SHARED STORIES. SHARED LEARNING. SHARED INSPIRATION.
We love all women-led startups and the stories of the women behind them.
We bring you Startup Stories from women across Africa and the Diaspora who have taken the plunge and launched their own ventures. Some stories talk of multi-million dollar business triumphs, whilst others are about women fighting to lift themselves, their families, or their communities out of economic hardship. All, however, involve bravery, belief, courage, hope and determination. They are real stories about real women pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams: working hard, confronting challenges head-on, and making sacrifices. Without exception, the women behind these stories are all 'Lionesses of Africa'.
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TODAY’S STARTUP STORY
STARTUP STORY SPOTLIGHT: AGRI-BUSINESS
Startup Stories
Gladys Kgorane is a visionary entrepreneur and woman of faith, driven by a deep desire to create spaces of healing, rest, and joyful connection. As the founder of Caleb’s Farm Cabins in Potchefstroom, South Africa, she has transformed a quiet piece of land into a peaceful farm destination offering accommodation, events, and wellness retreats. Rooted in purpose and inspired by the Biblical story of Caleb, Gladys is passionate about helping others find peace, celebrate life’s moments, and rediscover hope through nature and hospitality.
Startup Story
Drienie Botes is an experienced entrepreneur and community upliftment advocate in South Africa, with over 25 years of leadership in business development and social impact. She has founded multiple successful ventures, including a pearl import business and Meant to Bee (PTY) Ltd, a business focused on empowering rural women through sustainable beekeeping and market access. Skilled in strategic planning, international trade, and capacity building, Drienie is passionate about driving economic independence and transforming communities through innovative, purpose-driven enterprises. She launched Meant to Bee in 2021 and today it has created economic opportunities for 36 people.
Startup Story
Tumelo Tshwagong is a co-owner of Tshwagong Farm, a family-owned business focused on livestock and Indigenous vegetable farming, and located in Koster in the Northwest province of South Africa. Tumelo is a passionate female farmer devoted to cultivating change from the ground up. Tshwagong Farm was established in 2021 with Tumelo at the helm as a Managing Director, supported by a team of four. Her work goes beyond farming as she sees it as a form of preservation, a movement to reignite ancestral food sources and confront the growing crisis of food insecurity. She passionately believes that every seed she plants, every field she tends, carries the vision of a resilient, self-sustaining future.
Startup Story
Adelia Nicole Tique Massangaie is the founder of Indico Fish Farm. EI in Mozambique, where she is currently setting up her Nile Tilapia Production and Processing Unit. She has a degree in Marine Biology from Eduardo Mondlane University and is currently studying for a Master's degree in Population and Development. Prior to starting her business, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Natural History Museum in the area of marine and aquatic animal collections and also as a Zootechnician at Machado Knowhow in the area of animal production. Her business plan, which focused on Nile Tilapia Production and Processing, was the winner of the Agora Emprega 2023 Program at the national level in Maputo Province.
Startup Story
Zenzile Silvia Mabitsela is the founder of Masana Generation Project in South Africa, a poultry farming business specialising in broiler chickens, crop production, and rabbit production. She is a leader and social entrepreneur, a farmer, and a public speaker, who likes to work with local communities. Zenzile is passionate about her work and has an openness to learning and implementation in her business. She registered the business in 2014 and started operations full-time in 2018.
Startup Story
Segredos do Paraíso, a business celebrating the authentic characteristics and purity of coconut, processed and beautifully packaged for the world to enjoy. What makes Segredos do Paraíso, founded by Yara Galiano, products special is that they are 100% natural, because the business only processes the coconut from one state to another in order to obtain its different products, using the cold press method. The business was launched in February 2023 and has created jobs for 3 people.
Startup Story
Celestina Langa is the founder and ceo of Nutrekaya CL,Su, Ltd in Mozambique, a company dedicated to agro-processing and the valorization of local food products, with a focus on dietary health and nutritional well-being. Her entrepreneurial trajectory is marked by a strong dedication to the development of innovative and sustainable solutions in the food sector. Celestina has a degree in Food Sciences from the Pedagogical University of Mozambique and, throughout her career, has continually dedicated herself to expanding her knowledge and skills. She is currently completing her Master of Business in the Street (MBS) at Interweave Solutions Academy, which has provided her with strategic vision and improved skills in business management, further strengthening her profile as an entrepreneur and leader.
