Every month at Lionesses of Africa, we shine a spotlight on a particular industry sector where Africa’s women entrepreneurs are making a real impact, through their businesses, their innovation, their products and services, and their passion for what they do. This month (March), we are turning our attention to the truly inspirational African Women in Tech, those truly innovative pioneers who are building unique, high impact businesses and shaking up the tech world at the same time through their efforts.
Read moreKenya's Keroche Breweries eyes market share surge to 20 percent
Kenya's Keroche Breweries is investing 5 billion shillings ($55 million) to increase its capacity tenfold and help it grow its share of the alcohol market six-fold to 20 percent in about a year, its chief executive said. Founder, Tabitha Karanja told the Reuters Africa Investment Summit the money was being used to build a new 1 million hectolitres-a-year brew house and bottling line to be launched this month that would help the company raise its market share from 3 percent.
Read moreInstaHealth - The startup story of a health-tech company providing vital access to health information at the swipe of a smartphone screen
Brenda Katwesigye, co-founder InstaHealth, Uganda
Brenda Katwesigye is a tech entrepreneur with a passion for making a difference in Uganda’s health sector by harnessing her considerable telecommunications skills. Her company, InstaHealth, has developed a new mobile app which instantly connects users to health centres, medical specialists and ambulance services, using simple technology that ordinary people in Uganda can use. Together with her co-Founder, Elizabeth Kasujja, these are two African woman entrepreneurs finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges by using the power of technology.
Read more15 African Designing Women tempting the world’s buyers with their globally appealing creations
As February comes to an end, we reflect on what has been a really wonderful and particularly colourful month, as we have been celebrating some of Africa's finest and most creative women designers. From fashion designers and jewellery makers, to glorious shoemakers and architectural designers to name but a few, we have shared their inspirational stories and showcased their work. There is such a wealth of design talent here in Africa and it has been a pleasure showcasing just a few of them.
Read moreANZA - The startup story of a Tanzanian magazine publisher passionately showcasing East African architecture
Comfort Badaru, Comfort Mosha, Anitah Hakika, founders of ANZA Magazine, Tanzania
A passion for architecture and a love of East African cityscapes led three young women, all highly creative and ambitious architectural students, to come together with a fourth male colleague to create an online platform and magazine dedicated to showcasing East African architecture and cityscapes. ANZA Magazine is a beautiful and highly aesthetic publication and online platform and forms the backbone of their entrepreneurial venture together.
Read moreThe Global Women's Summit is coming to South Africa on 8 August 2015!
The South African edition of the The Global Women's Summit will be a one-day event where women learn from experts, network with each other, discuss women’s issues and enjoy entertainment.
Read moreDUBARUBA - The startup story of two women taking the best of African design to Europe
Adiam Emnay & Anne-Sophie Wass, founders of DUBARUBA
The concept behind Dubaruba is a wonderful one, showcasing the work of some of Africa’s most talented designers and brands to a discerning European marketplace and who are often not widely known outside their own countries. Founded by two passionate and dedicated women entrepreneurs, Aidam Emnay, originally from Eritrea, and her business partner, Anne-Sophie Wass, Dubaruba celebrates the finest in contemporary African design and products.
Read moreGrowing Trend of Virtual Assistants for Entrepreneurs
Guest Post by: Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect
Hiring a Virtual Assistant is so hot right now it’s trending! But before we get into the nitty-gritty of this, let’s first define what a Virtual Assistant is.
Read moreDEF.I.NI.TION Africa - The startup story of three talented fashion entrepreneurs redefining the value of 'African'
Nahida and Nadia Bhegani & Olga Mugyenyi, founders of DEF.I.NI.TION Africa, Uganda
Meet Ugandan sisters, Nahida and Nadia Bhegani who together with their childhood friend, Olga Mugyenyi are the founders of fashion sensation, DEF.I.NI.TION Africa. Their youthful energy promises an alternative approach to fashion, where everyday Ugandan life inspires each of their new designs. Their aim: to have products that are 100% African made, that redefine the market place, and importantly redefine the perception of 'African' fashion.
Read moreGayathrie Schatz - The startup story of an entrepreneur toymaker bringing children's imagination to life
Gayathrie Schatz, founder of The Little Bo Baby Company
How often in life do you experience one of those truly wonderful ‘aah’ moments, when you see a beautiful handmade product that is not only exquisitely produced, but is truly unique and manages to touch the soul? Well, South African children’s handmade toy entrepreneur, Gayathrie Schatz, is creating such an experience with her aptly named business, The Little Bo Baby Company.
Read moreTabitha Karanja set to unveil ultra-modern new Keroche Breweries beer bottling plant in March
Keroche Breweries, founded by leading Kenyan entrepreneur Tabitha Karanja, is all set to launch its new, ultra-modern and automated beer bottling plant in March. The Naivasha-based bottling plant will commence full operations end March producing over 30 beer brands, increasing Keroche Brwereries annual beer production from 10m litres to 100m litres. The investment in the new plant has been estimated at 2.5 Billion Kenyan Shillings.
