Irene Ochem - The startup story of a Nigerian event entrepreneur with a passion for fostering women’s entrepreneurship in Africa

February 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Irene Ochem, founder of ICO Conferences & Events Limited — **Irene Ochem**, founder of ICO Conferences & Events Limited

Building a genuinely pan-African brand can be a challenge, but it is one that entrepreneur Irene Ochem is more than ready for, as her company, ICO Conferences & Events Limited, is building a great reputation for organising successful and high profile events across the continent. She is also creating a great network for women decision-makers and opinion-formers to come together and help to foster the empowerment of African women.

Candice Johnson - The startup story of a luxury knitwear designer celebrating traditional South African skills, luxurious raw materials, and local talents

January 31, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Candice Johnson, founder of Miss Knitwear (South Africa) — **Candice Johnson,** founder of Miss Knitwear (South Africa)

In a world which is increasingly turning its attention to all things hand-crafted, and companies using ethically sourced materials that support local craftsmanship, Candice Johnson is one entrepreneur turning her passion for luxury, handcrafted knitwear, into a thriving business, aptly named Miss Knitwear.

Mireille Karera - The startup story of a Rwandan entrepreneur providing bespoke consulting and coaching services to clients around the world

January 28, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mireille Karera, founder of KORA Associates — **Mireille Karera**, founder of KORA Associates

Many entrepreneurs take a personal passion and turn it into a business. In the case of Mireille Karera, she had a passion to see people grow and progress in their lives in practical ways, and that led her to set up her company, KORA Associates, that encourages, coaches and advises individuals, businesses and communities in achieving their goals, visions and dreams.

Ruth Mwanzia - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur bringing pure drinking water to the country

January 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ruth Mwanzia, founder of Koola Waters (Kenya) — **Ruth Mwanzia**, founder of Koola Waters (Kenya)

The challenge of water scarcity and improving access to clean, safe drinking water in Africa is one that entrepreneur Ruth Mwanzia understood only too well growing up in Kenya. That experience was the inspiration behind her company, Koola Waters, a business venture which manufactures and distributes pure water to the country’s citizens.

Gabriella von Ille - The startup story of a South African-based boutique consultancy with a passion for Africa and its natural resources

January 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Gabriella von Ille, founder of Lifa Communications (South Africa) — **Gabriella von Ille**, founder of Lifa Communications (South Africa)

Lifa Communications is a specialist consulting firm servicing the traditionally male dominated industry sectors such as mining, agriculture, oil, gas, energy and technology, and is the brainchild of founder Gabriella von Ille. The company prides itself on its global experience and expertise, combined with unique African industry insight - a powerful combination.

Kynaro Kinnear - The startup story of a PR and Event Management entrepreneur inspired by her mother’s original business dream and on a mission for success

January 19, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Kynaro Kinnear, founder of K2 PR and Events (South Africa) — **Kynaro Kinnear**, founder of K2 PR and Events (South Africa)

There is a considerable market that exists for specialist event management and PR companies in Africa, and one young startup in South Africa, K2 PR and Events, is looking to make its mark too. Founder Kynaro Kinnear is following in her mother’s footsteps to take her original business dream and turn it into a reality.

Innocentia Maine - The startup story of a young South African entrepreneur turning a love of farming into a successful business enterprise

January 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Innocentia Maine, founder of MIS Poultry Farm (South Africa) — **Innocentia Maine**, founder of MIS Poultry Farm (South Africa)

Africa needs more women entrepreneurs helping to address the continent’s food security challenges, and one such entrepreneur is Innocentia Maine, the founder of MIS Poultry Farm in South Africa. She is taking her love of farming and building a poultry business that she sees as the first step in creating a multi-faceted successful agribusiness of the future, and one that will hopefully inspire other aspirant women agripreneurs to follow in her footsteps.

Liz Atukunda and Bunda Anne Katende - The startup story of two young women entrepreneurs from Uganda who are creating authentic one-of-a-kind handbags

January 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Liz Atukunda & Bunda Anne Katende, founders of BIIKA (Uganda) — **Liz Atukunda & Bunda Anne Katende**, founders of BIIKA (Uganda)

Capturing the spirit of Africa is central to the vision of the women entrepreneurs behind the BIIKA brand, which celebrates Africa Rising by harnessing local creative talent and materials to create its uniquely Ugandan range of accessories.

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.

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.