For many aspirant women entrepreneurs in Africa who have a particular specialist expertise or depth of experience in an industry sector, the key to getting going in business is having a great idea and finding a niche that you can slot into in order to achieve success. LoA guest blogger, Comfort Badaru, shares her personal thoughts on the importance of finding your niche.
Read moreIjeoma Ndekwu - The startup story of a Nigerian PR entrepreneur who was born to be in business
Ijeoma Ndekwu, founder of Redrick PR, Nigeria
For Nigerian PR company founder, Ijeoma Ndekwu, becoming an entrepreneur was in her genes. From an early age, she took her inspiration from her successful entrepreneurial father who managed to achieve the freedom of work/life balance in his business, and showed her an alternative and entrepreneurial career path of her own was possible.
Read moreAfrica’s young entrepreneurs are doing things differently
Entrepreneurs are literally changing the face of business in Africa and the way that things are done. No longer do you need millions to start a business. In fact, your basic requirements are business savvy, a laptop, and access to as much support as you can get. Add to this the right kind of assistance, combined with a positive mindset and the right amount of ambition, and you’re good to go.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Ethel Cofie, founder of Edel Technology Consulting (Ghana)
"I have three passions: technology, women’s empowerment, and entrepreneurship. I exercise my love for these areas in various ways: I am a tech entrepreneur — I run an IT consultancy. I am the founder of the Women in Tech group in Ghana, and I am at the moment working on accelerator in Africa to help accelerate startups which want to launch in multiple African countries."
- Ethel Cofie is a Ghanaian-born entrepreneur and founder of Edel Technology Consulting. This techpreneur is passionate about technology, female leadership and empowering women entrepreneurs. Ethel is a Mandela Fellow for President Obama’s Young African Leaders initiative(YALI), and has beenfeatured in BBC and CNN for work in technology and women leadership. She is the founder of Women in Tech Ghana, initiator of the 1st Pan African woman in tech meetup and was shortlisted for the UN GEM Tech Award for her work supporting women in ICT.
Read moreDr Christel Coetzee - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur leading the market in world-class animal nutrition
Dr. Christel Coetzee, founder and technical director, ADVIT Animal Nutrition, South Africa
When it comes to understanding animal nutrition needs, South African entrepreneur, Dr Christel Coetzee, and her specialist team at ADVIT Animal Nutrition, are an encyclopaedia of knowledge. Each day, the company’s leading experts and world-class facilities, produce a wide range of specialist animal feeds for all sorts of animals, from domestic pets and horses, through to food-producing farm animals such as pigs, poultry, cattle and sheep.
Read moreCelebrating Our Community: Missibaba take home the 'Maker to Market' Award at the annual Southern Guild Design Foundation Awards
Chloe Townsend and Lizel Strydom, founders of Missibaba
Congratulations to Missibaba who took home the 'Maker to Market' award in recognition of excellence at the annual Southern Guild Design Foundation Awards ceremony that took place recently. Missibaba is a luxury accessory label established by leather devotee Chloe Townsend in 2005. Passionate about South Africa and supporting local industry, Chloe works alongside business partner Lizel Strydom from a light flooded studio in Woodstock, Cape Town.
Read moreVideo: 'Women in Tech' Month - LoA interviews inspirational techpreneur Nkemdilim Begho founder of Futuresoft in Nigeria
As part of LoA 'Women in Tech' month, we spoke to the inspirational techpreneur Nkemdilim Begho, founder of Futuresoft in Nigeria, and a passionate supporter of women's entrepreneurship and empowerment through technology in Africa.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Clare Akamanzi, Chief Operating Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
"Most of the big companies are owned by men; let's support each other as women so that we can also achieve such business success. This will not come easily, but it's a journey we need to embark on now"
- Clare Akamanzi is Chief Operating Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). The RDB is a government institution whose vision is to transform Rwanda into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, and innovation. Prior to RDB, Clare was Deputy Director-General of the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), a position she held from 2006-2008. She was also Rwanda’s commercial diplomat in London and a trade negotiator in Geneva for the Government of Rwanda at the World Trade Organization. Clare is an international trade and investment lawyer.
Read moreInternational Women's Day: Interview with Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu who has created one of the world’s fastest growing footwear brands by betting on decent work
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder of soleRebels & Republic of Leather, Ethiopia
As part of International Women's Day celebrations ILO News spoke to Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, a young Ethiopian entrepreneur who has created one of the world’s fastest growing footwear brands by betting on decent work.
