Chantal Du Chenne - The startup story of an entrepreneur looking to revolutionise access to primary healthcare and chronic disease management for the medically uninsured across Africa

October 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Chantal Du Chenne, founder of mHealthCo, South Africa — **Chantal Du Chenne**, founder of mHealthCo, South Africa

It takes a highly innovative approach combined with a passion for making a difference, to find the necessary and urgent solutions to providing high quality, private primary healthcare to millions of employed medically uninsured South African. Entrepreneur Chantal Du Chenne has the solution and her new company, mHealthCo, is about to make huge waves in this space.

South Africa's National Gazelles programme launches Small Business Acceleration Programme

October 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Dr Christel Coetzee: Do not play the 'female' card if you want to be taken seriously

October 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Masego Mohajane - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur passionate about medical engineering and making her mark in the industry

October 9, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Masego Mohajane, founder of M-Squared Medical (South Africa) — **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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Laura Nyahuye - Let’s do this!

October 9, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

FINANCIAL SMARTS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: Incoterms and why they matter to Lionesses

October 8, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Ommo Clark: Do it if you're good at it

October 8, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ommo Clark, founder of iBez, Nigeria — **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.

Chinwe Ohajuruka founder of Comprehensive Design Services in Nigeria speaks about entrepreneurship - 2015 Cartier Awards finalist

October 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Calling all aspirant young women techpreneurs in South Africa - The 2015 Technovation Challenge is on!

October 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Connect to a Deeper Purpose

October 6, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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'.

Olatorera 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

October 5, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Olatorera Oniru, founder of dressmeoutlet.com (Nigeria) — **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.

EVENT WATCH: Lynette Hundermark of Useful and Beautiful set to share her path to entrepreneurial success

October 5, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lynette Hundermark, Managing Director and co-Founder of Useful and Beautiful (South Africa) — **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.

New e-book celebrates Lionesses of Africa through the power of images

October 4, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera - The startup story of a dynamic Rwandan design team with a passion for their country’s unique aesthetic and talented artisans

October 4, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera, founders of haute | baso (Rwanda) — **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.

Public Interest Registry appoints Dorcas Muthoni to Enset's Board of Directors

October 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Dorcas Muthoni, founder and ceo of OpenWorld (Kenya) — **Dorcas Muthon**i, 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.

Quote of the Day

October 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

"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.