Startup Story
Adelia Nicole Tique Massangaie is the founder of Indico Fish Farm. EI in Mozambique, where she is currently setting up her Nile Tilapia Production and Processing Unit. She has a degree in Marine Biology from Eduardo Mondlane University and is currently studying for a Master's degree in Population and Development. Prior to starting her business, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Natural History Museum in the area of marine and aquatic animal collections and also as a Zootechnician at Machado Knowhow in the area of animal production. Her business plan, which focused on Nile Tilapia Production and Processing, was the winner of the Agora Emprega 2023 Program at the national level in Maputo Province.
Startup Story
Zaza Letsholo is the founder of ABM Farming Dreams in South Africa. She is a passionate farmer and community builder specializing in livestock and dry bean production. Inspired by her late father, a dedicated farmer, Zaza grew up on a farm where she learned the values of hard work and resilience. In addition to her farming endeavours, she runs a safe haven for vulnerable individuals, including orphans. With over 12 years of experience in car sales, Zaza is also an award-winning top performer in her field. Her commitment to agriculture and community welfare reflects her desire to make a meaningful impact in her community.
Startup Story
Sabine Lydia Müller is the founder of Tchambalakate Comércio e Serviços Soc.Unip., Lda in Mozambique. She is passionate about regenerative organic agriculture, agroforestry, Mozambique, and the decolonization of Africa. Through her self-employed work as consultant in Germany and Mozambique, her involvement in various publications, and in organic certifications, Sabine aims to share knowledge and best practices on how to improve the resilience and sustainability of food systems and ecosystems. She believes in the peaceful coexistence of nature and human beings, and strives to make a positive impact with her work. As a Communications Manager with over 17 years of experience in PR, social media, and brand marketing, Sabine leverages her skills and network to raise awareness and support for her clients’ projects and initiatives.
Startup Story
Forget Shareka is the founder of Chashi Foods in Zimbabwe, and also a farmer, vibrant agronomic engineer, award-winning entrepreneur, environmental management, and sustainability professional. She is passionate about agribusiness, sustainable food systems, sustainability, community development, youth and women empowerment, and climate action. Her academic background is in agricultural sciences, entrepreneurship, and innovation. She is the founder and business development director for Chashi Foods, an agro-processing company committed to reducing postharvest and food losses in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, she works in the Environmental, Social, and Governance field (ESG) in Telecommunications.
Startup Story
Nonopa Tenza is the founder of Kevinot Farming in South Africa - she is an accountant by training, and a seasoned finance and banking professional. She has fulfilled various roles in financial management, credit risk management, sales, and relationship management roles in SA’s blue-chip companies and has worked in SA and Scotland. In 2017, Nonopa founded Kevinot Farming as a side hustle whilst still in corporate. In 2021 she left a successful career in Corporate and Investment Banking to run the business on a full-time basis. Kevinot Farming is a business that farms in the deep rural Eastern Cape province of South Africa, and is a mixed farming business growing maize and beans and also farming sheep and cattle.
Startup Story
Emi-Beth Aku Quantson is the Founder, CEO and Chief Caffeination Officer at Kawa Moka Coffee Company, Ghana's leading social enterprise coffee company and roaster, where she drives investment and growth. She has raised over $200,000 in debt and equity investments; created over 250 jobs in coffee through farmer partnerships and employment of marginalized groups; and established Accra's largest roastery, supplying major supermarkets and cafes across the country and internationally. Emi-Beth has been recognized by the President of the Republic of Ghana, President Akuffo Addo. Prior to founding Kawa Moka in 2015, Emi-Beth worked as a tax consultant and transfer pricing expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Ghana and Kenya.
Startup Story
Márcia Dima Jone is the founder and owner of N’toko Organic Lda, a startup that collects and recovers waste. Currently, its focus is on composting for the production of organic fertilizer in order to promote the adoption of sustainable cultivation practices by gardeners and farmers and the reduction of the use of pesticides. N'toko has been committed to environmental education as one of the bets for promoting the Circular Economy, through the correct disposal of solid waste, its use and sustainability.
