The dynamic trio behind DEF.I.NI.TION Africa are once again hitting the road this month as their Kenya tour continues, following a highly successful outing at the Soko Soke event in Rosslyn. The latest leg of their tour is now heading to The Bizarre Bazaar venue in Nairobi. The team have not only created some special new fashion designs to showcase to discerning buyers, but also newly created merchandise including a trendy range of stationery and other exciting new lifestyle items.
Read moreGlobal Women’s Summit heads to Johannesburg, South Africa as part of National Women's Month celebrations
As part of National Women’s Day celebrations, the Women’s Information Network is presenting 1,000 Global Women’s Summits as part of a massive global women’s initiative. The prestigious Global Women’s Summit in Johannesburg on 8 August aims to educate and engage women in meaningful discussions about women’s issues, business needs, entrepreneurial aspirations, and most importantly action oriented programmes. Learn how you can attend.
Read moreBianca Sibiya - The startup story of Punk and Ivy, a fashion brand that celebrates it’s unique African-ness ‘on the road’
Bianca & Khaya Sibiya, co-founders of Punk & Ivy (South Africa)
The fashion industry loves a brand that is unique, authentic and has a refreshingly different approach to the way it promotes itself to its customers. The dynamic husband and wife team, Bianca and Khaya Sibiya, deliver all of this and so much more with their uber-trendy Punk and Ivy clothing brand.
Read moreAnna Raimondo - The startup story of a contemporary South African jewellery designer inspired by bold and quirky references of the past
Anna Raimondo, founder of SMITH Jewellery (South Africa)
In any jewellery design space, it is sometimes hard to make things that are instantly recognisable as the work of one creative person. Yet Anna Raimondo has created a brand personality and a design style that are uniquely hers, and as a result, the SMITH Jewellery brand is truly memorable.
Read more100 Lionesses - Monica Musonda: 'Difficult to compete as a local food processor, says Zambian entrepreneur'
Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)
Source: How We Made It in Africa | by Kate Douglas | 12 June 2015
In 2012 Monica Musonda left her 15-year career as a successful commercial lawyer to return to her home country Zambia and set up a food processing company, Java Foods. The company supplies the market with the eeZee instant noodles brand.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Rebecca Enonchong, founder and CEO of AppsTech
“In Cameroon, in the last year, we’ve had a start-up raise 1.3 million dollars through venture funding, we’ve had another raise 240 thousand dollars through crowdfunding, and just three start-ups have generated 150 jobs. Those are real jobs and that’s real impact….we always talk about the Africa of tomorrow, but these tech entrepreneurs are working with the Africa of today, and we’re building jobs and creating jobs today.”
- Rebecca Enonchong is a Cameroonian born technology entrepreneur. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of AppsTech, a leading global provider of enterprise application solutions serving clients in more than 50 countries. Rebecca currently serves as a mentor/advisor to several Africa based technology startups and sits on the board of VC4Africa, the largest online community dedicated to entrepreneurs and investors building companies in Africa. She is also a director of the award winning Salesforce.com Foundation.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Amorie Daubern: When you feel like giving up - Don't!
Amorie Daubern, founder of Volhart
Coping with the many challenges that you will confront as an entrepreneur....
"When you are on your entrepreneurial journey, and you are facing challenges and feel like giving up, don’t - just keep going and remember you are only half-way through your journey. Get through your challenges and then you will see the results and get that satisfaction that no money in the world can buy."
- Amorie Daubern is an interior architect and the founder of Volhart, a company that creates beautiful and unique, handmade and environmentally friendly homeware and stationery items. Armorie's products are inspired by the breath-taking beauty and indigenous character of the country she so loves - South Africa.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Arancha González, Executive Director, International Trade Centre
“Women entrepreneurs invest 90% of their revenues into the community".... "women entrepreneurs are not only an amazing engine for growth, but they are an amazing engine for equitably distributing growth.”
- Arancha González is the recently appointed Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, the joint agency of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Trade Organization. Arancha is an expert in international trade and development and is passionate about using trade and aid4trade as an engine for development, growth and jobs; working to unlock the potential of SMEs. She is a leading advocate of women's economic empowerment.
Read moreAmanta Hooman - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur bringing the luxurious truffle to everyone’s table
Amanta Hooman, founder of Flavour Union (South Africa)
Just mention the word truffle and you are instantly transported to a world of luxury fine dining and one of the most exquisite tastes on earth. Now, one young South African woman entrepreneur is making it accessible to everyone through her wonderful new range of truffle-based gourmet products under her new label Flavour Union.
