Yolanda Methvin - The startup story of an inspirational wellness brand with a heart and in tune with indigenous African botanical health

July 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Yolanda Methvin, LithaFlora African Botanicals (South Africa) — **Yolanda Methvin**, LithaFlora African Botanicals (South Africa)

The world already knows of the unique beauty of the Cape Floral Kingdom and the amazing indigenous biodiversity that exists there. Entrepreneur Yolanda Methvin is demonstrating through her LithaFlora African Botanicals company that it is possible to capture the essence of this unique environment as the source of her environmentally friendly and luxurious wellness products.

Lynette Hundermark - The startup story of a South African techpreneur looking to push the boundaries of mobile technology

July 23, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lynette Hundermark, co-founder & chief product officer, Useful & Beautiful (South Africa) — **Lynette Hundermark**, co-founder & chief product officer, Useful & Beautiful (South Africa)

The mobile technology space is probably one of the most rapidly changing and dynamic sectors, and for businesses and organisations that can often prove a challenge, finding the best solutions to meet their needs. Lynette Hundermark’s company, Useful and Beautiful (U&B), is looking to breakthrough the clutter and find the right mobile technology solutions and develop the right strategies to fit each client’s specific objectives, and add real value to the business.

Suzie Wokabi - The startup story of an entrepreneur with a vision to create Kenya’s first homegrown make-up brand

July 21, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Suzie Wokabi, founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. (Kenya) — **Suzie Wokabi**, founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. (Kenya)

The growing market and need in Africa for an authentic, affordable and high quality make-up brand created specifically for African women, inspired Kenyan entrepreneur, Suzie Wokabi, to launch a new trailblazing cosmetics brand, Suzie Beauty Ltd. The result is a world-class product range that understands the needs of today’s African women who want bespoke make-up products that work perfectly on African women’s skin-tones and creates a stunningly beautiful look.

Sibabalwe Sesmani and Zuziwe Mkhwanazi - The startup story of a South African PR company that takes a pioneering approach to industry positioning

July 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Zuziwe Mkhwanazi and Sibabalwe Sesmani, co-founders of Unorthodox PR & Media Group (South Africa) — **Zuziwe Mkhwanazi and Sibabalwe Sesmani**, co-founders of Unorthodox PR & Media Group (South Africa)

The all-woman entrepreneurial team behind South African niche PR company, Unorthodox, live up to their name as they take a unique approach to the corporate public relations, communications and partnerships they undertake. The dynamic duo of Sibabalwe Sesmani and Zuziwe Mkhwanazi work exclusively with corporates and differentiate themselves in the marketplace by dealing with "firsts" in their industry. They strive to create their own genre of public relations, one that specializes in corporates and thought leaders of industries.

Nozuko Teto - The startup story of a uniquely talented South African Opera singer, who made her incredible voice the foundation of her entrepreneurial journey

July 15, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Nozuko Teto, opera singer and founder of Adesso Enterprises (South Africa) — **Nozuko Teto**, opera singer and founder of Adesso Enterprises (South Africa)

In the eyes of the world, Africa and music have long been synonymous, and indeed, hugely respected and revered. Today, one South African woman is proving that the most wonderful musical talent, underpinned by an entrepreneurial spirit, is a powerful combination in this tradition. Gifted Opera singer, Nozuko Teto, is showing the world’s connoisseurs that she is a musical and entrepreneurial force to be reckoned with, and a true inspiration to the generation of young women who are following in her footsteps.

Tetsi & Lynn Bugaari and Nuba Elamin - The startup story of Buqisi-Ruux, a stylish African shoe brand creating wearable art with soul for the feet

July 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Tetsi & Lynn Bugaari and Nuba Elamin, founders of Buqisi-Ruux (Kenya) — **Tetsi & Lynn Bugaari and Nuba Elamin**, founders of Buqisi-Ruux (Kenya)

Beautiful shoes and women have long been synonymous with one another. In the case of the three talented women entrepreneurs behind the wonderfully creative Kenyan shoe design brand, Buqisi-Ruux, their design inspiration comes directly from the personal stories of the women around them. Nuba Elamin, Lynn Bugaari and Tetsi Bugaari are taking the art of African storytelling to new heights, creating wearable art for the feet, and individual shoe designs that are named after the African women whose stories inspire them. Genuine inspiration for the soul or make that sole!

