Startup Story

Éssita Viagem is the founder and General Director of Ellen ESV SCC Lda (Mozambique), is an experienced entrepreneur and is part of the Top 25 multilevel marketing leaders in the South African company Inuka fragrances (South Africa). The company Ellen ESV is dedicated to accounting, taxation, financial consultancy, and financial education training services in the Mozambican market. It was created in 2017, having been restructured and becoming Ellen ESV SCC, Lda in 2021 and currently employs 11 people, of which 6 are women. She has more than 13 years of experience in the financial area and 9 years as an intern assistant at Eduardo Mondlane University.

Éssita Viagem é a fundadora e Directora Geral da Ellen ESV SCC Lda (Moçambique), é uma empreendedora experiente e faz parte das Top 25 líderes de marketing multinível na empresa sul-africana Inuka fragrances (África do Sul).
A empresa Ellen ESV dedica-se aos serviços de contabilidade, fiscalidade, consultoria financeira e treinamento em educação financeira no mercado moçambicano. Foi criada em 2017, tendo se reestruturado e passado a Ellen ESV SCC, Lda em 2021 e emprega actualmente 11 pessoas, das quais 6 mulheres.
Tem experiência de mais de 13 anos na área financeira e de 9 anos como assistente estagiária na universidade Eduardo Mondlane.

Startup Story

Kutloano Skosana is a creative entrepreneur from South Africa, now based in the US. She is the Creator and Host of Shades and Layers, a podcast dedicated to the stories of Black and Other Women of Color entrepreneurs across the globe. Kutloano’s media career began in radio journalism after she graduated from Rhodes University shortly after the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. She worked at 702, Kaya FM, Metro FM and SAFM between 1996 and 2008. Alongside her radio career, she was sharpening her entrepreneurial skills with her business partners, Maria McCloy and Dzino at their groundbreaking multimedia company, Black Rage Productions.

Startup Story

Vanda Harries is the entrepreneur behind The Life Architect, a business coaching and consultancy specialising in marketing and communications and personal brand building in South Africa. She is passionate about helping other women entrepreneurs and non-profits to develop their personal and business brands to achieve their goals.

Startup Story

Mirene Guitiche is the founder and CEO of Miregui Art, a company that has existed since 2020 and is dedicated to creative sewing and crafts in Mozambique. She is an entrepreneur equipped with skills and is very talented, in addition to being a Management student (UEM) in the country.

A Mirene Guitiche tem 23 anos é estudante de Gestão (UEM), é fundadora e CEO da Miregui art, uma empresa existente desde 2020 que se dedica a costura criativa e artesanato. Empreendedora munida de competências e muito talentosa.

Startup Story

Amirah Adam is the founder of the company Mira La Mira, a textile print design brand launched in 2018 in Mozambique. She is the winner of several financing awards and the Mozal & Kulungwana award. Since the age of 16, she has worked in the digital arts field, and has extensive experience in communication design, photography, and advertising. She has also worked in alternative areas such as business management. She completed her degree in Mozambique and her master's degree in Portugal, where the Mira La Mira brand was born. The business has created jobs for 4 people.

Startup Story

Claire Amondi is the founder and CEO of AGNES | Pure & Regal, a clean and safe skincare line made in Kenya. AGNES seeks to inspire and promote the importance of healthy skin. Born out of the founders' obsession with all things skincare and the desire to encourage the value of self love, the brand is committed to formulating simple and effective products that help enhance and maintain your glow. Launched in 2018, today the business has created jobs for 3 other people.

Startup Story

Alinafe Fridah Mapwesera is the founder of Nanas closet in Malawi, a business launched in 2014 and creating beautiful bridal dresses and other bespoke wear for those memorable wedding occasions. Customers have come to know Alinafe for creating beautiful wedding dresses that celebrate African culture and she sells her designs all over the world. She happily mixes elegance with different cultures in her designs, whilst always taking care of the environmental impact of her work which is important to Alinafe. For example, she gave away 100 dresses to kids made from old materials. Her work is about making things well, keeping traditions alive, and helping the planet.

Startup Story

Birgite Armando John is the founder of Centro de Educação Sustentável, Lda. (CES), a specialist consulting and language business in Mozambique. She is an entrepreneurial woman, accountant, and also multilingual. Birgite began her journey as an entrepreneur teaching English to friends and colleagues while studying abroad. She is the recipient of a 3rd Place prize in the CapacitaMoz Bootcamp Award financed by TotalEnergies.

