Startup Story
In Angola, individuals and companies spend vast amounts of time completing administrative tasks by hand that can be done in minutes by harnessing the power of digital technology. Entrepreneur Vânia Ribeiro, founder of Assinebwe, Lda, is bringing the necessary software solutions to make things faster and more efficient.
LoA spoke with founder Vânia Ribeiro recently to find out more.
What does your company do?
We provide a software for document management and digital signature with the main goal of making Angola go paperless and saving lives.
“Customers should use our services because digital signature in Angola is still a new subject and as a result, companies are still afraid to trust it.”
What inspired you to start your company?
The fact that in Angola, people still take a really long time to complete something that can be done in minutes - such as signing contracts, letters, workflow services, etc.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Customers should use our services because digital signature in Angola is still a new subject and as a result, companies are still afraid to trust it. We are the first company in Angola in this specialist field, so we are still trying to make people believe that going paperless is cheaper, faster and better for ours and other people´s lives.
Tell us a little about your team
My team is great, we are all young, most of us are women with very good energy. Besides our main area of study, we all try to learn from each other every day and try to lift each other up since it´s a big issue we are fighting against.
“In Angola, people still take a really long time to complete something that can be done in minutes - such as signing contracts, letters, workflow services, etc.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Yes, my father, mother, uncles, are all very good examples for me when it comes to being an entrepreneur. But something I want to be that I haven´t seen from them yet, is to look out for others who are also trying to become entrepreneurs but have no help either financial or just training. Being an entrepreneur in Angola is one of the hardest things, but I don´t regret it because I know exactly where I´m going to get.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I want to inspire and help others. So, my company will focus a lot on social work, being able to help those that are in need is one of our goals.
“We are the first company in Angola in this specialist field, so we are still trying to make people believe that going paperless is cheaper, faster and better for ours and other people´s lives.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The fact that I can inspire others around me.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
I quit my job to become an entrepreneur, not because I felt I was the best but because I knew I was strong enough to be able to go on this journey and struggle of being moneyless with bills to pay in the early years. But never give up and keep up with my goals because we women are more than special, we were born to shine. So make sure every day you wake up you do a little something to get closer to your dreams.
Find out more
WEBSITE | EMAIL v.r@assinebwe.co.ao
Why LoA loves it….
Women entrepreneurs are renowned for being problem solvers, recognizing challenges in business and in society and then finding solutions to addressing those problems. Vânia Ribeiro is one of those game-changing entrepreneurs, making her mark in the world of business in Angola by introducing software solutions and new tech-based ways of doing things more efficiently. She is a pioneer who understands the power of breaking new ground, challenging conventional ways of thinking, and also empowering others through her business. Vânia is definitely an entrepreneur to watch out for as she continues to build her business and reputation as a problem solver. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa