The deadline is nearing for applications for the third edition of The Ampion Venture Bus Africa initiative which will take over 200 Ampioneers on 5 buses in 2015. LoA had the opportunity to chat to Ampion Founder and MD, Fabian-Carlos Guhl and he gave a greater insight into how women entrepreneurs in Africa could benefit from this amazing initiative. Listen to the interview here, and apply now!
Read moreConstant innovation drives Keroche CEO, Tabitha Karanja
Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries (Kenya)
Tabitha Karanja does not boast about being a woman in an industry dominated by men; rather, she asserts that an entrepreneur is defined by his or her innovation. “When I began Keroche Breweries in 1997, I did not believe in copying other brands that were in existence. Instead, I carried out research to understand the gap in the market,” she says. Her findings, a little savings and acres of land jointly owned with her husband formed the foundation for a thriving alcoholic beverages business worth billions today.
Read moreTsungie Ncube - a talented, aspirant young Zimbabwean techpreneur designs a new app to help vendors connect better with customers
Tsungie Ncube pitches her new app at the Muzinda startup hub in Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s first entrepreneurship and innovation Hub, Muzinda, provided the opportunity and the platform for aspirant techpreneurs and app developers in the country to come together on 17-18 July for a StartUp Weekend aimed at developing and pitching new app ideas for potential future funding and commercialisation. The aim, to identify viable new tech ideas that investors might look to provide funding to in order to achieve commercialisation in the future. One young aspirant woman techpreneur, Tsungie Ncube, was one of the winners at the event.
Read moreSuzie Wokabi - The startup story of an entrepreneur with a vision to create Kenya’s first homegrown make-up brand
Suzie Wokabi, founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. (Kenya)
The growing market and need in Africa for an authentic, affordable and high quality make-up brand created specifically for African women, inspired Kenyan entrepreneur, Suzie Wokabi, to launch a new trailblazing cosmetics brand, Suzie Beauty Ltd. The result is a world-class product range that understands the needs of today’s African women who want bespoke make-up products that work perfectly on African women’s skin-tones and creates a stunningly beautiful look.
Read moreSibabalwe Sesmani and Zuziwe Mkhwanazi - The startup story of a South African PR company that takes a pioneering approach to industry positioning
Zuziwe Mkhwanazi and Sibabalwe Sesmani, co-founders of Unorthodox PR & Media Group (South Africa)
The all-woman entrepreneurial team behind South African niche PR company, Unorthodox, live up to their name as they take a unique approach to the corporate public relations, communications and partnerships they undertake. The dynamic duo of Sibabalwe Sesmani and Zuziwe Mkhwanazi work exclusively with corporates and differentiate themselves in the marketplace by dealing with "firsts" in their industry. They strive to create their own genre of public relations, one that specializes in corporates and thought leaders of industries.
Read moreSocial entrepreneurship venture, Help A Child Grow Foundation, is building school libraries for disadvantaged children, one book at a time
Melanie Hawken, Lerato Kadiaka and Matilda Sekoakoa at the launch of the Help A Child Grow Foundation Book Drive in Johannesburg on July 11th, 2015
The challenge of inspiring young, underprivileged and orphaned children in South Africa to learn to read and develop a love of books and learning, is one that social edupreneurs Matilda Sekoakoa and Lerato Kadiaka, have embraced. Their inspirational Help A Child Grow Foundation is positively and tangibly changing the lives of these children each day by collecting books and building libraries for schools in need.
Read moreEssential Read: 'Contemporary Design Africa' by Tapiwa Matsinde - Africa’s flourishing contemporary design scene revealed for the first time
Tapiwa Matsinde, author of 'Contemporary Design Africa'
In her beautifully presented and insightfully written new book, Contemporary Design Africa, British/Zimbabwean designer, writer and blogger, Tapiwa Matsinde, showcases the work of some of the most creative, inspirational contemporary designers, artisans and cooperatives from across the African continent. Many of the talented women who are leading the way in developing Africa’s contemporary design industries take centre stage.
Read morePriscilla Makundi & Daniela Barajas - The startup story of a Tanzanian social enterprise on a mission to prevent poverty and empower women’s innovation in emerging markets
Daniela Barajas and Priscilla Makundi, co-founders of Sote Tunaweza (Tanzania)
The challenge of addressing poverty and empowering women in emerging markets through entrepreneurship empowerment, is one that the Sote Tunaweza Initiative has risen to. Co-founders Daniela Barajas and Priscilla Makundi, together with their inspirational team, are on a mission to foster a global network of strong female leaders who will have the skills, confidence, and creativity to address some of the most pressing issues in their communities.
Read moreNozuko Teto - The startup story of a uniquely talented South African Opera singer, who made her incredible voice the foundation of her entrepreneurial journey
Nozuko Teto, opera singer and founder of Adesso Enterprises (South Africa)
In the eyes of the world, Africa and music have long been synonymous, and indeed, hugely respected and revered. Today, one South African woman is proving that the most wonderful musical talent, underpinned by an entrepreneurial spirit, is a powerful combination in this tradition. Gifted Opera singer, Nozuko Teto, is showing the world’s connoisseurs that she is a musical and entrepreneurial force to be reckoned with, and a true inspiration to the generation of young women who are following in her footsteps.
Read more4 Brilliant young Nigerian high school girls scoop 2015 Technovation Challenge Award held in San Francisco for their amazing mobile app to tackle waste disposal
Team Charis from Nigeria: Praise David-Oku, Sonam Kumar, Nmesoma Ogbonna, and Grace Akpoiroro
Four brilliant young high-school girls: Praise David-Oku, Sonam Kumar, Nmesoma Ogbonna, and Grace Akpoiroro, representing Team Charis from Nigeria, have been selected as winners of the 2015 Technovation Challenge held in San Francisco. These talented girls developed a mobile app to tackle the waste disposal challenge in Nigeria. Their app, called, ‘Discardious’, was pitched against 400 other apps that were submitted to this year's Technovation Challenge from 28 countries. The girls managed to triumph over the competition and their innovation won them the High School section.
