Patience Maame Mensah - The start up story of a Ghanaian entrepreneur on a mission to provide the best home care service delivery to busy, stressed people

December 9, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Patience Maame Mensah, founder of Indulgence — **Patience Maame Mensah**, founder of Indulgence

Finding a niche that can be filled with a great service or product is key to building a successful business, and in the case of Patience Maame Mensah and her company, Indulgence, she has definitely found that niche. She has recognised that busy people with busy lives need a range of home and personal support services to help them to cope with the inevitable stresses and strains that occur.

Tamarind Nott - The startup story of a Namibian entrepreneur harnessing the raw natural plant ingredients of her country to create a business and a community support system

December 3, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Tammy Nott, founder of Mbiri Natural Skincare (Namibia) — **Tammy Nott**, founder of Mbiri Natural Skincare (Namibia)

It is hard not to be inspired by the wild natural beauty of Namibia’s desert regions, and in the case of Tamarind (Tammy) Nott, she is capturing the essence of the Namibian Myrrh, Marula Oil and Kalahari Melon Seed Oil that is indigenous to the area, and creating a wonderful business, Mbiri Natural Skincare.

Getty Choenyana - The startup story of a South African mechanical engineer turned skin and haircare entrepreneur

December 3, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Getty Choenyana, founder of Oamobu Naturals (South Africa) — **Getty Choenyana**, founder of Oamobu Naturals (South Africa)

At LoA, we love those women entrepreneurs who have done a complete career pivot and turned a passion or need to solve a key challenge, into a great entrepreneurial venture. South African entrepreneur, Getty Choenyana, is one such example, who harnessed her frustration of not being able to find great all-natural hair and skincare products, and turned it into a great new business venture, Oamobu Naturals.

Jaki Kweka - The startup story of a Tanzanian artisan chocolatier who is creating the country’s first gourmet chocolate brand

November 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Jaki Kweka, co-founder of Chocolate Mamas (Tanzania) — **Jaki Kweka**, co-founder of Chocolate Mamas (Tanzania)

With the launch of the #Choose Artisan campaign recently, the spotlight has been shining firmly on those women artisans in Africa who are creating world-class luxury products right here on the continent. Chocolate Mamas Gourmet Tanzanian Chocolate Company is an entrepreneurial startup making real waves in the luxury artisan chocolate space in Africa, and its co-founder, Jaki Kweka, has big ambitions for the brand going forward.

Mavis Nduchwa - The startup story of a young Botswana agripreneur on a mission to demonstrate that women farmers in Africa can make a difference

November 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Mavis Nduchwa, Chabana Farms (Botswana) — **Mavis Nduchwa**, Chabana Farms (Botswana)

To make real and lasting positive change happen in the agricultural sector in Africa for women entrepreneurs, it is important to have great role models. Mavis Nduchwa, the force behind successful agribusiness Chabana Farms, is one such role model. She is harnessing the power of technology and innovative new methods to make a difference in her business.

Judith Owigar - The startup story of a visionary Kenyan techpreneur working to make a huge impact by nurturing the talents of women in technology

November 18, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Judith Owigar, co-founder of Akirachix (Kenya) — **Judith Owigar**, co-founder of Akirachix (Kenya)

Take one woman with a big vision to nurture generations of women who use technology to develop innovations and solutions for Africa, and the energy to match, and you have the inspirational Judith Owigar, co-founder of Akirachix - a real gamechanger for women innovators in Africa.

Raheel Muhammad - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur who started her niche business by providing specialist services to SMEs

November 17, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Raheel Muhammad, founder of HM Holdings (South Africa) — **Raheel Muhammad**, founder of HM Holdings (South Africa)

Often, the most difficult part of any entrepreneurial journey is finding a niche to slot into, and differentiating yourself from the market place. In the case of Raheel Muhammad, founder of HM Holdings and its consulting arm, HM Consulting, she saw the opportunity to use her many years’ of experience in franchise management and designing operations manuals in order to help SMEs to thrive.

Yolanda Ndhlovu - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur combining a love for recycling, jewellery design and fashion into a business

November 16, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Yolanda Ndhlovu, co-founder of Green Mat Designs (South Africa) — **Yolanda Ndhlovu**, co-founder of Green Mat Designs (South Africa)

Green Mat Designs is the inspiration of young South African entrepreneur, Yolanda Ndhlovu, who is passionate about going ‘green’ and thinking more about taking an environmentally friendly approach to design. Her jewellery, fashion and interior decor pieces reflect her love of recycling, particularly for vintage beads and clothing.

Bomanga Ngoi Longango - The startup story of an entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of Congo capturing the essence of African cooking in a jar

November 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bomanga Ngoi Longango, founder Evelea Foods (Democratic Republic of Congo) — **Bomanga Ngoi Longango**, founder Evelea Foods (Democratic Republic of Congo)

There is nothing more evocative of a country than its cuisine, and one woman entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of Congo is taking the essence of her country and bottling it in jars for a European audience. Bomanga Ngoi Longango and her company Evelea, are capturing the flavours of African vegetables such as cassava leaves, amaranth leaves, and other traditional vegetables in ready to eat form, preserved in jars.

