Lioness Launch / Female-founded African startup and legal technology company, life.file launches to help people handle the legal parts of life and death

July 25, 2021 Melanie Hawken

life.file is a female-founded African startup and legal technology company launched by Claire Keet and Sinal Govender. They are on a simple mission to reimagine the way that people experience the legal parts of life and death. The law is a guest at life’s best and worst moments - like starting a business, beginning or ending a marriage, or burying loved ones. These experiences are universal. Claire and Sinal believe in using intuitive, people focused design and normal-people-speak to create a user experience of the law that is simple, educational and friendly. Their team works where law, design and technology meet and they have picked the best bits of all three to create life.file.

Lioness Launch / Nigeria’s The 1964 Brand launches its new Rebirth clothing collection for women

July 18, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Olakunmi Oni, founder, The 1964 Brand (Nigeria)

In Nigeria, Olakunmi Oni, founder of The 1964 Brand, proudly promotes self-care through minimalist clothing for the modern woman. July sees the company launching its new collection titled REBIRTH.

Lizl Naude launches exciting new social experiment to celebrate sisterhood and create community

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Cape Town Designer, Lizl Naude, is known far and wide for her quirky, upcycled decor items through her business, Lilly Loompa. But more than that, she is known for her purposeful and environmentally-consciousness approach to design. In 2020, during the pandemic, she launched her "My Africa Lap Desk" made with discarded waste material. Now, she is embarking on an exciting new social experiment to celebrate sisterhood and create community.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s knowledge wealth company, ThutoKhumo, launches new online training courses for entrepreneurs

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Sheila Baloyi, founder, ThutoKhumo (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Sheila Baloyi, founder of ThutoKhumo, which means Knowledge Wealth in Setswana in South Africa, believes her coaching and development courses serve that purpose for both her clients and her organisation as a whole. As a sales leadership and management coaching practice, the company provides bespoke sales training courses for corporates, SMMEs and startups. This month sees the company announcing the launch of a series of new online courses, both for 2021 and going forward.

Lioness Launch / Mozambique’s House of Agness launches new bespoke, luxury tea collection

May 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

The House of Agness, founded by creative entrepreneur Mariana Agness Francisco Eria, is a contemporary Floral House based in Mozambique and specializing in bespoke, minimalistic floral arrangements. The company’s inspiration is based on minimalism and sustainability. The House of Agness range of products and services includes, but is not limited to, the delivery of signature floral boxes, bouquets, gift boxes and onsite floral services, as well as corporate event management and design. Signature flowers include roses, orchids, hydrangeas and peonies (seasonal). The company takes pride in the preserved flower collection where a rose can last for as long as 2 years in its lush acrylic boxes.

Lioness Launch / New South African children’s skincare brand, Raising Uhuru, looks to nature for inspiration

April 18, 2021 Melanie Hawken

South African children’s skincare brand, Raising Uhuru, came into existence when a young and curious first-time mom, Minky Mokapela, was faced with the challenge of her baby’s terrible eczema. The baby’s skin would get so dry that it would develop scabs that would lift and flake off creating a considerable level of discomfort for her, and the only effective products contained steroids. Thanks to her curiosity, Minky began to research natural ways to treat her daughter’s skin after finding out that long term use of steroids had adverse effects. She knew that mother nature definitely had an answer. Using natural oils and butters such as Cocoa butter, Shea butter and Jojoba oil, she created the Raising Uhuru children’s skincare range that is beneficial for all skin types and complexions.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Birthmark of Africa Wines launches its new collection

April 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Miranda Abrahams, founder, Birthmark of Africa Wines (South Africa)

South Africa is renowned around the world for its fine wine-making, and this month sees the launch of a great new collection of wines from Birthmark of Africa Wines, founded by Miranda Abrahams. Customers can select from a great choice of Red and White wines, Blends and Champagne. The new collection includes Brut Chardonnay MCC – Méthode Cap Classique; Heritage Premium Red Blend; Heritage Premium White Blend; Premium Chardonnay; Premium Chenin Blanc; Premium Merlot; Premium Pinotage; and Premium Pinotage Rose.

South African bespoke fashion brand, Roka Roko, launches new Ladies Fashion Design Individual Tutoring Programme

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Brigette Mashile, founder, Roka Roko (South Africa)

Many people are interested in learning how to make women’s fashion clothes, but simply don’t have the skills or knowledge to know how to start. In South Africa, entrepreneur and experienced fashion designer, Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko, has the answer - a new Ladies Fashion Design Individual Tutoring programme.

Lioness Launch / Takora launches new professional CV writing platform in South Africa

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

In South Africa, a new professional CV writing online platform is launching - Takora, founded by entrepreneur Kabwe Gondo. Unlike other companies, Takora specializes in professional CV writing and CV training, and is focused on helping people to land their next job with a reputable organization. Kabwe believes that having a well written CV is like having a superpower under your sleeves. It is a well-known fact that the unemployment rate has risen to over 30% in South Africa, and having a well written CV can help someone land his/her dream job, an executive level position, or that internship position.