Mellisa Mazingi - The startup story of a Zimbabwean online fashion retailer with a vision to grow the country’s fashion sector

July 9, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Mellisa Mazinga, founder of zedlabel (Zimbabwe) — **Mellisa Mazinga**, founder of zedlabel (Zimbabwe)

The African fashion industry is definitely on the move, and in Zimbabwe one woman fashion retail-preneur is realising her vision to put the country’s fashion designers on the map, and create an innovative online retail fashion outlet to showcase their work. Mellisa Mazingi and her company zedlabel, is an African fashion-preneur with a big vision and big ideas - a name to watch on the continent.

Clare Kagimu - The startup story of a talented Ugandan interior architect bringing her unique design vision to the UK

July 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Clare Kagimu, founder of Phoenix Design (United Kingdom) — **Clare Kagimu**, founder of Phoenix Design (United Kingdom)

Creative entrepreneurs in the interior design and architecture space are by their very nature, highly dynamic individuals with a wonderful eye for detail and a unique way of looking at the world. Clare Kagimu, founder of Phoenix Design, is dynamism personified. As a creative member of the African Diaspora, she showcases the best of her African design talent from her base in the UK, combined with a global perspective and stacks of energy and passion for what she does.

Johanette van Niekerk - The startup story of a South African jewellery and accessories designer whose creative passion turned into a business and a new, positive life direction

July 6, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Johanette van Niekerk, founder of Sew Good Handmade (South Africa) — **Johanette van Niekerk**, founder of Sew Good Handmade (South Africa)

South Africa has a long tradition of beautiful jewellery and accessories craftmanship and beading, and one creative entrepreneur is taking it to a whole new level with her company, Sew Good Handmade. Johanette van Niekerk is a woman with a wonderful creative soul who sees beautiful design possibilities in everything around her and particularly in the materials she uses. Her handcrafted products are literally kaleidoscopes of colour, designed to lift the spirits of anyone wearing or displaying them.

Matilda Sekoakoa - The startup story of a social-edu-preneur with a vision to help underprivileged South African children develop a love of reading

June 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Matilda Sekoakoa, co-founder of Help A Child Grow Foundation (South Africa) — **Matilda Sekoakoa**, co-founder of Help A Child Grow Foundation (South Africa)

The challenge of inspiring young, underprivileged and orphaned children in South Africa to learn to read and develop a love of books and learning, is one that social edupreneur Matilda Sekoakoa, together with her business partner, Lerato Kadiaka, have embraced. They are not just actively working to provide solutions, but their inspirational Help A Child Grow Foundation is positively and tangibly changing the lives of these children each day.

Bushera Bashir - The startup story of an entrepreneur building a luxury ethical cashmere fashion label in South Africa

June 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bushera Bashir, founder of Trebene (South Africa) — **Bushera Bashir**, founder of Trebene (South Africa)

Every woman entrepreneur in Africa has a unique story to tell and usually an inspirational story of how their own personal entrepreneurial journey started. The back-story for Bushera Bashir, the founder of ethical fashion label Trebene, takes us on a unique journey from the birthplace of Cashmere wool, Kashmir, from where Trebene’s beautiful luxury cashmere scarves are handwoven, through to Cape Town in South Africa where they are designed, printed and retailed.

