South Africa's women entrepreneurs are invited to apply for a new accelerator grant, launched by the National Gazelle programme, an initiative of the Department of Small Business and SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency), and which provides both financial and business support.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Dr Christel Coetzee: Do not play the 'female' card if you want to be taken seriously
Do not play the 'female' card....
"I started a business in a totally male dominated industry, and it was very hard in the beginning. But I persisted, and stayed focused. Integrity is very important, so do not play the "female" card if you do not want to be treated in a sexist way. I am just a person doing a job, I am not male or female, I am the best person to do the job. Now I am the face of my company, and we have loyal customers that support us. I am blessed."
- Dr Christel Coetzee is a South African entrepreneur and the founder and technical director of ADVIT Animal Nutrition. Her company is a market leader in 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. Christel holds a Doctorate in Animal Science from the University of Pretoria.
Read moreMasego Mohajane - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur passionate about medical engineering and making her mark in the industry
Masego Mohajane, founder of M-Squared Medical (South Africa)
Following one’s passion is the hallmark of many successful entrepreneurs in Africa, and Masego Mohajane is building her company, M-Squared Medical, on that same foundation. She is passionate about her business and committed to building a brand and company that can really make a difference in the industry and community.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Laura Nyahuye - Let’s do this!
Laura Nyahuye, founder of UK brand, AdornU
Every woman can do this....
"To every woman out there thinking of starting up in business, l says yes you can! It’s inside of you! Desire is the starting point of all achievements. Don’t be scared to take more risks when you have a passion. Let’s do this!"
- Laura Nyahuye is the Zimbabwean founder of UK brand, AdornU, a design company that is challenging convention and creating sculptural adornments for the body that speak volumes for the individuality and confidence of the wearer. After studying Applied Arts at Coventry University in the UK, Laura followed her passion and started her business producing pieces that are all handcrafted and totally unique, celebratory pieces.
Read moreFINANCIAL SMARTS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: Incoterms and why they matter to Lionesses
In the latest in a series of informative guest blogs that look at issues around financial management issues for women entrepreneurs, this week we get a better understanding of Incoterms why they matter to Lionesses, particularly for those businesses that import and export.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Ommo Clark: Do it if you're good at it
Ommo Clark, founder of iBez, Nigeria
Do something you're passionate about....
"Don't do something just because other people are doing it and making money from it - do it because you are passionate about it and are good at it."
- Ommo Clark is a Nigerian techpreneur and founder of iBez, a software company that creates proprietary software products that help to solve local challenges. Ommo is a qualified IT Consultant with many years of experience working for a string of well-known investment banks and software companies both in the UK and Nigeria. Ommo is passionate about software services and using ICT to contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Read moreThato Kgatlhanye founder of Rethaka in South Africa speaks about entrepreneurship - 2015 Cartier Awards finalist
Thato Kgatlhanye is one of three Sub-Saharan Finalists of the 2015 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards will be joining 17 other inspirational women entrepreneurs selected from over 1700 applications from more than 100 countries in Paris this month to hear the announcement of this year’s Laureates. The Laureates will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2015 in France. In this video she speaks about her experience as an entrepreneur.
Read moreChinwe Ohajuruka founder of Comprehensive Design Services in Nigeria speaks about entrepreneurship - 2015 Cartier Awards finalist
Chinwe Ohajuruka is one of three Sub-Saharan Finalists of the 2015 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards will be joining 17 other inspirational women entrepreneurs selected from over 1700 applications from more than 100 countries in Paris this month to hear the announcement of this year’s Laureates. The Laureates will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2015 in France. In this video she speaks about her experience as an entrepreneur.
Read moreSuzana Moreira founder of MoWoza speaks about entrepreneurship - 2015 Cartier Awards finalist
Suzana Moreira is one of three Sub-Saharan Finalists of the 2015 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards will be joining 17 other inspirational women entrepreneurs selected from over 1700 applications from more than 100 countries in Paris this month to hear the announcement of this year’s Laureates. The Laureates will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2015 in France. In this video she speaks about her experience as an entrepreneur.
Read moreCalling all aspirant young women techpreneurs in South Africa - The 2015 Technovation Challenge is on!
The Technovation Challenge is a non-profit, global technology entrepreneurship programme for young women aged 10 to 23. Through an intensive 3-month curriculum, teams of woman work together to imagine, design and develop mobile apps and then pitch their “start-up” business to investors. The theme for the challenge is usually to develop an app that helps solve a real problem in our community.
Read moreCartier Women’s Initiative Awards Sub-Saharan Finalists head to Paris
L-R: Thato Kgatlhanye, Chinwe Ohajuruka and Suzana Moreira
The three Sub-Saharan Finalists of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards will be joining 17 other inspirational women entrepreneurs selected from over 1700 applications from more than 100 countries in Paris this month to hear the announcement of this year’s Laureates. The Laureates will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2015, at the Annual Global Meeting of the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society, in Deauville, France.