Startup Story
Sizolwenkosi Mazolo is the founder of Ingcebethu Pvt Ltd, a small business based in Zimbabwe and in the value addition agro-processing sector. Ingcebethu uses a 3-way model which is Freezing, Canning and Drying fruits and vegetables in the bid to reduce food waste, post-harvest losses, as well as to promote food security in Africa. Sizolwenkosi has been awarded a number of accolades for her work which include: 2022 JCI TOYP Honouree, Top 20 Young CEOs by CEO Roundtable Africa 2022, as well as the Record Breaker Young CEOs by Zimbabwe CEOs Network 2022 among others. She is a YALI RLC alumni and her business was in the top 10 finalists in the 2022 Eagles Nest Incubation program by Zimtrade. In line with her mission to address food security, Sizolwenkosi volunteers at The Mobi Soup Kitchen where approximately 600 children are fed every week at a squatter camp in Harare.
Startup Story
Fly Eagles LDA is a digital magazine publishing venture, founded by experienced agripreneur, Dirce Vicente in Mozambique. Passionate about Agriculture, she has already developed many solutions to improve the agricultural ecosystem in Mozambique. Dirce is the founder of Dfruit, Agri impact, and is currently letting her passion emerge with the launch of an agribusiness magazine called Fly Eagles Agribusiness. The magazine aims to provide the reader with unique experiences, inspiring them to reach their purpose and unlock their maximum potential. It shares stories of overcoming and persistence in Agriculture from people who are making it happen, and excelling in this field.
Startup Story
Teresa Kulei is the founder of NSINYA COMÉRCIO e SERVIÇOS, LDA in Mozambique. She graduated in Agronomy from the State University of Saint Petersburg-Russia and works in the agribusiness area. NSINYA was founded in 2020.
Startup Story
Doreen Michelo is the Founder and Managing Director of Mzala Enterprise Ltd in Zambia, a business founded in 2018. She is a serial entrepreneur and business leader focusing on enhancing local community capacity growth and sustainability by growing and producing high quality farm produce for the local market that is not only accessible but very affordable. Empowering the local community through Agriculture Skills training and knowledge dissemination through the skills hub/centre is another major focus of the business as it aims to leave a lasting positive impact on the community supporting its operations. The business has employed 9 permanent workers and 20 seasonal workers. Doreen has 9 years business work experience as a professional in various industries.
Startup Story
Priscilla Musenge is a Climate Change activist and a budding entrepreneur, who is the ceo and founder of Entomo Farm in Zambia, a business launched in 2018. It has since created jobs for 7 people. She was one of the top 10 Finalists of the inaugural cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs in 2020, a White House Initiative. Additionally, in the same year, Priscilla’s start-up also received a grant in sustainable waste management from United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Zambia. Most recently, she also won 2nd prize in the world’s largest green business ideas competition - the 2021 Climate Launchpad business competition and was one of the recipients of the inaugural 2022 ZANACO (Zambia National Commercial Bank) awards in Zambia.
Startup Story
Filomena Matimbe is the founder and ceo of Finana, a Mozambican company specializing in Banana Flour processing and dry banana. She brings five years of experience in this business. Finana has won multiple awards including the world Gold Medal at the II World of Inventors and Innovators Forum, and also a SANBio award in Mozambique 2017. Banana flour is available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies. It is also served as a snack in schools and in the largest hospital in the country.
Startup Story
Iolanda Almeida is the founder and CEO of INMA LIMITADA based in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province. She is a coffeepreneur and award-winning enterprise leader in Mozambique for the NEPAD SAN Bio Phase II BioFISA FEM BioBiz Programme. Iolanda’s business is focused on processing coffee from Ibo Island in Mozambique´s World Biosphere Reserve for the internal market. She founded the business in 2015 to support almost 150 Ibo Coffee farmers, for social inclusion and local development.
Startup Story
Most of the population of Madagascar lives in rural areas relying on farming to make a living, but the majority live in poverty. Marina Rakotondrasoa Ralaivaomisa, founder of Massöva, is on a mission to help change their situation through her entrepreneurial approach to agribusiness and extending the local value chain.
Startup Story
Carmen Stevens, founder of Carmen Stevens Wines Pty Ltd, is the first black person accepted to study winemaking in South Africa and qualified in 1995 as South Africa's first black winemaker. She was recognised with a Top 10 Pinotage award in 1998 for her very first red wine production. Carmen's industry awards include International Decanter Trophy winner, 2015 Winemaker of the Year California, 2018 - Winemaker of the Decade UK (Naked Wines.com). In 2019, Carmen registered the first 100 % black-and-woman owned winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa and was awarded South Africa’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017 and 2019. The Carmen Stevens NPO was registered in 2015, the foundation to date, have provided 11 622 731 plates of food to 41 363 learners at school.
Startup Story
Hadija Jabiri is the founder and MD of GBRI Business Solutions in Tanzania. She is a farmer committed to making agricultural production a sustainable and profitable business through empowering smallholder farmers. Hadija is an IVLP alumnae and holder of multiple awards and nominations for her work and business which is making a real difference in people’s lives.
Impact Partner Content - Absa
Gladys Kgorane is the founder and owner of Caleb's farm in Potchefstroom, South Africa, a niche agri business that supplies farm fresh products, eggs, free range chickens, sheep packages and pork packages for its customers. As a family oriented entrepreneur, Gladys is married with three children, she started her farming business on her smallholding back in 2013. Today she has seen it grow substantially from those early days, and now supplies 30 trays of eggs daily to customers, in addition to a wide range of farm fresh meat and fresh vegetables.
Exciting things are happening in South Africa’s winelands with a new generation of entrepreneurs making great wines for the local and global market place and building new brands to watch. Ses’fikile Wines, founded by Nondumiso Pikashe, is one such brand with high aspirations.
Impact Partner Content - Absa
From major food retailers to the hospitality industry, commercial customers look for reliable, high quality, fresh produce suppliers to meet their needs. In South Africa, Rebecca Tshuma, founder of Becks Foods, is building a reputation for supplying some of the freshest, healthiest produce direct from the farm.
Startup Story
Agribusiness is big business in South Africa, and one passionate, enterprising woman entrepreneur, Metsana Kojane, founder of Eden Roots PTY Ltd, is putting bees at the heart of her business. Her production of beautifully natural honey has not only created local agri-processing jobs for women in her community, but also the creation of a natural skincare brand using the wax, propolis and royal jelly from her raw honey hives.
Startup Story
One of the challenges of modern living is that often residents of sprawling industrial and commercial cities often become detached from where their food comes from and how it is produced. In South Africa, entrepreneur Josephine Katumba, founder of Biakudia Urban Farming Solutions, is reconnecting people with their food and the environment through urban agriculture.
Startup Story
South Africa has a long tradition of growing some of the world’s finest fruit and vegetables. In the North West province of the country, agripreneur Abueng Leepile, founder of Bokamoso Abu Farms, is playing her part in the important food production value chain in the country.
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LATEST STARTUP STORIES
Startup Story
Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger are co-founders of Twenty 4 Skin, a unique South African medical-grade skincare brand. Juanri is a medical doctor with a special interest in regenerative medicine, so you could say she is a holistic regenerative GP, and Bernadette is a somatologist. The brand focuses on hormone optimization, aesthetic medicine, as well as skincare formulations.
Startup Story
Gillian Holl, founder of VELD Architects in South Africa, has built a business renowned for creating spaces that serve not as statements but as sanctuaries. It’s an architecture deeply connected to the African landscape, fostering a sense of belonging and calm.
Startup Story
Júlia Silota is the founder and CEO of J&G Environment Ltda, a Mozambican company operating in the environmental field, focused on the purchase and sale of solid waste, and providing solid waste collection services, solid waste management training, and environmental project evaluation. It was founded in August 2020 and began operations in 2023. It employs four people, two full-time and two part-time.
Startup Story
Cláudia Machaieie is the founder of Sea Glasses in Mozambique. She is a 28-year-old with a degree in Marine Biology, a postgraduate degree in Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Biology and Conservation Ecology. She has completed several technical courses in monitoring and project management. She began her activity as a volunteer and social activist at the age of 14 and is currently a founding volunteer of SOA Mozambique and a volunteer with Solo Adventures. She has worked in public (IIP), private (SEPPA, Centro Terra Viva), and international organizations (Girl Move Academy, UN - World Food Programme) developing activities in administration, monitoring, and management of humanitarian and environmental programs. Currently, she is the social responsibility coordinator at TOPACK Mozambique.
Startup Story
Matilde Mawelele Rungo is a digital transformation consultant, cybersecurity specialist, and founder of RealityTech Advisory in Mozambique, where she leads technology-driven projects for businesses and startups. She is also an evangelist and the creator of MTI – A Triad of Hope for Children, an initiative that integrates Evangelism, Technology, and Innovation to empower young people and communities. With a global vision, Matilde is committed to advancing individuals, organizations, and ecosystems through technology, faith, and meaningful social impact. The business was launched in 2024 and today has created jobs for 6 people.