Bianca Sibiya - The startup story of Punk and Ivy, a fashion brand that celebrates it’s unique African-ness ‘on the road’

June 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bianca & Khaya Sibiya, co-founders of Punk & Ivy (South Africa) — **Bianca & Khaya Sibiya**, co-founders of Punk & Ivy (South Africa)

The fashion industry loves a brand that is unique, authentic and has a refreshingly different approach to the way it promotes itself to its customers. The dynamic husband and wife team, Bianca and Khaya Sibiya, deliver all of this and so much more with their uber-trendy Punk and Ivy clothing brand.

Anna Raimondo - The startup story of a contemporary South African jewellery designer inspired by bold and quirky references of the past

June 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Anna Raimondo, founder of SMITH Jewellery (South Africa) — **Anna Raimondo**, founder of SMITH Jewellery (South Africa)

In any jewellery design space, it is sometimes hard to make things that are instantly recognisable as the work of one creative person. Yet Anna Raimondo has created a brand personality and a design style that are uniquely hers, and as a result, the SMITH Jewellery brand is truly memorable.

Amanta Hooman - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur bringing the luxurious truffle to everyone’s table

June 11, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Amanta Hooman, founder of Flavour Union (South Africa) — **Amanta Hooman**, founder of Flavour Union (South Africa)

Just mention the word truffle and you are instantly transported to a world of luxury fine dining and one of the most exquisite tastes on earth. Now, one young South African woman entrepreneur is making it accessible to everyone through her wonderful new range of truffle-based gourmet products under her new label Flavour Union.

Angela Franklin - The startup story of the bookseller of Senegal with a passion to promote the writers of the Diaspora

June 10, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Angela Franklin, founder of Chez Alpha Books (Senegal) — **Angela Franklin**, founder of Chez Alpha Books (Senegal)

Many bookstores claim to be so much more, but in the case of Angela Franklin’s business, Chez Alpha Books, this is certainly the case. She has taken the concept of a bookselling business and elevated it into a truly multi-faceted learning and resource centre for those with a love of the English language and a need to access learning materials and language training resources in English.

Christine Buchanan and Louiza Rademan - The startup story of two Cape Town entrepreneurs turning the world of skin and body care 100% natural and organic

June 3, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Louiza Rademan & Christine Buchanan, founders of Oh-Lief (South Africa) — **Louiza Rademan & Christine Buchanan**, founders of Oh-Lief (South Africa)

Two entrepreneurial sisters from South Africa with a love of all things natural and organic are capturing the imagination of customers looking for an alternative to the mass produced, chemically formulated skin and body care products on the market. The Oh-Lief Natural Products company is developing 100% natural and organic products that are truly world class.

Faraja Nyalandu - The startup story of a Tanzanian edupreneur producing accessible, localized digital learning for secondary students

June 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Faraja Nyalandu, founder Shule Direct (Tanzania) — **Faraja Nyalandu**, founder Shule Direct (Tanzania)

Africa’s education challenges and the lack of access to quality learning resources for children and young people in Tanzania specifically, led one woman entrepreneur to take an innovative approach to finding a solution. Faraja Nyalandu is creating world-class digital learning content and making it available to students on mobile phones and through online learning portals.

Daniela Wingate - The startup story of an entrepreneur with a passion for handmade gifts that become tomorrow’s heirlooms

May 31, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Daniela Wingate, founder of Heirloom Treasury (South Africa) — **Daniela Wingate**, founder of Heirloom Treasury (South Africa)

Walking into Daniela Wingate’s flagship Heirloom Treasury store is a wonderful experience, and a real celebration of lovingly hand-made, carefully selected and beautifully displayed stationery and gift items that reflect the art of fine craftsmanship in Africa.

Ethel Cofie - The startup story of a woman helping to change the face of the tech sector in Africa

May 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ethel Cofie, founder of Edel Technologies (Ghana) — **Ethel Cofie**, founder of Edel Technologies (Ghana)

If there is a stand-out dynamic woman techpreneur in Africa who is challenging the industry status quo and helping other women to spearhead a new and innovative era in the sector on the continent, then it is Ethel Cofie, founder of Edel Technologies in Ghana.

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