Lioness Launch / Pristine Home Interiors launches its new showroom and interior design service for discerning clients in South Africa

March 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

A South African black-owned small business since 2015, Pristine Home Interiors has had a singular goal since its inception; to create signature and statement pieces and spaces. Each design in its showroom has been personally selected by the company’s boutique team with the South African lifestyle and aesthetic in mind. Founder Samukelisiwe Moralo, together with her co-founders Sthembile Ndaba and Sphamandla Ndaba have carefully curated a selection of designs that reflect their incredible country and way of life. Pristine Home Interiors is launching its new showroom based in the trendy design district of Kramerville in South Africa, with an Interior Design service that offers custom made furniture at a reasonable price.

Lioness Launch / Themba Travel launches The Beautiful Mix Tour experience for visitors to South Africa

March 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Themba Travel, founded by entrepreneur Chantal Potgieter, designs and offers transformational tours to give guests an authentic South African experience. The company offers tours in Cultural, Conservation, and Volunteering within South Africa, and is intentional in what it wants visitors to see and experience as it takes time in crafting our tours. The company is launching The Beautiful Mix tour, a combination of three main experiences (Cultural, Community, and Conservation) This 12 day, 11-night tour is designed to give guests a taste of the diverse culture, connect them with local community projects, and experience a Safari within a wildlife conservation area. It is also a great opportunity to explore the best of cosmopolitan Cape Town in the south and the best of the north in Johannesburg.

Lioness Launch / Independent publishing house, LovingKindness Boma in South Africa, launches new children’s books

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

LovingKindness Boma is an independent Publishing House of Mindful and Diverse books for children, launched by Swaady Martin in South Africa. It creates and sell children's books that entertain, educate and enrich the whole family. This month sees the launch of 7 books that will bring joy and understanding to readers.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s luxury skincare brand, L’abeille, launches its new IonActive Deep Cleansing Brush

February 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

L’abeille, the South African luxury skincare brand founded by entrepreneur Karen Potgieter, has built a reputation for combining exceptional luxury skincare experiences with science-proven actives. This month sees the launch of its new IonActive Deep Cleansing Brush, which has a cleansing action that lifts even the most stubborn of impurities, providing a much deeper clean than your hands alone can. The brush has three different speed settings which allow you to set it at a speed that suits your skin sensitivity and area you are cleansing. The more gentle the vibration, the better it will be on sensitive skin and delicate face areas.

Lioness Launch / Botswana’s Naga Earth launches a new service importing fine quality natural cosmetics ingredients for local manufacturing

February 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Mishingo Aaron, founder of Naga Earth (Botswana)

The luxury handcrafted African luxury bodycare brand from Botswana, Naga Earth, founded by entrepreneur Mishingo Aaron, is on a mission to show the Africa it knows, by celebrating the continent’s rich diversity in natural resources through skin care. The company is launching a new service with the department name, NAGA NATURALS, which will see it importing fine quality natural cosmetics ingredients that can be used in the manufacturing of cosmetic products.

Lioness Launch / Kaizene launches a new Shared Services Solution for women entrepreneurs and SMEs in Cote d’Ivoire

December 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Kaizene, based in Cote d’Ivoire and founded by entrepreneur Lynda Aphing-Kouassi, has built up a reputation for helping companies and organizations to optimize their human capital, improve their services and their quality approach. To achieve this goal, Kaizene has been offering various training and coaching modules and courses for several years. This month sees the launch of a new Shared Services Solution specifically for women entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Lioness Launch / ASPIRE Luxury Magazine launches two new digital features

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Bella Ikeme, founder of ASPIRE Luxury Magazine (Nigeria)

For all those lovers of luxury brands and products on the African continent, ASPIRE Luxury Magazine in Nigeria, founded by entrepreneur Bella Ikeme, is already a destination of choice for online readers. This month sees the launch of two new digital features which aim to share more positive narratives about African luxury brands and showcase some of the most exciting luxury brands to emerge from the continent.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s mi butter launches its new range of blended butters for time conscious cooks

November 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Vhongani Shumba, founder of mi butter (South Africa)

Every professional and home chef knows what a difference butter, herbs, spices and seasonings can make to the preparation of any delicious meal. But buying and preparing all those individual ingredients can be expensive and time consuming. In South Africa, entrepreneur and food lover, Vhongani Shumba, founder of mi butter, has the solution for all home cooks. She has launched her new range of flavoured, blended butters, ready to add new taste sensations to the preparation of any meal.

Lioness Launch / Biakudia Urban Farming Solutions launches its new #WONDER Initiative in South Africa

November 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Josephine Katumba, founder of Biakudia Urban Farming Solutions (South Africa)

Biakudia Urban Farming Solutions, founded by Josephine Katumba, is an urban agriculture social enterprise based in Johannesburg, South Africa, whose mission is to reconcile city dwellers to their food and environment through urban agriculture. The #WONDER initiative is launching this month which invites city dwellers to experience the #Wonder of food. Whether you have a small balcony space or a backyard, Biakudia Urban Farming Solutions will assist you in creating your own edible wonderland.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Lilly Loompa Creative launches its new My Africa Lap Desk

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa Creative (South Africa)

Lilly Loompa Creative is a South African brand known to many eco-conscious homeware consumers for its inventive hipcycling approach to transforming discarded waste into design conscious items for people to love. Founder, Lizl Naude, has just launched the latest must-have product which is already getting people talking - the My Africa Lap Desk. This portable piece of furniture is just the thing for home workers who want to create a comfortable yet stylish desk solution.

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