Birgite Armando John, fundadora do Centro de Educação Sustentável, Lda. (CES) e vencedora do 3o Lugar do Premio CapacitaMoz Bootcamp financiado pela TotalEnergies. Mulher empreendedora, Contabilista e poliglota. Começou o seu percurso como empreendedora ensinando Inglês para amigos e colegas enquanto estudava no estrangeiro.

Startup Story

Lindsey Swart is the founder of Pretty You Workshops in South Africa, a business creating interactive makeup learning experiences for women. She has been in the makeup industry for over 20 years and has headed up some of South Africa’s finest productions. She has a great passion in making women look and feel amazing. At her interactive workshops, she shares all her knowledge in a fun and beautiful environment.

Startup Story

Dércia Marta Massilele is the co-founder and manager of COSEL-Colecta Selectiva, a waste management startup launched in 2019 and based in Maputo, creating jobs for five people. It’s main activity focuses on providing collection and treatment services for recyclable and common waste. Using motorless tricycles and promoting environmental awareness,  Dércia and her team offer an innovative and affordable solution for micro-enterprises and private establishments.

Startup Story

Leslie Jaroschek is the founder and ceo of Authentic Botswana Tours, a travel agency that attracts tourists from all over the world and offers Wildlife safari, Photography Safari, and Tented Safari experiences. Having obtained an MBA in International Tourism Management from Cyprus University, Leslie started her business in 2021, just after the COVID era. The company is 100% owned by Motswana women. Authentic Botswana Tours operates from Botswana and employs only Batswana.

Startup Story

Rofiat Komolafe is the Nigerian founder of the international fashion brand, ROFEEA K, a business that blends African and Western styles in a sizzling showcase. As the proud owner of a sourcing and apparel production business that has been transforming designers’ dreams into reality since 2013, she has built a client list both at home and abroad. Rofiat is living proof that dedication and determination can make dreams come true. Rofiat’s fashion journey began with a simple blog and personal shopping business when she moved to the USA, which quickly opened the door to her passion for fashion design. With her savvy business skills, she was able to explore different sectors of the fashion industry to build her business. Rofiat is also a big believer in giving back to the community and empowering people by creating jobs and now employs 12 people.

Startup Story

Lovable Shiro Dladla is the founder of Luvast emp in South Africa, the umbrella company for her two companies, Luvast Bakery and Luvast Baby Pureer. Luvast emp started in 2020 and has been growing ever since. Luvast bakery deals with baked goods and also teaches baking lessons and caters specifically for children’s events. Luvast baby food for now just deals with baby food puree, an organic baby food puree with no preservatives or sweeteners. The business makes its baby food in its most natural form, and is currently in the process of being approved.

Startup Story

Roxanne Campbell is the founder, designer, and creative director of Victoria Orpen Jewellers, a luxury goods manufacturer and sales business launched in 2015 in South Africa. As an entrepreneur in the jewellery design and manufacturing industry, she is a goldsmith by profession. Roxanne recently completed an enterprise development programme in diamond manufacture and processing. Her work experience extends beyond a jeweller and diamantaires bench, to international trade shows in Paris, Miami, and New York, to liaising with clients in Scotland, London, Denmark, New Jersey, and Chicago for new business development and sales within the luxury goods sector.

Startup Story

Lwazikazi Kwaza is the founder and CEO of The Melanin House in South Africa, an Afro-centric manufacturing powerhouse that currently designs and manufactures specialized luxury fragrances in all categories. The Melanin House was founded in 2020 with the aim to represent the elite African luxury market, where simplicity meets elegance, in an afro-centric, majestic, and fragrant way. The Melanin House manufactures utilizing the highest quality standards guidelines such as the SABS ISO:9001. This ensures high-quality fragrances are manufactured with sustainability in the process through the use of organic products. The Melanin House is committed to producing high-quality fragrances that tell fragrant and majestic African stories, which will remain in the charts of African-conscious business history, through memory.

Startup Story

Nuria Arbelo is the founder of Brincadeira, a vibrant earrings brand with an exclusive design located in Maputo, Mozambique. Born in the Canary Islands, Nuria arrived in Mozambique for work in 2018. In 2021, she founded Brincadeira without knowing that, two years later, the brand would lead her to leave her profession as a project manager to become an entrepreneur dedicated to the design of unique earrings.

