the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Sr. Julia ‘Masina Mafike, founder of JMM Beekeeping (Lesotho)
Startup Story
Lesotho is renowned for its natural beauty, attracting visitors from around the world. Today, however, it is also renowned for the quality of its honey production, thanks to an enterprising business, JMM Beekeeping, founded by Julia ‘Masina Mafike.
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Linda Dempah, founder of Adeba Nature (Cote d’Ivoire)
Startup Story
Empowering women to feel chic and beautiful is the mission of Ivorian natural beauty brand, Adeba Nature. Formulated using fewer than five ingredients, this product range created by beauty entrepreneur, Linda Dempah, is creating a brand that is rooted in the existing traditions preserved in Ivorian villages.
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Adele Cutten, founder of Adele’s Mohair (South Africa)
Startup Story
Discerning visitors to the Eastern Cape know that it is not only renowned for its beautiful landscapes, its unspoilt beaches, and its wildlife. Those in the know also have an additional destination in their sights - a visit to Adele's Mohair, founded by passionate entrepreneur Adele Cutten. She has built a highly successful, high impact business that celebrates the much sought after mohair found on Angola goats, transforming it into luxury yarns, scarves, shawls, sweaters and much more. Adele and her team are an inspiration to those who visit, and those who depend on the business for jobs in the local community.
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Karen Potgieter, founder of L’abeille (South Africa)
Captain Kgomotso Phatsima, founder of Dare to Dream (Botswana)
Startup Story
They say that to make a difference in the world you need to dream big, and for one truly inspirational woman social entrepreneur and aviator in Botswana, she is demonstrating that if your dreams are big enough you can make big change happen. Captain Kgomotso Phatsima, founder of Dare to Dream, is inspiring a new generation of young women to follow in her footsteps and carve out careers and businesses in the exciting world of aviation and aerospace.
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Candice Perkins and Teleszia Pillay, co-founders of Happy Earth People (South Africa)
Startup Story
As consumers are becoming more educated and conscious about the need to make healthy eating choices that are also kind to the environment, a South African company is opening minds to the health benefits of legumes. Happy Earth People, founded by Teleszia Pillay and Candice Perkins, is exciting consumer tastebuds with their wonderful range of handmade, healthy legume based food products.
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Farida Yahya, founder of Lumo Naturals (Nigeria)
Startup Story
The challenges facing many women in Africa of how to manage and care for their natural hair is one that entrepreneur Farida Yahya is all too familiar with. It was the inspiration for the launch of her business Lumo Naturals, which today creates a range of specialist hair products that both cleanse and treat the hair gently. Today, the brand is winning scores of fans who are looking for a natural solution for their natural hair.
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Tia Linda Zuze, founder of Chimango Research (South Africa)
Startup Story
To make change happen in Africa and to make the right decisions at the right time, you need to understand the facts, you need access to accurate information, and you need to hear people’s stories and opinions. In South Africa, Chimango Research, a specialist consultancy launched by entrepreneur Tia Linda Zuze, is undertaking research initiatives that provide the essential data needed by those in change-making positions on the continent.
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Thandi Hillie, Co-founder & CEO of Sbhekuza Rail (South Africa)
Startup Story
In South Africa, getting products safely and efficiently transported across the country can often be a challenge. But for entrepreneur Thandi Hillie and her company Sbhekuza Rail (a division of Sbhekuza Women Investments (Pty) Ltd), she is focused on solutions and providing a world-class service to her customers.
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Boineelo Moyo, founder of B&B Garden Masters (Botswana)
Startup Story
Every proud homeowner longs to have a beautiful garden to enjoy, but not everyone has the knowledge or experience in creating landscapes that are both lovely to look at and easy to maintain. In Botswana, entrepreneur Boineelo Moyo, founder of B&B Garden Masters, has the answers and the experience to match.
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Paula Matsinhe, founder of Uzuri Creations (Mozambique)
For many consumers, when they think of Mozambican fashion and fabrics, they immediately think of Capulana. And that unique design heritage was the inspiration for Uzuri, founded by entrepreneur Paula Matsinhe, a growing fashion accessory and clothing business in the country.
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Lubaina Momade, founder of Luzacredito, Ei (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Many people find it difficult to access finance and also ways of becoming better educated in managing money, particularly on a small scale. In Mozambique, entrepreneur Lubaina Momade, founder of Luzacredito, Ei, has built a business to respond to that need.
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Ivandra José, founder of Silva Kuphatima (Mozambique)
Startup Story
For entrepreneur Ivandra José, founder of floral design business Silva Kuphatima in Mozambique, her inspiration came from a passion for nature, flowers and an interest in crafts. Today, she is building a business that creates lasting, beautiful memories for her clients through her floral designs and jewellery.
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Lynda Aphing Kouassi, founder of KAIZENE (Cote d’Ivoire)
Startup Story
Businesses that want to grow the leaders of today and tomorrow need support when it comes to maximizing their people potential. In Cote d’Ivoire, one company is providing the solution. KAIZENE, founded by the inspirational entrepreneur, Lynda Aphing Kouassi, is taking her passion for human capital development and turning into an innovative, successful business that makes a difference.
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Nonny Penelope Wright, founder of Lopey Inc. and Sereledi Dairy Brand (Botswana)
Startup Story
Botswana has a great agriculture heritage, but the exciting opportunities for young entrepreneurs in country are to be found in taking that heritage and creating innovative value-add businesses. For one young woman entrepreneur in Maun, Nonny Penelope Wright, founder of the Sereledi dairy brand, this was the inspiration for the creation of her agri business, Lopey Inc.
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Krystal Bella Shabani, founder of Krysbel Designs (Burundi)
Startup Story by Martine Irakoze
My goal in writing this first article in what will become a series of Startup Story features for Lionesses of Africa is to shine a light on Burundian female entrepreneurs who are moving things in their country. My first interviewee is Krystal Bella Shabani, an ambitious Burundian young woman who is revolutionizing the fashion industry in the country.
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Cecilia Kapasula, founder of Home Of Sweet Savannah (South Africa)
The big global trend right now for incorporating the beautiful, bold and luxurious textiles created in Africa into home and office decor, is growing rapidly. Harnessing the power of that trend is South African decor entrepreneur, Cecilia Kapasula, founder of Home Of Sweet Savannah, a growing decor brand that is proving a hit with interior designers and home owners alike.
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Amanda Aminah Masire, founder of Greenhouse Technologies (Botswana)
Many entrepreneurs are inspired to start their businesses by seeing a gap in the market or a need in their communities. In the case of Amanda Aminah Masire from Botswana, she started her business, Greenhouse Technologies, in response to the gap between government and local people in the agricultural value chain.
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Neema Nkatha Kinoti, founder of Ohana Family Wear Limited (Kenya)
Whether relaxing in the pool or at the beach, everyone loves to look stylish. Ohana Family Wear Limited, the brainchild of Kenyan entrepreneur Neema Nkatha Kinoti, has just the answer, with her uber stylish range of swimwear. It celebrates African textiles and prints whilst at the same time providing comfort and chic.
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Cátia Mondlane, founder of Isabella Estética & Cosméticos (Mozambique)
Increasingly today, people suffer from skin irritations caused by the environment, food allergies, lifestyle challenges, and medical conditions. It can be hard to find skincare solutions for those consumers who find the big, globally produced, mainstream beauty brands just to harsh. Well now, help is at hand from Mozambican organic skincare company, Isabella - Estética & Cosméticos, founded by Cátia Mondlane. She is on a mission to bring natural, locally produced skincare solutions to her customers who want to be kind to their skins and to the planet.
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