Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera - The startup story of a dynamic Rwandan design team with a passion for their country’s unique aesthetic and talented artisans

October 4, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera, founders of haute | baso (Rwanda) — **Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera**, founders of haute | baso (Rwanda)

There is something about young women entrepreneurs in Africa who not only are on a mission to promote the art and design culture they love, but who also see it as a vehicle for positive change. Linda Mukangoga and Candy Basomingera, the founders of haute | baso in Rwanda, are creating contemporary design products that celebrate the craftsmanship of local and regional artisans from their country. The result is dynamic, vibrant and uniquely beautiful.

Lezel de Vos - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur who saw an opportunity to supply key ingredients to the food industry

September 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lezel de Vos, founder of Fox Ingredients (South Africa) — **Lezel de Vos**, founder of Fox Ingredients (South Africa)

People with a passion for what they do often make the most successful entrepreneurs, and in the case of Lezel de Vos and her company Fox Ingredients, her interest in the flavours and essences that go into making wonderful tasting and visually appealing food products is what took her into business.

Eva Sonaike - The startup story of an interior and lifestyle brand creator bringing luxury design with a vibrant West-African aesthetic to the UK

September 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Eva Sonaike, founder of Eva Sonaike — **Eva Sonaike**, founder of Eva Sonaike

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.

Femi Olayebi - The startup story of a Nigerian bespoke luxury handbag designer who has created a whole world of bags to global acclaim

September 23, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Femi Olayebi, founder of My World of Bags and the Femi Handbags brand (Nigeria)

In the competitive world of global accessory and handbag design, one Nigerian designer is making the world sit up and take notice, with her unique take on beautiful, bespoke, handcrafted pieces that celebrate the art of craftsmanship combined with a uniquely African touch. Femi Olayebi is talent personified and her great eye for design together with a deep appreciation for African culture and textiles, has allowed her to create handbags and accessories that have a great story to tell and a wonderful visual appeal.

Karen Wessels - The startup story of a South African serial entrepreneur putting the art of conversation into appointment setting

September 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Karen Wessels, co-founder of SnappSales (South Africa) — **Karen Wessels**, co-founder of SnappSales (South Africa)

There are some natural born entrepreneurs who see a problem, challenge or need, and have a burning desire to find the solution - Karen Wessels is one such entrepreneur. Her latest venture SnappSales has found a solution for all those companies who need to create quality sales leads, but whose salespeople hate cold-calling. She has found an innovative and highly efficient way of appointment setting, harnessing the power of conversation and the talents of a great team of people.

Sophie Umazi Mvurya and Brigit Wasike - The startup story of two dynamic fashionpreneurs who are creating affordable, trend-setting clothes for discerning Kenyans

September 16, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Brigit Wasike (top) and Sophie Umazi Mvurya (bottom), founders of House of Tahzi — **Brigit Wasike** (top) and **Sophie Umazi Mvurya** (bottom), founders of House of Tahzi

They say that great minds think alike, and in the case of Sophie Umazi Mvurya and Brigit Wasike, this is certainly a meeting of the minds. These two highly talented and passionate fashionpreneurs have a dynamic vision, to not only capture the fashion market in Kenya, but to take their unique House of Tahzi brand and transform it into a major global lifestyle name.

Diane Goldie - The startup story of a one-of-a-kind entrepreneur who creates incredibly beautiful wearable art that tells its own unique story

September 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Diane Goldie, founder and creative force behind c.Art — **Diane Goldie**, founder and creative force behind c.Art

Once seen, never forgotten - that is a phrase that perfectly encapsulates the work of Diane Goldie and her company, c.Art. This is one highly talented, passionate woman entrepreneur that is creating unique, bespoke pieces of wearable art with stories woven into the very fabric, to appeal to the confident, unapologetic and strong women who inspire her.

Lungile Kunene - The startup story of a South African fashion designer embarking on a global retail journey

September 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lungile Kunene, founder of Izembatho Creations (South Africa)

Typically, fashionpreneurs are some of the most creative individuals and always passionate about the work they produce. They have a vision for the clothes they design and an idea of the people who will be wearing their creations and how they will make those people feel. Lungile Kunene of Izembatho Creations is one designer who has a clear vision for the aesthetic and emotional response she wishes the women who will be wearing her clothes to have.