Startup Story

Yetty Williams is a parenting coach and the founder and CEO of LagosMums in Nigeria. She is a seasoned entrepreneur, award-winning speaker, and highly sought-after thought leader concerning parenting and family, digital citizenship, and work-life balance. Yetty founded LagosMums in 2014 as a young mother herself and wanted to create a community to support other mothers on the journey. She has extensive professional experience across business development, entrepreneurship, and digital media. She is a certified life coach, trained in Neurolinguistic programming practitioner, cognitive behaviour therapy, online safety and child safeguarding and a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council.

Startup Story

Born in the town of Kanye, Botswana, Refilwe Mongwaketse is the vibrant, energetic, and passionate founder of Thuma Mina Personal Shopping in South Africa. While her career background lies in Architecture and the Construction industry, Refilwe’s heart has always been drawn toward the captivating world of Personal Styling and Interior Design. Based in the bustling city of Johannesburg, South Africa, she has embarked on a journey fuelled by her unrelenting entrepreneurial spirit. For Refilwe, the transformative power of clothes has always been undeniable. She firmly believes that when we look good, we also feel good, allowing us to show up as our highest selves and perform at our peak level. Through Thuma Mina Personal Shopping, Refilwe has been able to ignite that fire within others and that has helped them to fulfil their dreams.

Startup Story

Olubunmi Otufowora is the founder of Boomsky Smoothies, a leading indigenous fruit processing and distribution company in Nigeria that produces 100% natural smoothies and juices. Operating for over a decade, Boomsky Smoothies was founded in 2010 and has bridged the gap between nutrition and busy executives who want a healthy drink on the go. With more than 14 years of experience in various senior leadership roles in one of Nigeria's top telecommunications firms, her strong professional insight has been instrumental in her success. Her passion for promoting healthy living through natural fruit drinks is evident in her company's exceptional growth and impact. Olubunmi is committed to positively impacting Nigeria's society by reducing post-harvest food loss. Her business is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, and 12, and her efforts are reflected in the sustainable growth of Boomsky Smoothies over the years. Today the business employs 28 people.

Startup Story

Moleboheng (Lebo) Nhamahango is the founder and CEO of Nerah Decór in Mozambique, an online surface pattern design company. Lebo designs the patterns in Mozambique and then uploads them to the Red Bubble portal which allows her to coordinate her design prints on different surfaces according to a client's order. Through the Red Bubble portal, it allows Lebo to print and ship her product designs from USA to any country in the world. Lebo makes it easy for clients to access her designs, and by simply putting the Nerah Decór website in a client's URL, that client links to the online store where they can order according to their desire and collect their order on their doorstep!

Startup Story

Palesa Mkhulisi is the founder of The Link PR and Marketing Solutions in South Africa, a business focused on helping start-ups to create value, build long-term sustainability, and bring positive changes to their communities through tailored marketing and PR solutions. She is a 24-year-old entrepreneur with a passion for social development and a commitment to solving real-world problems. Raised in Soweto a township in Johannesburg she developed an early appreciation for the power of community and the impact that businesses can have on society. Beyond her role as an entrepreneur, Palesa actively participates in various community outreach programs and advising young business leaders. She is dedicated to fostering the next generation of socially aware entrepreneurs.

Startup Story

One Rapelana is the award-winning founder, designer, and creative director of Xita, a specialist accessory brand in Botswana. What began as a hobby in 2015 evolved into a full-fledged company in 2018, with One focusing on ethically sourced leather accessories, primarily jewellery and bags crafted from offcuts, remnants, and by-product leather. While One Rapelana outsources some aspects, including collaborating with women artisans for cotton bags used in packaging and branding, she remains a one-woman show, personally crafting each product and overseeing all aspects of the company. Armed with a degree in Marketing and Management, she is also a self-taught graphic, web, and brand designer. Her work has garnered recognition, featured in Glamour SA magazine, and her products were showcased at the Brooklyn Museum store for the African Fashion Exhibition in 2023.