Read moreConnect to a Deeper Purpose
Keep your eye on the cathedral.... A man stops at a huge construction site and asks one of the workers, 'What are you doing?'. The worker replies 'I'm laying bricks'. Still puzzled, the man asks another worker 'What are you doing?'. This man replies 'I am helping to build a cathedral that will glorify God for centuries'.
Read moreOlatorera Oniru - The startup story of a Nigerian entrepreneur on a mission to grow her company to become one of the leading fashion retailers in Africa
Olatorera Oniru, founder of dressmeoutlet.com (Nigeria)
In Nigeria’s rapidly growing fashion retail marketplace, Olatorera Oniru and her soon to be launched new online retail platform are on a mission to contribute to the growth of local manufacturing in the areas of fashion and health & beauty in the country.
Read moreSpark South Africa welcomes the first SHE by Spark Changemakers
Study after study has shown that when a woman is empowered, the whole of society benefits, and this is at the core of why Spark* has launched its SHE by Spark Changemakers. Spark* finds and supports these Changemakers, who are local women entrepreneurs that have launched a venture that is changing lives, and helps them turn their startup into a sustainable and scalable venture that improves the lives of women and girls in the country as a result. Spark believes that women are the best levers for change, and following its first female focused Accelerator in South Africa, held in Johannesburg during Women’s Month in August this year, is pleased to announce the first SHE by Spark Changemakers in the country.
Read moreEVENT WATCH: Lynette Hundermark of Useful and Beautiful set to share her path to entrepreneurial success
Lynette Hundermark, Managing Director and co-Founder of Useful and Beautiful (South Africa)
This week sees one of South Africa’s leading mobile solutions entrepreneurs, Lynette Hundermark, Managing Director and co-Founder of Useful and Beautiful, taking to the speaker platform. She will be addressing delegates at the Achieve Success Summit 2015 on 7th October at the Royal Swazi Convention Centre in Swaziland. The event positions itself as the Region's #1 Success Seminar and aims to help attendees to develop a wealth creation attitude by learning the psychology of success, unlocking a real "Can do" Attitude, and creating the right strategies to achieve success.
Read moreNew e-book celebrates Lionesses of Africa through the power of images
They say that a picture says a thousand words, and we couldn't agree more. In the world of Lionesses of Africa, we celebrate women's entrepreneurship in all its forms on the continent, and we love the powerful images that conjure up the spirit of women-owned businesses and the products and services they create. These images give us an insight into the unique creativity that exists here in Africa and that is capturing the imagination of the world.
Read moreLinda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera - The startup story of a dynamic Rwandan design team with a passion for their country’s unique aesthetic and talented artisans
Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera, founders of haute | baso (Rwanda)
There is something about young women entrepreneurs in Africa who not only are on a mission to promote the art and design culture they love, but who also see it as a vehicle for positive change. Linda Mukangoga and Candy Basomingera, the founders of haute | baso in Rwanda, are creating contemporary design products that celebrate the craftsmanship of local and regional artisans from their country. The result is dynamic, vibrant and uniquely beautiful.
Read morePublic Interest Registry appoints Dorcas Muthoni to Enset's Board of Directors
Dorcas Muthoni, founder and ceo of OpenWorld (Kenya)
RESTON, Va. – September 30, 2015 – Public Interest Registry — the not-for-profit manager of .org, .ngo and .ong — today announced the appointment of Dorcas Muthoni to the board of directors of nonprofit domain registrar Enset, a subsidiary organization. Muthoni, a member of the Internet Hall of Fame and CEO and founder of OPENWORLD LTD, will begin a two-year term as director this month.
Read moreQuote of the Day
"Competition is normal and makes for good quality products at good prices to consumers. We have to ensure that we get our positioning right – be an afropolitan brand with a striking label and irresistible story."
- Malmsey Rangaka is co-founder and CEO of M’hudi Wines, a family wine farm located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The M’hudi wine brands are sold not only in South Africa but also the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Nigeria. M’hudi was founded in 1999 by Malmsey and her husband, and is said to be the first black-owned wine tourism farm in South Africa.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Uche Pedro: Look inwards and find your passion
You need to find your passion as a woman entrepreneur....
“There is no fixed career path. My advice is to look inwards, find your passion, find your niche and go for it! Don’t over-think it. While you are ‘thinking’ someone might launch your idea.”
- Uche Pedro is founder of BellaNaija.com, a company that develops and delivers exciting online content aimed at Nigerian and Pan-African audiences. Uche’s savvy grasp of media trends has led to BellaNaija.com becoming the go-to lifestyle, entertainment and fashion portal in Africa. Her website has established a loyal following amongst the young, cosmopolitan, upwardly mobile set in Nigeria, with over 1 million unique visitors and 9 million page views each month.
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