Startup Story
Matubatsi Motsoeneng is the CEO and founder of The Feme Platform and Femme Foodie Lover in South Africa. She's a passionate entrepreneur, facilitator, and coach, dedicated to making modern mothers’ lives easier. Matubatsi aims to expand The Feme Platform internationally, internally, and work with female brands worldwide to grow employment.
LoA chatted to the passion-driven Matubatsi Motsoeneng about her personal experiences that inspired her business building venture, and her vision for the future of The Feme Platform.
What does your company do?
The Feme Platform is an e-commerce platform designed for modern mothers to access all the necessary products and services, allowing them to focus on themselves.
“As an entrepreneur and a mother, what gives me the most satisfaction is knowing that I am making a positive impact on the lives of modern mothers.”
What inspired you to start your company?
As a modern mother, a divorcee, and a former corporate worker, I struggled to balance motherhood, studying, work, and life. Like many mothers, I wished for an Uber-like platform that would provide access to everything with just a touch. This struggle inspired me to start The Feme Platform to help modern mothers like myself. I went through a mental breakdown and almost lost myself, but this experience motivated me to create a platform that supports mothers going through similar challenges.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
The Feme Platform is unique in that it caters specifically to the needs of modern mothers. It provides a one-stop-shop for all the necessary products and services, allowing mothers to focus on themselves and their families. The platform is designed to simplify the lives of busy mothers by offering a variety of services, from meal delivery to laundry services, all accessible with just a few clicks. The Feme Platform also offers a supportive community of like-minded mothers, providing a sense of belonging and support. Overall, The Feme Platform is special because it prioritizes the needs and well-being of modern mothers, making their lives easier and more enjoyable.
“Like many mothers, I wished for an Uber-like platform that would provide access to everything with just a touch. This struggle inspired me to start The Feme Platform to help modern mothers like myself.”
Tell us a little about your team
The Feme Platform currently has a small team consisting of a dedicated customer service agent and digital team, ensuring seamless digital operations and prompt customer service. As we continue to grow, we aim to expand our team by adding a strong HR and e-commerce team.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I have a background in the corporate world, specifically in the e-commerce department of a leading retail company. My passion for e-commerce was sparked during my time there, but my true inspiration comes from my parents. My father left the corporate world at the age of 40 to become an entrepreneur and built a strong foundation, which my mother later joined. From a young age, I knew that I would follow in their footsteps. After completing my education, I briefly worked in finance and e-commerce and reward department before realizing that I wanted to start my own company. I then joined my father's company before trying out the corporate world again, but ultimately left to start my own ventures in construction and e-commerce through the Feme Platform. It hasn't been an easy journey, but the rewards have been worth it.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My passion and dedication is to making modern mother's lives easier, as well as my vision for expanding the Feme Platform internationally. To develop an app for the Feme Platform and to create more employment.
“I love the challenge of building something from scratch and seeing it grow and succeed. It's a unique and rewarding experience that I feel fortunate to be a part of.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
As an entrepreneur and a mother, what gives me the most satisfaction is knowing that I am making a positive impact on the lives of modern mothers. The Feme Platform has allowed me to create a community where mothers can find support and resources to help them navigate the challenges of motherhood while still taking care of themselves. Seeing the positive feedback from our customers and knowing that we are making a difference is incredibly fulfilling. Additionally, as an entrepreneur, I love the challenge of building something from scratch and seeing it grow and succeed. It's a unique and rewarding experience that I feel fortunate to be a part of.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
As an entrepreneur myself, the biggest piece of advice I can give to other women looking to start-up is to believe in yourself and your vision. Starting a business is not easy and there will be many obstacles and challenges along the way, but if you have a clear vision and believe in yourself, you can overcome them. It's also important to surround yourself with a supportive network of people who believe in your vision and can provide guidance and advice. Additionally, do your research and make sure there is a market for your product or service. And finally, be persistent and don't give up. Success often comes to those who keep pushing forward even in the face of setbacks and failures.
Contact or follow The Feme Platform
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL matubatsimn@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
They say that if you want to create a successful business, you need to find a problem or a key challenge that has affected you, your family, or your community, and then provide a solution. Matubatsi Motsoeneng has tapped into her personal experiences and found a gap in the marketplace to help other modern mothers to get the access to support, products and services that make life easier. We look forward to watching The Feme Platform grow and help other mothers to thrive. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa