution that digitizes the AML compliance process. Certus is 100% citizen owned and woman led.

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