Nikki Davies - The start up story of a mom’s quest to serve wholesome real food to babies and toddlers

April 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Nikki Davies, co-founder of Orchard Baby and Toddler Foods (South Africa) — **Nikki Davies**, co-founder of Orchard Baby and Toddler Foods (South Africa)

Every parent knows how crucial it is to give their babies and toddlers the best start in life through a healthy diet, and yet in our increasingly busy lives, the convenience of a ready-made baby food makes all the difference. Finding options that are fresh and healthy, however, is a challenge. However, one South African company is changing all that. Nikki Davies, the inspiration and co-founder of the Orchard Baby and Toddler Foods company and brand is producing real food that both parents and babies will love.

Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera - The startup story of a rising star of the Rwandan design and interior decor scene, putting the country’s design talent on the global map

April 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera, founder of Glo Creations (Rwanda) — **Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera**, founder of Glo Creations (Rwanda)

Tapping into the growing global interest in African design, entrepreneur Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera is building an award-winning company, Glo Creations, that is celebrating traditional batik printing techniques but with a contemporary twist.

Pascale Bukize - The startup story of a Rwandan TV production company lighting up the country’s TV screens with great content for women

April 12, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Pascale Bukize, founder of Nawel Company Ltd (Rwanda) — **Pascale Bukize**, founder of Nawel Company Ltd (Rwanda)

There is something truly inspirational about women entrepreneurs who harness the real power of the media, in particularly TV and Radio, to empower women in their countries through positive messaging, great storytelling, and powerful women role-models. Rwandan entrepreneur, Pascale Bukize, and her fellow team members founded Nawel Company Ltd to produce not only great content and TV shows, but also to launch a pioneering show The Real Women Show, to uplift and inspire other women in the country.

Denise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza - The startup story of a Rwandan talent management company that believes in the power of tapping potential

April 12, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Denise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza, founders of RightSeat (Rwanda) — **Denise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza**, founders of RightSeat (Rwanda)

The challenge for any company or organisation is finding the right people and building great teams, and one entrepreneurial team is making this process a whole lot easier. Right Seat is a specialist talent management company in Rwanda, spearheaded by two young women entrepreneurs, Denise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza, who are focused on building a strong HR pipeline in the country.

Joycee Awojoodu - The startup story of an African luxury personal grooming brand fusing the continent’s beloved botanicals with scientific research

April 6, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Joycee Awojoodu, founder ORÍKÌ (Nigeria) — **Joycee Awojoodu**, founder ORÍKÌ (Nigeria)

As the fast developing world of personal grooming and skincare grows in Africa, so too does the desire to find products that harness the unique natural ingredients from the continent for their inspiration. One luxury brand, ORÍKÌ, is not only creating a range of products that truly celebrate Africa’s natural resources, but it also positively touches the lives of those who harvest those raw materials.

Frances Edwards - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur who quit the world of finance to create the finest handcrafted shoes and handbags

April 6, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Frances Edwards, founder of House of Cinnamon (South Africa) — **Frances Edwards**, founder of House of Cinnamon (South Africa)

They say one of the most successful ways of building a company and a brand is to follow a passion, and in the case of South African entrepreneur Frances Edwards, that has certainly been the inspiration for the launch of her business, House of Cinnamon. Today, Frances is creating a unique luxury footwear and accessories brand, that celebrates the art of fine craftsmanship in Africa.

Carine-Zoe Umutoni - The startup story of a Rwandan fashion entrepreneur bringing a great sense of style combined with big ambitions to a proudly Rwandan fashion brand

April 5, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Carine-Zoe Umutoni, founder of ONYX (Rwanda)

Developing a distinctive fashion brand which celebrates African fabric and inspiration with contemporary design that reflects the uniqueness of Rwanda, is what makes ONYX stand out in the marketplace. Founder Carine-Zoe Umutoni has a passion for her country which is only matched by her talent for creating must-wear garments which the fashion conscious want to own.

Wunmi Amokeodo - The startup story of a Nigerian fashion entrepreneur celebrating the country’s traditional fabrics in contemporary design

April 4, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Wunmi Amokeodo, founder of Design for Love (Nigeria) — **Wunmi Amokeodo**, founder of Design for Love (Nigeria)

For many entrepreneurs, their businesses start with a passion or a need to address a key challenge that exists in the marketplace - in the case of talented Nigerian fashion design entrepreneur, Wunmi Amokeodo, founder of Design for Love (DFL), it was both of these factors.