Startup Story
Yanara Tavares Viana is an engineer and project manager with over 15 years of experience in procurement, finance, and the development of sustainable solutions. Founder of Vila Viana, an ecological and agro-productive housing project in Catembe, she creates urban models that integrate solar energy, water harvesting and reuse, family farming, and micro-animal farming. Her vision is to combine accessible architecture with practical sustainability, inspiring communities to build in a greener, more resilient, and income-generating way. Yanara is dedicated to developing smart urban solutions for the future of Mozambique and the region.
Startup Story
Isabel Mandofa is the founder of Tropicalisa, Lda, a Mozambican agri-food industry business focused on the sustainable transformation of local fruits into high-value-added products. It operates an integrated chain that buys surplus from small producers, processes, freezes and distributes fruit pulps, natural juices, syrups, sauces and frozen fruits, guaranteeing standardized quality, traceability and food safety. Tropicalisa’s core business is to make the most of national fruit, reduce post-harvest losses and supply the market during the off-season, providing practical, healthy and competitive solutions for supermarkets, restaurants, confectioneries, ice cream parlors, hotels and end consumers.
Startup Story
Lerato Masuku is the visionary director of Bokamo Warona Construction, a 100% black female-owned company based in Daveyton, Benoni. Founded with a passion for quality and community development, the company specialises in general building, maintenance, plumbing, civil works, paving, and general supplies. Under Lerato's leadership, Bokamo Warona Construction has earned a reputation for delivering reliable and professional services, including recent successful projects such as slurry work on the R56 in the Eastern Cape. Lerato is committed to empowering women in the construction industry while growing a business that supports infrastructure and job creation across South Africa. The business was launched in 2016 and has created jobs for 10 people.
Startup Story
Olamide Alade is the founder and creative director of Amòké Regal, a luxury modest Nigerian fashion brand redefining African fashion by weaving cultural heritage into elegance, exclusivity, and decency. With a strong passion for fashion storytelling, she creates exclusive pieces that empower ambitious African women to step confidently into corporate spaces, boardrooms, and on global stages while embracing their cultural identity. Alongside her creative work, Olamide is a Chartered HR Professional and an Associate of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), bringing depth and leadership experience to her entrepreneurial journey.
Startup Story
With two decades of experience, Mirza Jamal is a recognized professional in the areas of strategic marketing, corporate communications, and public relations, with a career marked by innovation, leadership, and social impact. As founder and ceo of MJ Consulting in Mozambique, she works to develop creative and accessible solutions for strengthening brands, empowering entrepreneurs, and promoting purposeful events.
Startup Story
Lovable Dladla is the founder of Luvast Bakery, located in Newcastle, South Africa. She is a self-taught baker and started her business in 2020 with no external funds, building it organically over time. Even though she originally studied engineering, she really found her passion in business, and one of her key motivations as an entrepreneur is to build a thriving business that can help other families in the future by creating jobs.
Startup Stories
Gladys Kgorane is a visionary entrepreneur and woman of faith, driven by a deep desire to create spaces of healing, rest, and joyful connection. As the founder of Caleb’s Farm Cabins in Potchefstroom, South Africa, she has transformed a quiet piece of land into a peaceful farm destination offering accommodation, events, and wellness retreats. Rooted in purpose and inspired by the Biblical story of Caleb, Gladys is passionate about helping others find peace, celebrate life’s moments, and rediscover hope through nature and hospitality.
Startup Story
Drienie Botes is an experienced entrepreneur and community upliftment advocate in South Africa, with over 25 years of leadership in business development and social impact. She has founded multiple successful ventures, including a pearl import business and Meant to Bee (PTY) Ltd, a business focused on empowering rural women through sustainable beekeeping and market access. Skilled in strategic planning, international trade, and capacity building, Drienie is passionate about driving economic independence and transforming communities through innovative, purpose-driven enterprises. She launched Meant to Bee in 2021 and today it has created economic opportunities for 36 people.
Startup Story
Tumelo Tshwagong is a co-owner of Tshwagong Farm, a family-owned business focused on livestock and Indigenous vegetable farming, and located in Koster in the Northwest province of South Africa. Tumelo is a passionate female farmer devoted to cultivating change from the ground up. Tshwagong Farm was established in 2021 with Tumelo at the helm as a Managing Director, supported by a team of four. Her work goes beyond farming as she sees it as a form of preservation, a movement to reignite ancestral food sources and confront the growing crisis of food insecurity. She passionately believes that every seed she plants, every field she tends, carries the vision of a resilient, self-sustaining future.