Read moreTetsi & Lynn Bugaari and Nuba Elamin - The startup story of Buqisi-Ruux, a stylish African shoe brand creating wearable art with soul for the feet
Tetsi & Lynn Bugaari and Nuba Elamin, founders of Buqisi-Ruux (Kenya)
Beautiful shoes and women have long been synonymous with one another. In the case of the three talented women entrepreneurs behind the wonderfully creative Kenyan shoe design brand, Buqisi-Ruux, their design inspiration comes directly from the personal stories of the women around them. Nuba Elamin, Lynn Bugaari and Tetsi Bugaari are taking the art of African storytelling to new heights, creating wearable art for the feet, and individual shoe designs that are named after the African women whose stories inspire them. Genuine inspiration for the soul or make that sole!
Read moreCelebrating South Africa’s leading women designers, food producers and winemakers at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair
Following on from last year’s hugely successful event, which attracted hordes of local foodies and fashionistas, there is already much talk and anticipation around the forthcoming 2015 Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair, which is returning to Johannesburg, South Africa, from 9 to 11 October 2015.
Read moreTREND WATCH: Co-work spaces just for women. Can these dedicated new spaces help Africa's women entrepreneurs break down barriers in the male-dominated startup world on the continent?
One Roof Co-working spaces for women entrepreneurs, Venice Beach, CA, United States
There is a real global buzz about co-working spaces providing a great launchpad for young entrepreneurs who want to hit the ground running, stay lean and fast, and keep operational costs to a minimum. So, will the creation of dynamic new women co-working spaces in Africa help to drive a new and empowering era for women entrepreneurs on the continent? This month, Lionesses of Africa speaks to two young pioneering women entrepreneurs from the US and Australia who are globally rolling out these women co-working spaces, and who are looking at Africa as a possible next destination.
Read moreMellisa Mazingi - The startup story of a Zimbabwean online fashion retailer with a vision to grow the country’s fashion sector
Mellisa Mazinga, founder of zedlabel (Zimbabwe)
The African fashion industry is definitely on the move, and in Zimbabwe one woman fashion retail-preneur is realising her vision to put the country’s fashion designers on the map, and create an innovative online retail fashion outlet to showcase their work. Mellisa Mazingi and her company zedlabel, is an African fashion-preneur with a big vision and big ideas - a name to watch on the continent.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Faraja Nyalandu - Women need to believe in themselves
Faraja Nyalandu, founder Shule Direct (Tanzania)
Women need to believe in themselves....
"We have all heard what we are capable of. Now, we just need to own the accolades. I have met women who have all the details figured out, but they are still too scared to take the next step. They just need to take that leap of faith. Believe in yourself and believe in your ideas. So long as they are solving a problem, you are on the right track."
- Faraja Nyalandu is an inspirational edupreneur and the founder of Shule Direct in Tanzania. Her company creates local and accessible digital educational content for Secondary School students designed around the Tanzanian National Curriculum. She has built an adaptable platform to make this content available on a range of devices from the most basic mobiles to full-featured desktop learning portals.
Read moreLionesses of Africa celebrates the continent’s most inspiring women entrepreneurs in beauty and wellness businesses in July
July is Focus on Africa’s Women Beauty and Wellness Entrepreneurs Month.
This month at Lionesses of Africa we are turning our attention to the women who are changing the face of the beauty and wellness industry in Africa, and creating fabulous new products and brands in the process.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Bilikiss Adebiyi, founder and CEO of WeCyclers
"I definitely think developing countries can build their economies through waste. One of the biggest drivers for the economy is jobs. According to the REI, the US recycling sector employs well over 1.25 million people, I believe that recycling alone can create at least 500,000 jobs in Nigeria."
- Bilikiss Adebiyi is a Nigerian entrepreneur and innovator, and founder and CEO of WeCyclers. This Lagos-based company is focused on giving low-income communities in developing countries a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighborhoods through an incentive-based recycling program. Bilikiss holds an MBA from MIT and a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University. She is a 2013 Echoing Green Fellow and WeCyclers were a Sustainia100 Company Award winner in 2014.
Read moreBILIKISS ADEBIYI '100 Lionesses' Profile - Meet the woman building Nigeria's recycling sector
Clare Kagimu - The startup story of a talented Ugandan interior architect bringing her unique design vision to the UK
Clare Kagimu, founder of Phoenix Design (United Kingdom)
Creative entrepreneurs in the interior design and architecture space are by their very nature, highly dynamic individuals with a wonderful eye for detail and a unique way of looking at the world. Clare Kagimu, founder of Phoenix Design, is dynamism personified. As a creative member of the African Diaspora, she showcases the best of her African design talent from her base in the UK, combined with a global perspective and stacks of energy and passion for what she does.
Read moreJohanette van Niekerk - The startup story of a South African jewellery and accessories designer whose creative passion turned into a business and a new, positive life direction
Johanette van Niekerk, founder of Sew Good Handmade (South Africa)
South Africa has a long tradition of beautiful jewellery and accessories craftmanship and beading, and one creative entrepreneur is taking it to a whole new level with her company, Sew Good Handmade. Johanette van Niekerk is a woman with a wonderful creative soul who sees beautiful design possibilities in everything around her and particularly in the materials she uses. Her handcrafted products are literally kaleidoscopes of colour, designed to lift the spirits of anyone wearing or displaying them.
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