Korkor Kugblenu - The startup story of a Ghanaian entrepreneur who is creating natural beauty solutions for sub-Saharan African women

November 11, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Korkor Kugblenu, founder of The Body Butter Company (Ghana) — **Korkor Kugblenu**, founder of The Body Butter Company (Ghana)

Seeing a gap in the market for products that celebrate naturally beautiful African women’s skin and hair, Ghanaian entrepreneur Korkor Kugblenu created her business venture, The Body Butter Company, that manufactures and retails indigenous 100% natural beauty solutions.

Agata Karolina - the startup story of a South African based epicene perfume house creating exquisite small batch perfumes

November 6, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Agata Karolina, founder of House of Gozdawa (South Africa) — **Agata Karolina**, founder of House of Gozdawa (South Africa)

There is something very evocative about the world of perfumery, taking its inspiration from nature and creating a scent that makes the wearer experience a particular sense of wellbeing and confidence. South Africa now has a second perfumier to celebrate, Agata Karolina, founder of House of Gozdawa in Cape Town, who is creating something really special and unique to Africa.

PODCAST: White Rabbit Days founder Helen Andrews talks laser cutting to create beautiful jewellery

November 3, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Helen Andrews, founder of White Rabbit Days (South Africa) — **Helen Andrews**, founder of White Rabbit Days (South Africa)

LoA had the opportunity to chat with Helen Andrews, the creative founder of White Rabbit Days, at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in October. Her unique jewellery design company uses laser cutting techniques to craft astonishingly beautiful pieces from a range of materials from leather to brass.

Suret Louw - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur on a mission to help women find better balance in their lives

November 3, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Suret Louw, founder of Alive Image and Lifestyle Company

Startup Story

Taking a more holistic approach to helping women achieve greater emotional and physical wellbeing, Suret Louw’s entrepreneurial venture, Alive Image and Lifestyle Company, is dedicated to finding that elusive work/life balance.

PODCAST: Lucy Beard's journey from city lawyer to launching an artisanal gin distillery in Cape Town

October 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard, founders of Hope on Hopkins (South Africa) — **Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard**, founders of Hope on Hopkins (South Africa)

LoA chatted to Lucy Beard, who is the co-founder of Hope on Hopkins together with her husband Leigh Lisk, during a busy day at their exhibition stand at the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg. She shared the roller-coaster ride that is the startup experience, and how becoming an entrepreneur has its challenges, but is well worth the journey from a personal, life-enhancing perspective.

Danielle Goldman - The startup story of a serial entrepreneur in South Africa using her vast experience of China to create a new product sourcing agency

October 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Danielle Goldman, founder of Guanxi Connections Ltd. — **Danielle Goldman**, founder of Guanxi Connections Ltd.

Understanding the global marketplace is increasingly more important for African companies and getting access to specialist products is also key. Danielle Goldman, founder of Guanxi Connections Ltd, a digital marketing and design agency in China, and now incorporating a China sourcing agency here in South Africa, is looking to provide a solution and, importantly, bringing local market knowledge with her.

Lilian Muhammed - The startup story of a South African Afroluxe fashion accessory brand builder with a passion for making local and buying local

October 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lilian Muhammed, founder of LONDRÉ TAN (South Africa) — **Lilian Muhammed**, founder of LONDRÉ TAN (South Africa)

Afroluxe brands are making quite a name for themselves on the global fashion scene right now, and South African entrepreneur, Lilian Muhammed, is looking to put her LONDRÉ TAN brand in the spotlight with her luxury fashion accessories, all proudly produced in her home country.

Lorraine Steyn - The startup story of a South African techpreneur realising a vision for the building of an innovation focused software development company

October 23, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lorraine Steyn, founder of Khanyisa Real Systems (South Africa) — **Lorraine Steyn**, founder of Khanyisa Real Systems (South Africa)

The tech sector has a wealth of exciting opportunies for entrepreneurs to make a difference and Lorraine Steyn, founder of Khanyisa Real Systems, is one such entrepreneur who has built a highly regarded and successful business, underpinned with a strong sense of wanting to do good in the world.

Chantal Du Chenne - The startup story of an entrepreneur looking to revolutionise access to primary healthcare and chronic disease management for the medically uninsured across Africa

October 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Chantal Du Chenne, founder of mHealthCo, South Africa — **Chantal Du Chenne**, founder of mHealthCo, South Africa

It takes a highly innovative approach combined with a passion for making a difference, to find the necessary and urgent solutions to providing high quality, private primary healthcare to millions of employed medically uninsured South African. Entrepreneur Chantal Du Chenne has the solution and her new company, mHealthCo, is about to make huge waves in this space.

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