Read moreJesslynn Schlamm - The startup story of an entrepreneur passionately creating sustainable skincare products with a conscience
Jesslynn Schlamm, founder of Lulu & Marula, South Africa
Frustrated by not being able to find skincare products that ticked all the boxes in terms of health, wellbeing, sustainability and eco-friendly production with a minimal impact on the environment, South African entrepreneur, Jesslynn Schlamm, was inspired to create her own from her small kitchen. Today, her Lulu & Marula skincare range is testimony to that original passion and dedication.
Read moreVideo: Njeri Rionge on empowering daring entrepreneurialism in Africa
Source: Cadillac Dare Greatly Series | Published on February 22, 2015
Njeri Rionge was a hairdresser with an entrepreneurial streak. She dared to trust her instincts and in doing so helped bring low cost internet to East Africa, and built its biggest internet service provider. In the video below Njeri is featured in Cadillac's 'We Dare Greatly' series - celebrating daring changemakers, whose passion and vision have reshaped their industries, our lives and our future. She discusses what it means to #DareGreatly and how to empower daring entrepreneurialism in Africa.
Read moreKatherine-Mary Pichulik - The startup story of a South African accessories designer who transforms everyday materials into something precious
Katherine-Mary Pichulik, founder of Pichulik, South Africa
For Katherine-Mary Pichulik, a hugely talented and creative South African entrepreneur and jewellery accessory designer, the inspiration for her work comes from the alchemy of transforming everyday materials through craft, touch and design, and elevating them into something precious and covetable.
Read moreJuliana Nasasira - The startup story of a talented young woman realising her lifelong dream to build a fashion brand
Juliana Nasasira, founder of Kwesh
Many of us day-dream of fulfilling our lifelong ambitions and entrepreneurial dreams one day, but talented Ugandan designer, Juliana Nasasira, went from a career in property management to becoming a global fashion brand builder in the making. She is a testimony to the power of passion, drive and a real can-do attitude.
Read moreKaren Wessels - The startup story of an innovative solution provider to overworked and stressed-out entrepreneurs
Karen Wessels, co-founder of VA Connect
If there is one thing that all women entrepreneurs probably have in common, its that they constantly juggle vast numbers of tasks and priorities, and try to take on too much themselves. Well, one South African entrepreneur, Karen Wessels, the founder of VA Connect has a practical solution - simply hire a Virtual Assistant when you need one.
Read moreVideo: LoA interviews Dr. Harnet Bokrezion on Africa as a vibrant marketplace for women entrepreneurs
Video: Lionesses of Africa | Published February 19, 2015
LoA spoke to Dr. Harnet Bokrezion about her online blog and coaching business that supports Africans in the Diaspora and on the continent in pursuing their business ambitions in Africa faster and more confidently. She gave some wonderful insights into some of the most vibrant African marketplaces for women entrepreneurs to startup new companies, and do great business with existing ones.
Read moreBOLD Kampala - The startup story of three women entrepreneurs changing the face of fashion retail in Africa
Ngyenzi 'Nunu' Mugyenyi (Top), Janet Mugume (L) and Angel Kalisa (R) , founders of BOLD Kampala
Bold Kampala is the brainchild of three vibrant and talented women entrepreneurs from Uganda who have a vision for raising awareness of, and retailing, African fashion brands. Their BOLD Kampala retail concept is truly world-class and provides affordable space and excellent exposure to buyers to talented African designer fashion brands.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Andrea Bohmert, partner at Knife Capital
“Incubators and accelerators are an important element in providing support. Incubator programmes such as the Bandwidth Barn, 88mph, BizSpark or the iHub in Kenya as well as our own Grindstone accelerator can all tell of great success stories where value was clearly added, .... When there is a match between what the incubator or accelerator can offer and the need of the entrepreneur, magic can happen."
- Andrea Bohmert is partner at Knife Capital, a Southern African growth equity fund manager and advisor focusing on innovation-driven ventures. Andrea has a successful track record in the corporate sector, as entrepreneur as well as investor. She headed up Corporate Strategy for Siemens Southern Africa followed by managing a software sales team for Dimension Data. Starting her own businesses led her into the investment space where she raised the R350m Hass Plattner Ventures Africa Fund. She is passionate about developing the startup ecosystem and is involved in numerous business incubation initiatives.
Read moreVideo: Victoria Kisyombe speaks on Leadership: How to turn loss into strength
Video source: The Washington Post PostTV | August 15, 2014
Victoria Kisyombe, founder of SELFINA, a pioneering micro-credit organization for women in Tanzania, talks to the Post's Lillian Cunningham about what motivated her work and how she turned personal loss into strength.
Read more