Startup Story
Gloria Sellwane Phala is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of GangaYuj Yoga Studio in South Africa. Drawing on more than 20 years of corporate experience, she established the studio in 2023 after completing a sabbatical year in India, where she deepened her practice and understanding of yoga. This transformative period inspired her shift into entrepreneurship upon her return to the workforce. The business is committed to ensuring clients benefit from the profound, transformative impact of yoga. She is currently the sole employee who arranges contract-based outsourcing of yoga instructors.
Startup Story
Nondumiso Leshaba is a distinguished Chartered Bookkeeper and the visionary Managing Director of LemonSalt (Pty) Ltd and BlueDenim (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. In both her companies, Nondumiso has been instrumental in shaping their strategic direction. Her dynamic skill set, which ranges from policy writing to graphic design, has enabled her to lead with a unique perspective. Nondumiso's ability to craft comprehensive policies ensures that both LemonSalt and BlueDenim operate with efficiency and compliance, while her flair for graphic design brings a creative edge to the company's branding and marketing efforts. LemonSalt (Pty) Ltd was established in 2019 and registered in 2020. BlueDenim was registered in 2025. The businesses employs 7 people.
Startup Story
Anneline Lucinda Lopis is the sole owner and Chief Executive Officer of Smart House Afrika (SHA) South Africa Holdings started in 2016, based in Johannesburg and 60% shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of Smart House Afrika (SHA) Zambia Limited started in 2019 in Lusaka Zambia. A Mining and Minerals Consulting Firm. Her core business activities are mining and trading of various minerals, which drive her vision of growing small scale miners around Africa.
Startup Story
Gadifele Moeng is the founder and ceo of Future Leaders Academy in South Africa, a business launched in 2017 and focused on empowering young people to find their voice and gain confidence through public speaking and storytelling. She is passionate about developing the next generation of leaders and inspiring others to overcome their fears and shine.
Startup Story
Tabono Consult Ltd was established in 2020 in Tanzania to assist companies manage the disruptions from the COVID-19 Pandemic where staff had to be repurposed and other adjustments made in order for those businesses to stay afloat. It is a company driven by women founders Elizabeth Karamagi, Linda Chawe, and Sophia Mrimi, supported by a workforce of 18 people, and today is thriving.
Startup Story
Kelly Jean Ouchim Valigy is a dynamic marketing and creative professional with a strong background in strategic planning and communications. As the Founder & General Director of Jean Consulting & Services in Mozambique, she leads a forward-thinking team that delivers creative marketing solutions tailored to help brands stand out in competitive markets. With extensive experience in marketing and copy editing, Kelly has successfully navigated roles in account management, community engagement, and content creation. Her expertise spans various industries, where she has spearheaded branding initiatives, digital marketing strategies, and impactful campaigns.
Startup Story
Zettuu, a marketplace providing business support services for Africa’s crafters and fashion brands that have unique products but do not have the operational capacity to grow their brands. Zettuu was co-founded in 2020 by Portia Nondo and Mbali Ndandani, two South African entrepreneurs whose vision is to create a thriving ecosystem of support for African unique crafts, bringing them from the continent to the world’s customers. Portia is a seasoned entrepreneur and franchisee at McDonald's, and Mbali has worked in marketing, digital, technology and artificial intelligence at Unilever and Lelapa AI.
Startup Story
Jacqueléne Coetzer is the founder and CEO of Jacqueléne Global Consulting (JGC) — a pan-African business advisory and trade firm founded in 2022, specializing in strategic consulting, commodities, medical diagnostics, and cross-border market access. A former diplomat with 14 years’ experience, she now leads high-level negotiations and sourcing across Africa in sectors including medical diagnostics, metals, fuel, and mining. Through exclusive distribution mandates and deal structuring, she is helping shape Africa’s economic future. Fiercely resilient and values-driven, Jacqueléne empowers African women entrepreneurs to rise, scale, and lead — because she believes Africa’s wealth should be built by Africans, for Africans.
Startup Story
Schneidine Phidelmond is the founder and Creative Explorer of MUSA Moz MEDIA, a holistic digital agency founded in 2022 and based in Mozambique. With over a decade of experience in media, including skills in sound engineering, audiovisual production, graphic design, and branding, she launched MUSA to support women entrepreneurs and small businesses in Southern Africa and the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Multilingual and self-taught, Schneidine offers a sensitive and multidisciplinary approach to digital visibility and content creation. MUSA embodies her belief that creativity, culture, and sisterhood can fuel sustainable growth and inspiration. MUSA stands for: Mission, Ubuntu, Sorority, and Authenticity.