Nobesuthu Ndlovu - The startup story of a South African fashion entrepreneur showcasing the best of the country’s design talent

September 6, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Nobesuthu Ndlovu, co-founder of Burgundy Fly (South Africa) — **Nobesuthu Ndlovu**, co-founder of Burgundy Fly (South Africa)

Building a successful fashion retail showcase brand is no small feat, and requires endless amounts of energy and passion, not to mention a great eye for detail and the knack of selecting the best designs for different marketplaces. However, Nobesuthu Ndlovu, the co-founder of Burgundy Fly, is a great example of a woman entrepreneur who has all these skills and more, and together with her business partner and husband, is building an exciting fashion retail company.

Nisha Maharaj - The startup story of a South African techpreneur looking to bridge the technology gap in her country

August 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Nisha Maharaj, founder of Niche Integrated Solutions (South Africa) — **Nisha Maharaj**, founder of Niche Integrated Solutions (South Africa)

Companies in the IT sector have long built a reputation for finding solutions to many of the business challenges we face today, but Niche Integrated Solutions is an IT company with a difference, thanks to its founder Nisha Maharaj. It has genuinely found a niche for itself in a highly competitive sector, and as a result, is not just building a rapidly growing and successful business, but it is also positively impacting on the lives and businesses of others.

Terryanne Chebet - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur with a passion for changing how the world looks at Africa, beautifully

August 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Terryanne Chebet, founder of Keyara Organics (Kenya) — **Terryanne Chebet**, founder of Keyara Organics (Kenya)

Keyara Organics is a natural skincare company with a soul and a real passion for African ingredients. Founder and serial entrepreneur, Terryanne Chebet, has a vision to grow the company to be among the world’s leading natural skincare brands, understanding that everyone needs a natural skincare routine.

Damaris Nyabuti - The startup story of a Kenyan PR company that exemplifies the entrepreneurial never-give-up attitude

August 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Damaris Nyabuti, founder of Dharkemmy Corporate Communications — **Damaris Nyabuti**, founder of Dharkemmy Corporate Communications

If there is one word that could best describe PR entrepreneur, Damaris Nyabuti, the founder of Dharkemmy Corporate Communications in Nairobi, Kenya, it is tenacious. Despite all the challenges that have faced her throughout her career, she has remained true to her passion for PR and communications and been determined to realise her vision of starting her own company. She is a force to be reckoned with and understands the power of sheer hard work to make things happen.

Sheila Afari - The startup story of a PR entrepreneur with a passion for promoting proudly African brands

August 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Sheila Afari, founder of Sheila Afari Public Relations (South Africa)

Africa has a wealth of PR, media and communications talent, and no two companies are the same. In the case of Sheila Afari Public Relations, this proudly African PR entrepreneur is passionate about showcasing the best of African brands to the rest of the world, and is differentiating herself and her company in the marketplace as a result.

Juanita van der Merwe - The startup story of an award winning South African social enterprise up-cycling billboard ads into funky bags!

August 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Juanita van der Merwe, co-founder of Little Green Number (South Africa) — **Juanita van der Merwe**, co-founder of Little Green Number (South Africa)

Little Green Number is the brainchild of a passionate young social entrepreneur, Juanita van der Merwe, who is aiming to change the world for the better by not only creating unique, really funky handmade bags from up cycled advertising billboard posters thereby helping the environment, but also creating much-needed local jobs for young people in her community.

Kerryne Krause Neufeldt - The startup story of a South African beauty and wellness global brand builder

July 31, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Kerryne Krause Neufeldt, founder of eyeSlices® (South Africa) — **Kerryne Krause Neufeldt**, founder of eyeSlices® (South Africa)

Many of us with busy entrepreneurial lives, heavy travel schedules, and lots of late nights will probably have experienced the effects of tired puffy eyes, with increasingly dark circles and redness, exacerbated by staring at computer screens and smartphones all day long. However, one innovative South African entrepreneur, Kerryne Krause Neufeldt, thinks she has found the solution - eyeSlices®!

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