the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Sihle Hlophe, founder of Passion Seed Communications (South Africa)
Many entrepreneurs are driven by a passion to solve a societal challenge and to make a difference in the world. For South African entrepreneur, Sihle Hlophe, founder of Passion Seed Communications, her inspiration came from a desire to see films and television programmes in her mother tongue SiSwati.
Read more
Tania Tome, founder of Ecokaya (Mozambique)
Creating sustainable and more inclusive entrepreneurial ventures in Mozambique is key to the country’s future economic success. But that requires the development and training of a new generation of entrepreneurs who can build businesses capable of growing and succeeding. Ecokaya, founded by entrepreneur Tania Tome, is on a mission to be part of the solution to making this vision a reality.
Read more
Ntsoaki Mabejane, founder of Botanical Wares (Lesotho)
For all those who experience the challenges of sensitive skin, hope is at hand from Botanical Wares (Pty) Ltd, a Lesotho woman-owned company inspired by its founders who needed to find a skincare and cosmetics solution for themselves and their families.
Read more
Cristina Margarida Rocha, founder of Daisy Social (Mozambique)
Many people in life see social challenges around them but do not act. However, for social entrepreneur Cristina Margarida Rocha, this was not an option, and she took her love of handmade soap and used it to build a high impact social business to empower other women. Today, Daisy Social is making a real difference, and making great soap with a strong backstory.
Read more
Dené Carlile, founder of BluMallow Social & Design (South Africa)
Many companies struggle to get their brand messages to connect with customers, or to grow their brand appeal with certain customer segments. That’s where South African niche company, BluMallow Social & Design, comes in. Founder Dené Carlile is on a mission to make the whole process of making powerful brand connections a whole lot easier for her clients.
Read more
Ngwana Matloa, co-founder of ABOT Technology (South Africa)
How often do you see companies and organisations investing in IT and technology solutions but not actually ensuring they are aligned to overall business strategies? As a result, maximum efficiencies and highly functional systems never realize their full potential. IT specialist, Ngwana Matloa, co-founder of ABOT Technology, is on a mission to change that.
Read more
Nicola Bokaba, founder of Earthy Cook (South Africa)
Sometimes, the best ideas have been around a long time but simply need adapting or updating for a contemporary marketplace. In the culinary world, that is certainly the case for the traditional South African mafehlo (pap making whisks). Entrepreneur Nicola Bokaba, founder of Earthy Cook, saw an opportunity to start a business inspired by these traditional cooking implements but updated to meet today’s kitchen needs.
Read more
Roomila Roothoorodoo, founder of Focus Events (Mauritius)
Whether you are staging a major conference or special event such a wedding, or you need to produce a video that tells your corporate story, it’s essential to bring in the specialists. In Mauritius, one passionate photographer, Roomila Roothoorodoo, founder of Focus Events, is bringing her creative talents to the table.
Read more
Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses’fikile Wines (South Africa)
Exciting things are happening in South Africa’s winelands with a new generation of entrepreneurs making great wines for the local and global market place and building new brands to watch. Ses’fikile Wines, founded by Nondumiso Pikashe, is one such brand with high aspirations.
Read more
Deborah Sawyerr, founder of Sawyerrs’ House (Nigeria)
You are never too young to learn about money as a child, and never to old to learn how to manage your money better and create your future wealth as a woman, according to Sawyerrs’ House founder, Deborah Sawyerr. She is passionate about increasing money literacy amongst both children and adult women alike.
Read more
Nonhlanhla Khumalo, founder of LeHay Consulting (South Africa)
Businesses need access to specialist financial services advice and support, but often for start up companies, it can be a daunting process. Now help is at hand from experienced accountant and entrepreneur, Nonhlanhla Khumalo, founder of LeHay Consulting.
Read more
Gwendolyne Gosselin, founder of Mathilde & Co. (South Africa)
Resourcefulness is a key trait needed by most entrepreneurs, and in the case of Gwendolyne Gosselin, founder of Mathilde & Co., that translated into learning how to sew. Today her unique brand of children’s clothing and toys, all made from Shweshwe fabrics, is winning fans at home and abroad. Importantly, it is also helping to change lives closer to home in her local community.
Read more
Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy, founder of The Talent Factory (Mauritius)
In the world of communications and brand positioning, getting the right advice and specialist help is key. In Mauritius, that’s where The Talent Factory comes in, led by one of the industry’s key exponents, founder Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy.
Read more
Lalita Anousha Purbho-Junggee, founder of Nineteen Fifty Design & Print Co Ltd (Mauritius)
Many companies are being encouraged to consider the environmental impacts of their businesses, but for entrepreneur Lalita Anousha Purbho-Junggee, founder of Nineteen Fifty Design & Print Co Ltd, she is going one better. Her Sakili up-cycled bag brand is turning billboard advertising and textile waste into multi-purpose bags for her clients.
Read more
Dounia Tamri-Loeper, founder of Dounia Home (Morocco)
It’s often said that lighting makes a space or a room come alive, and for design entrepreneur Dounia Tamri-Loeper, founder of Dounia Home, lighting is her inspiration. She is creating beautiful, statement lighting pieces that not only celebrate the centuries-old techniques and designs that are uniquely Moroccan, but is elevating them to a whole new level.
Read more
Vere Shaba, founder of the Shaba & Ramplin (South Africa)
As cities across the African continent grow, and the construction of new buildings on city skylines also grows in tandem, so too does the need to create greener buildings. And, that’s where multi-award winning engineering entrepreneur, Vere Shaba, founder of the Shaba & Ramplin Green Building Solutions, comes in. She is advising companies to think and plan differently using an Integrated Green Design approach to design energy-efficient, water-efficient and low waste building engineering systems.
Read more
Brenda Katwesigye, founder of Wazi Vision (Uganda)
Making eye care accessible and affordable to everyone in Uganda, regardless of their income status, is the vision of Brenda Katwesigye, founder of high impact company Wazi Vision. She is on a mission to ensure that everyone who needs eye testing and glasses, no matter where they are located in the country, can get access to these life changing services.
Read more
Josephine Marie Godwyll, founder of Young At Heart (Ghana)
Young children have the ability to learn quickly and absorb new information and skills that can change their lives, as long as they get access to exciting learning experiences. In Ghana’s rural communities, this was a key challenge. But one woman entrepreneur, Jospephine Marie Godwyll, is changing that through her high impact social enterprise, Young At Heart Ghana. Today, she is bringing digital learning experiences that are truly game-changing to young people’s minds and futures.
Read more
Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder of Lifebank (Nigeria)
Hospitals and patients need lifesaving blood supplies, each and every day, but finding safe supplies of blood and getting it delivered quickly in the right condition has been a challenge in Nigeria. Today, one entrepreneur is changing that. Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder and ceo of LifeBank, is getting safe blood supplies delivered to those who need it most using the power of technology.
Read more
Benji Coetzee, founder of Empty Trips (South Africa)
How many times a day whilst we are travelling on the highways, railways and flightpaths of countries across the African continent do we see underutilized freight carriers. This results in more expense and a bigger environmental impact. But that is about to change with the entry into the marketplace of EmptyTrips. This innovative, digital company is a game-changer in the logistics and freight transportation business.
Read more