Read moreHow to work with a Virtual Assistant to Manage your Social Media
Love it or Hate it, social media is here to stay. As a smart entrepreneur you know the power that social media platforms carry. Combine all the social media platforms available, and you have an instant powerhouse of brand recognition, digital marketing and a 24/7 sales rep on your side. The downside? Great social media takes time and we all know time is a precious resource!
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Amy Sinovich: There is no set formula to follow
Amy Sinovich, founder of Resonate by amy
Trust the process and be prepared to keep learning....
"There is no set formula to starting a business and no two businesses will ever be the same, so my advice is trust your instincts and make decisions based on what feels right for you and your business, not based on what other people are doing."
- Amy Sinovich is an incredibly talented South African jewellery designer and the founder of Resonate by amy, a company that designs and manufactures bespoke jewellery. Amy is a graduate of the University of Johannesburg and the Ruth Prowse School of Art and in 2012 she was selected to exhibit as part of the Emerging Creatives programme at the 2013 Design Indaba.
Read moreUnlocking the potential of female entrepreneurship
Susan Mashibe, founder of VIA Aviation (Tanzania)
Source: The Guardian | by Anthony Demetriou and Nathan Gamester | 10 June 2015
Entrepreneurship can be an empowering experience that has impacts beyond economic development. Barriers need to be removed so more African women have tools to become entrepreneurs. Success stories like that of Susan Mashibe are still the exception rather than the rule, but it offers a model of what can happen when women have access to the tools for successful entrepreneurship.
Read moreRAPELANG RABANA '100 Lionesses' Profile: Meet a game-changing South African education technology entrepreneur
Rapelang Rabana is a South African technology entrepreneur who is making waves both on the African continent and around the world. Rapelang is the innovative founder of Rekindle Learning, a company looking to improve education in Africa by turning people’s compulsion to check their phones into an opportunity to learn.
Read moreThe '100 LIONESSES' Project a window into the world of Africa's most inspiring women entrepreneurs
100 Lionesses is an ongoing project of Lionesses of Africa to identify and celebrate 100 extraordinary African women entrepreneurs whose example serves to motivate and inspire a belief in all of us that we can pursue our personal entrepreneurial dreams and make them a reality.
Read moreAngela Franklin - The startup story of the bookseller of Senegal with a passion to promote the writers of the Diaspora
Angela Franklin, founder of Chez Alpha Books (Senegal)
Many bookstores claim to be so much more, but in the case of Angela Franklin’s business, Chez Alpha Books, this is certainly the case. She has taken the concept of a bookselling business and elevated it into a truly multi-faceted learning and resource centre for those with a love of the English language and a need to access learning materials and language training resources in English.
Read more12 Emerging Women jewellery designers taking Africa by storm
Meet 12 emerging women jewellery designers who are putting the continent on the global map with their uniquely African-inspired designs and technical brilliance.
Read moreEssential Read: 'Do, Disrupt, Change the Status Quo - Or Become It' by Mark Shayler
Mark Shayler, author of 'Do, Disrupt, Change the Status Quo - or Become It'
In his thought provoking book, 'Do, Disrupt, Change the Status Quo - or Become It', Mark Shayler introduces us to the notion of disruption and how we perhaps need to consider doing things differently if we want to succeed as entrepreneurs.
Read moreDEF.I.NI.TION Africa set to unveil their latest fashion designs during their Kenya tour
Nahida and Nadia Bhegani & Olga Mugyenyi, founders of DEF.I.NI.TION Africa, Uganda
The creative business team at DEF.I.NI.TION Africa are gearing up for an exciting month ahead as they take their brand and latest designs on the road to two major events coming up in Kenya this June. The team have created some special new designs to showcase, just for those Kenyan fashionistas who have an eye for something different.
Read moreJuliana Rotich: "It’s a really fantastic time to be in Africa, to build in Africa"
Source: Mail & Guardian | by Lee Mwiti | 3 June 2015
World Economic Forum Africa, Cape Town, 3 June 2015: Young people are key to increasing intra-African trade, which currently stands at a paltry 3%, some of the continent’s top entrepreneurs said Wednesday as the World Economic Forum on Africa got underway.
Read moreChristine Buchanan and Louiza Rademan - The startup story of two Cape Town entrepreneurs turning the world of skin and body care 100% natural and organic
Louiza Rademan & Christine Buchanan, founders of Oh-Lief (South Africa)
Two entrepreneurial sisters from South Africa with a love of all things natural and organic are capturing the imagination of customers looking for an alternative to the mass produced, chemically formulated skin and body care products on the market. The Oh-Lief Natural Products company is developing 100% natural and organic products that are truly world class.
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