Read more#MakeItHappen on March 8: Celebrating International Women's Day
March 8 marks the celebration of International Women’s Day, a global observance day which started out in the early 1900s. This year, the theme of the day is "Make It Happen", a call to the world to help support the empowerment of women and to positively change women's lives.
Read moreVideo: Tabitha Karanja discusses Keroche Breweries latest US$55 Million production expansion project
Source: SABC News | Published on March 4, 2015
Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO Of Kenya's Keroche Breweries talks about her latest move and major investment to increase her company's production capacity. Keroche Breweries plans to raise its share of the beer market by 20 percent over the coming twelve months. It started in 1997 as a wine maker, then diversified into beer and spirits in 2008.
Read moreWatch out world - the women fashion entrepreneurs of Bold Kampala are coming to a city near you with their fabulous store concept!
Our favourite fashionistas at Bold Kampala are living up to their name, as they are about to embark on their first-ever, hugely exciting world tour, taking their concept store to cities from London to Nairobi, Kigali to Luanda.
Read moreVanhu Vamwe - The startup story of a unique accessory designer whose African heritage is woven into the very fabric of her handbags
Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, founder Vanhu Vamwe
Fashion journalist turned highly successful global accessory designer, Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, understands the power of story-telling in African culture. She is drawing on that inspiration to create highly sculptural, extraordinarily beautiful handbags that are deeply rooted in her African heritage, yet have a fresh, contemporary look. These are unique accessories to treasure.
Read moreLionesses of Africa celebrates Africa’s Women in Tech during the month of March
Every month at Lionesses of Africa, we shine a spotlight on a particular industry sector where Africa’s women entrepreneurs are making a real impact, through their businesses, their innovation, their products and services, and their passion for what they do. This month (March), we are turning our attention to the truly inspirational African Women in Tech, those truly innovative pioneers who are building unique, high impact businesses and shaking up the tech world at the same time through their efforts.
Read moreKenya's Keroche Breweries eyes market share surge to 20 percent
Kenya's Keroche Breweries is investing 5 billion shillings ($55 million) to increase its capacity tenfold and help it grow its share of the alcohol market six-fold to 20 percent in about a year, its chief executive said. Founder, Tabitha Karanja told the Reuters Africa Investment Summit the money was being used to build a new 1 million hectolitres-a-year brew house and bottling line to be launched this month that would help the company raise its market share from 3 percent.
Read moreInstaHealth - The startup story of a health-tech company providing vital access to health information at the swipe of a smartphone screen
Brenda Katwesigye, co-founder InstaHealth, Uganda
Brenda Katwesigye is a tech entrepreneur with a passion for making a difference in Uganda’s health sector by harnessing her considerable telecommunications skills. Her company, InstaHealth, has developed a new mobile app which instantly connects users to health centres, medical specialists and ambulance services, using simple technology that ordinary people in Uganda can use. Together with her co-Founder, Elizabeth Kasujja, these are two African woman entrepreneurs finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges by using the power of technology.
Read more15 African Designing Women tempting the world’s buyers with their globally appealing creations
As February comes to an end, we reflect on what has been a really wonderful and particularly colourful month, as we have been celebrating some of Africa's finest and most creative women designers. From fashion designers and jewellery makers, to glorious shoemakers and architectural designers to name but a few, we have shared their inspirational stories and showcased their work. There is such a wealth of design talent here in Africa and it has been a pleasure showcasing just a few of them.
Read moreANZA - The startup story of a Tanzanian magazine publisher passionately showcasing East African architecture
Comfort Badaru, Comfort Mosha, Anitah Hakika, founders of ANZA Magazine, Tanzania
A passion for architecture and a love of East African cityscapes led three young women, all highly creative and ambitious architectural students, to come together with a fourth male colleague to create an online platform and magazine dedicated to showcasing East African architecture and cityscapes. ANZA Magazine is a beautiful and highly aesthetic publication and online platform and forms the backbone of their entrepreneurial venture together.
Read moreThe Global Women's Summit is coming to South Africa on 8 August 2015!
The South African edition of the The Global Women's Summit will be a one-day event where women learn from experts, network with each other, discuss women’s issues and enjoy entertainment.
Read moreDUBARUBA - The startup story of two women taking the best of African design to Europe
Adiam Emnay & Anne-Sophie Wass, founders of DUBARUBA
The concept behind Dubaruba is a wonderful one, showcasing the work of some of Africa’s most talented designers and brands to a discerning European marketplace and who are often not widely known outside their own countries. Founded by two passionate and dedicated women entrepreneurs, Aidam Emnay, originally from Eritrea, and her business partner, Anne-Sophie Wass, Dubaruba celebrates the finest in contemporary African design and products.
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