the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Hape Marite Mphale, founder of Blackhair (Lesotho)
Startup Story
The haircare business globally is big business, and in Africa, the market for high quality, home-grown brands that know exactly how to cater to the specific haircare needs of African women is exploding. In Lesotho, entrepreneur Hape Marite Mphale has created the Blackhair brand, a popular and rapidly growing natural hair care brand and range of products.
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Ana Lloyd Vasconcelos (Angola)
Startup Story
Finding stunningly beautiful clothes to wear for any occasion in Angola, whether formal or casual wear, has never been easier, thanks to the creative design talent of Ana Lloyd Vasconcelos. Her fashion company and brand, AnaLoyd Lda, is bringing a touch of glamour to all her customers who want to look and feel beautiful in her clothing.
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Ntsiuoa Makoae, founder of Boiphihlelo (Lesotho)
Startup Story
In Lesotho, one enterprising woman took a challenge of finding new markets for local dairy farmers and turned it into a successful business venture. Ntsiuoa Makoae, founder of Boiphihlelo, is today producing a popular range of dairy products that provide an income for local dairy farmers and a source of great nutrition for local consumers.
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Morenike Okebu, founder of Reni Legal (Nigeria)
Startup Story
As every entrepreneur knows, getting the right legal advice for a growing business is essential, yet it can often be out of reach from an affordability perspective in the early days. But in Nigeria, entrepreneur and lawyer, Morenike Okebu, founder of Reni Legal, is bringing legal advice and expertise within reach of all SMEs.
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Zilia Ximenes, founder of Zximenes – Imobiliária (Angola)
Startup Story
Finding the right property for your business or personal needs can be a stressful and time consuming process, and one that requires specialist expertise. In Angola, entrepreneur Zilia Ximenes, founder of Zximenes – Imobiliária, is helping her clients with all their property needs, bringing her personalized approach and specialist experience to every job.
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Nandi Usher, founder of Nandi’s Beauty Creations (Botswana)
Startup Story
Every woman wants to look and feel good, but not everyone can travel to a spa. However, in Botswana, one enterprising woman has created a mobile beauty spa experience that is convenient and affordable. Nandi Usher, founder of Nandi’s Beauty Creations, is winning fans with her quality service and products.
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Lynelle Blunden, owner of City Granite (South Africa)
Startup Story
Visit any good home, office or hotel interior and the chances are you will see beautiful granite or marble work surfaces and staircases. They are the mark of a high quality interior design space. In South Africa, entrepreneur Lynelle Blunden, owner of City Granite, is a specialist in fabricating and installing these unique materials to transform any ordinary space into something special.
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Selma Uamusse, founder of Nhani (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Many consumers are becoming much more discerning and knowledgeable about the cosmetics they buy and put onto their skin. But finding good quality organic cosmetic products that celebrate local, natural plants and production techniques can be difficult. That’s where Mozambican entrepreneur, Selma Uamusse, founder of Nhani comes in. She is producing great quality, organic cosmetic products that customers want to buy and can trust.
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Lineia Caldeira, founder of LC3D Produções (Mozambique)
The development of 3d printing technology means that today, if you can visualise it, you can make it. In Mozambique, entrepreneur Lineia Caldeira, founder of LC3D Produções, is literally bringing her clients’s ideas to life through the use of 3d printing.
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Isis Mbaga, founder of Isis Mbaga (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Mozambique has some exciting design talents emerging on the entrepreneurial scene, and Isis Mbaga, founder of the brand that carries her name, is one such talent. Her fashion brand has appeal to local and global consumers who are looking for unique designs with local flair.
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Davina Toale, founder of Power Paws (South Africa)
Startup Story
As any dog owner knows, it can often be difficult to fit into a busy day the amount of walking that your precious pet needs to stay fit and healthy. But in Johannesburg, South Africa, expert help is at hand, thanks to Power Paws, a specialist dog walking business founded by entrepreneur Davina Toale and her co-founder Ondine.
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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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