Sharon Sinclair - The startup story of a South African consultancy bringing a more holistic approach to business

January 7, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sharon Sinclair, founder of Chandramala (South Africa) — **Sharon Sinclair**, founder of Chandramala (South Africa)

Mindful business consulting may not be something familiar to many, but Sharon Sinclair looks to change all that with her company, Chandramala Pty Ltd in South Africa. She is introducing a programme of Organisational Alignment, an energetic change management process that encourages people to find their purpose and achieve a more fulfilled work and personal life.

Teresa Nanjala Lubano - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur with a love of local products and a passion for supporting those who make them

January 7, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Teresa Nanjala Lubano, founder of The Nanjala Company (Kenya) — **Teresa Nanjala Lubano**, founder of The Nanjala Company (Kenya)

A common challenge for many artisans in Africa is getting access to markets and gaining the right kind of exposure for their work. The Nanjala Company in Kenya is one enterprise looking to provide a solution, thanks to the interest and commitment of its founder, Teresa Nanjala Lubano.

Shingai Nyagweta - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur passionate about creating vibrant children’s clothing celebrating local textiles

December 15, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Shingai Nyagweta, founder of KuNa Kids — **Shingai Nyagweta**, founder of KuNa Kids

Finding great children’s clothing that appeals to both the young ones and the parents, and which at the same time celebrates the vibrancy of African textiles, has now been made so much easier. South African entrepreneur and designer, Shingai Nyagweta, founder of KuNa Kids, has built a niche children’s clothing company that embraces the uniquely local shweshwe fabrics, but incorporated into funky and practical designs.

Oluwatosin Lawson - The startup story of a Nigerian entrepreneur with a passion for contemporary African-inspired lifestyle products

December 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Oluwatosin Lawson, founder of African Things (Nigeria) — **Oluwatosin Lawson**, founder of African Things (Nigeria)

Building a pan-African and global brand relies on appreciating the need for high quality manufacturing combined with a unique selling point, and Nigerian entrepreneur, Oluwatosin Lawson, is building her African ThingsLifestyle and Fashion brand by addressing both factors. Her sense of pride for African design shines through all her products, whilst at the same time, recognising the power of mass production to tap into new markets.

Olivia Byanyima and Shanley Knox - The startup story of two women creating a unique manufacturing business celebrating Uganda’s unique Ankole cow horn

December 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Olivia Byanyima and Shanley Knox, founders of Olivia Knox (Uganda) — **Olivia Byanyima and Shanley Knox**, founders of Olivia Knox (Uganda)

The world’s discerning consumers have become so much more conscious about the provenance and sustainability of the products they buy, particularly in the luxury market. By creating new luxury markets for products crafted from East Africa’s unique Ankole horn, Olivia Byanyima and Shanley Knox through their company, Olivia Knox, are improving the economic value of this culturally significant breed, providing incentive for Ugandan ranchers to continue their ancient practice of raising the Ankole.

Gaby Lobban - The startup story of a South African techpreneur providing an innovative way of accessing professional healthcare advice online

December 11, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Gaby Lobban, founder of Zumbudda (South Africa) — **Gaby Lobban**, founder of Zumbudda (South Africa)

The chances are that in our increasingly busy lives, we will need to get health advice and information at short notice and potentially outside of usual medical practitioner hours or without having to wait for clinic appointments, meaning that an alternative is required. South African techpreneur, Gaby Lobban, founder of Zumbudda, knows this scenario only too well as a busy working mother of three children. Her website offering real-time e-chats with expert healthcare professionals is providing a great and innovative solution.

Mary Miner and Kate Woska - The startup story of two women entrepreneurs with a passion for expanding access to capital for underserved women in Rwanda

December 10, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Kate Woska and Mary Miner, co-founders of Atikus Investments Incorporated (Rwanda) — **Kate Woska and Mary Miner**, co-founders of Atikus Investments Incorporated (Rwanda)

Co-founders Mary Miner and Kate Woska are first time entrepreneurs and the inspiration behind Atikus Investments Incorporated. They chose Rwanda as the perfect place to start their business because the country is serious about financial inclusion and developing at a rapid pace. Atikus develops meso-level interventions committed to democratizing opportunity and improving financial inclusion for un(der)served demographics, among which women, youth, and rural/agricultural workers are core groups.

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.

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