Startup Story
Suné Theisinger is the ceo of BST Global in South Africa, a dynamic player in the rapidly evolving aesthetic industry. As the ceo of BST Global, Suné is responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of the business. Dr Juanri Jonck is a qualified medical doctor with a degree from the University of Pretoria and is the Medical Director of BST Global. Dr Jonck leads with a deep commitment to hormone optimisation, evidence-based aesthetic medicine, and holistic wellness.
Startup Strory
Tania Kabeya is the founder of Chef La Tania, the South African culinary brand known for its rich African flavour and elegant presentation and founded in 2019. She is a passionate chef and entrepreneur and has built a reputation for delivery a range of catering services, including celebration cakes, private dinners, frozen meals, and food delivery. Tania finds purpose in creating meaningful experiences, honouring her heritage, and growing a brand built on passion, excellence, and purpose-driven living. She shares a deep bond with her siblings and draws strength from her faith and role as a mother.
Startup Story
Aasiyah Adams is the founder of Abaguquli4IR in South Africa, a business focused on empowering individuals and organisations to thrive in the digital economy by equipping them with cutting-edge technology skills and practical digital tools. The business’s mission is to unlock economic opportunities for those traditionally left behind—closing the gap by providing future-ready skills, access, and support. Launched in 2020, the business has created jobs for 6 people.
Startup Story
Komeshni Patrick is the founder and director of ZellaTech Law, a tech legal consultancy in South Africa founded in 2022 and focused on empowering tech businesses across Africa. An admitted attorney with over 20 years of experience, she’s worked with multinational corporates, public sector and international tech clients across Africa and the Middle East. Passionate about innovation, championing women in tech and advising on regulatory compliance, emerging innovation, digital policy, privacy and data protection. She participates on several boards and fora driving inclusive digital development. Komeshni mentors tech entrepreneurs, contributes to local and international incubation programs and women in tech initiatives, internet governance and digital transformation. Her business has created jobs for 5 people to date.
Startup Story
Lebo Biko is the co-founder of Oya Foods, part of Oya Group, which champions women-led innovation in the agri-food value chain. Founded in 2020, Oya Foods produces African-inspired, shelf-stable dried foods using ingredients primarily sourced from women farmers and suppliers. The company’s mission is to reduce food waste and modernize indigenous food systems. With over 25 years of experience in strategy, marketing, and governance, Lebo is passionate about sustainability, inclusive growth, and driving meaningful change. Through Oya Group, she is helping build a future where women thrive, African food culture is celebrated, and innovation transforms food systems.
Startup Story
Hon. Tiguidanke Traore is the change-making founder of ToutesLeaders in Guinea, a non-partisan citizen movement committed to reinvigorating democracy through the power of female leadership. Its shared values are: social justice and entrepreneurship.She is a graduate of the ISSIC School of Journalism in Dakar, Senegal, specializing in Corporate and Social Communication. After gaining extensive experience in administration as an administrative employee for the municipality of Chaudfontaine in Belgium, she embarked on a business venture in 2010 by creating her own label, "COCOSTYLE," which promotes community living through inclusive fashion inspired by Afro-European cultures. She launched her own e-commerce business and participated in the civic engagement of the African diaspora by leveraging the rich cultural diversity in the Liège region (BELGIUM). She also invested internationally by opening her first showroom in Casablanca, Morocco. She has created jobs for 120 people through her business and organisation.
Startup Story
Valecia Sambo is the visionary founder of Daily Sambo Services, a South African-based company revolutionizing sustainable water solutions. With a proven track record as a seasoned entrepreneur, Valecia's business has been making waves in the industry since its inception in 2023. As a pioneering plumber, Valecia is breaking barriers in the male-dominated construction and plumbing sectors. Her commitment to empowering local communities is evident in her business, which employs seven individuals, including women from the surrounding areas.
Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger are co-founders of Twenty 4 Skin, a unique South African medical-grade skincare brand. Juanri is a medical doctor with a special interest in regenerative medicine, so you could say she is a holistic regenerative GP, and Bernadette is a somatologist. The brand focuses on hormone optimization, aesthetic medicine, as well as skincare formulations.