Bhavya Kalsi - The startup story of a Ugandan company and brand influenced by Indian roots

April 4, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Bhavya Kalsi and Nimisha Kalipurayath, founders of KONA (Uganda) — **Bhavya Kalsi and Nimisha Kalipurayath**, founders of KONA (Uganda)

KONA, the name of a unique new accessories and homeware company in Uganda was inspired by a mixture of cultures, the word literally meaning CORNER in Swahili Luganda and Hindi. So, from a little corner in Africa, two women entrepreneurs, are creating an exciting new brand with a distinctive personality.

Bernadette Umunyana - The startup story of a Rwandan leather fashion accessories company committed to Fair Trade principles and the training of young people

March 30, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Bernadette Umunyana, founder of Dokmai Rwanda — **Bernadette Umunyana**, founder of Dokmai Rwanda

A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for Made in Rwanda products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company and a brand that would celebrate the skills and raw materials of Rwanda. Today, her company is producing a range of high quality leather fashion accessories that are proudly made and designed in Rwanda, and custom tailored to meet the needs of the brand’s discerning customers.

Sonia Mugabo - The startup story of a fashion entrepreneur in Rwanda, building a strong men and womenswear brand that celebrates local artisan craftsmanship

March 30, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sonia Mugabo, founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM), Rwanda — **Sonia Mugabo**, founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM), Rwanda

Recognising the high potential of the Rwandan fashion scene, and having a passion for mainstream and bespoke clothing design, was the inspiration for Sonia Mugabo to make the move and establish a new and exciting fashion company in the country. Her label, Sonia Mugabo (SM) is winning legions of new fashion conscious fans along the way.

REVISITED - Thokozile Mangwiro - The startup story of a South African skin care entrepreneur, launching a new natural hair care company

March 19, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Thokozile Mangwiro, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa) — **Thokozile Mangwiro**, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa)

In 2015, Lionesses of Africa featured a wonderful young startup company, Nyla Naturals, the brainchild of creative entrepreneur Thokozile Mangwiro. Today, one year on, so much has happened in the life of this great young company and entrepreneur, and a new natural hair care product line, Nilotiqua, has been launched which is just as exciting.

Sarah Nakisanze - The startup story of an entrepreneur in Uganda celebrating traditional barkcloth fabric and reinventing it in great new design pieces

March 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sarah Nakisanze, founder of Easy Afric Design (Uganda) — **Sarah Nakisanze**, founder of Easy Afric Design (Uganda)

The world is becoming increasingly more enamoured by the wonderful traditional designs and fabrics of Africa, particularly when they are incorporated into contemporary fashion and decor pieces. Entrepreneur Sarah Nakisanze and her business Easy Afric Design, is harnessing the inspiration of the wonderful Ugandan traditional fabric of Barkcloth for her collections of fashion and art.

Irisha Luhanga - The startup story of an entrepreneur with a passion for helping organisations and people to reach their potential

March 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Irisha Luhanga, founder Redefine Human Capital (South Africa)

In today’s increasingly competitive world, companies and organisations are becoming more focused on empowering their people in order to help them fulfil their full potential in their careers and in the workplace generally. Irisha Luhanga is one entrepreneur with a passion for human capital and with her company, Redefine Human Capital, she is redefining the way people view their work and helping them to align it to their true purpose.

Olubukola Asafa - The startup story of a Nigerian entrepreneur with a passion for fine craftsmanship and building a bespoke luxury leathergoods brand

March 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Olubukola Asafa, founder of Oba Couture (Nigeria) — **Olubukola Asafa**, founder of Oba Couture (Nigeria)

There is a growing interest right now in AfroLuxe, bespoke finely crafted luxury items all proudly designed and created here in Africa. Oba Couture, the brand created by Nigerian entrepreneur Olubukola Asafa, is a new name in the world of luxury leather accessory brands emerging from the African continent, to add to the list of those brands currently winning legions of fans around the world with their high-end, luxury products.

Ysolde Shimwe and Kevine Kagirimpundu- The startup story of two fashion design entrepreneurs creating beautiful handcrafted shoes with a unique Rwandan aesthetic

March 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ysolde Shimwe and Kevine Kagirimpundu, co-founders of Azuri K&Y (Rwanda)

The art of fine shoe-making is a specific design discipline and one that excites the team of entrepreneurs behind the Rwandan shoe brand, UZURI K&Y. Ysolde Shimwe (CFO & Co-Creative designer) and Kevine Kagirimpundu (CEO & Co-Creative designer), are combining their substantial design talents to create some of the hottest shoes on the continent.

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