Startup Story

Lisa Munsamy is the founder of Lisa’s Carriers in South Africa. She is a seasoned businesswoman with a passion for the transportation and hospitality industries, as well as a passion for Life Coaching. With over 18 years of experience in road freight, Lisa has navigated the ever-evolving landscape of logistics, ensuring seamless and efficient transportation solutions. She has also been the proud owner of a guesthouse for the past 14 years. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree and is also a Certified Life Transformation Coach.

Startup Story

Natercia Jone is a Mozambican entrepreneur and the founder of Dione’s Liquor, with more than 20 years of experience having operated in the cleaning and gardening, confectionery sectors. She is currently dedicated to building her business and brand,  Dione's Liquor, which is focused on the production of liqueurs based on fruits, herbs and currently operating in the national market.

Startup Story

Lilian Mapuranga is the co-founder and COO of Chemexon Chemicals Pvt Ltd a chemical company focused on cleaning and sanitation chemicals. She is an MBA and Chemist with over 13 years industry experience and 4 years in the sanitation industry. Lilian was awarded as a TechWomen Emerging Leader 2014 (Hillary Clinton STEM Initiatives in Silicon Valley), was a ZimTrade EagleNest Top 22 Qualifier. Before Lilian became an entrepreneur, she was a business development manager at Integrated Hygiene Systems. Her tasks were oriented towards developing business, looking for new markets and increasing sales. Her focus was in change management and meeting customer satisfaction, something she has adopted into her own business and has helped her shape Chemexon.

Startup Story

Vicky Chilli is a 31-year-old entrepreneur from Umlazi in South Africa and the founder of eKasi Bioscope (Pty) Ltd. She established a movie cinema in her township and uses film as a tool for social change. She started this project in 2016 at King Shaka High School where she discovered that learners were facing social issues and needed a platform to relate too, open-up and learn. The cinema screens African-inspired movies and the youth watch movies for free. Vicky has screened approximately 20 African-inspired movies indoors and had 1 drive-in cinema.

Startup Story

Thaila Botes is the vibrant force behind Danuz and Charger X, a hub for surf skate enthusiasts in South Africa. As a devoted mom, fitness enthusiast, and lover of summer, family, and Jesus, Thaila brings boundless energy to both her family life and her entrepreneurial venture. Discover a journey where fitness, family, and faith intertwine, creating a life uniquely driven by passion and purpose. Welcome to Thaila's world, where each day is a celebration of health, happiness, and the sunny spirit of summer.

Startup Story

Natasha Mohunlal is a Trademark Attorney, the founder and Managing Director of Natasha Mohunlal and Associates Inc. based in Pretoria, South Africa, also known as NMA. She is a prominent entrepreneur, community activist, and visionary. She won the Women in IP award in Utah in July 2022. Her law firm won the SA IP law firm of the year 2022 at the Middle East Africa Business Awards. Her firm also won the Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year 2023 at the Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Global Awards. She was also crowned title partner at the Influential Women of the Year Awards in March 2023, which took place in Cape Town. In the same year, she won the Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2023 and Prominent Women in International Law Award - WLA2023 Dubai. In July 2023, she was awarded the Top IP Leader award in Dubai, and was also selected for the 'Top 25 Exceptional Women in Trademark.’

Startup Story

Mildred Matara is the founder and CEO of Mellow Ventures Insurance Agency and Mellow Ventures Investment in Kenya. She is a seasoned and passionate entrepreneur and her insurance business provides consultations and insurance underwriting services, working with class A-C insurance companies in Kenya and East Africa, serving customers in the East Africa region. Her Mellow Ventures Investment business is focused on dealing with General suppliers and retail sales and distribution in Kenya. She founded the business 9 years ago and currently employs 4 permanent employees and 6 casuals/ contract employees. She previously worked in the corporate sector for over 11 years with experience spanning different business sectors. She is currently in the process of venturing into the Agriculture sector to produce and add value to food products in the Western part of Kenya, where she hopes to assist in bridging the food security gap whilst creating a source of livelihood to the locals.

Startup Story

Nazlee Mayhew is the founder and director of Global Mindset Solutions in Zimbabwe. She is a seasonal Business and Money Mindset Coach, a Social Entrepreneur, NLP Master Practitioner, and an emerging author. Global Mindset Solutions' vision is to empower, educate and equip women to enhance their leadership and business skills and help strengthen the communities they serve. This will enable them to reach their full potential faster, help boost economic growth and create financial freedom.