Kenya is a dynamic and exciting place to be a woman entrepreneur right now. It has become a centre for innovation and entrepreneurship; it’s a world leader in mobile money systems like m-pesa; it has a long tradition of highly creative brand builders producing world class solutions, designs and products that the world is falling in love with. It also has a strong entrepreneurial spirit that is deeply rooted, and it is women entrepreneurs who are taking that spirit to a whole new level.
Read morePhanice Shamalla, a Kenyan entrepreneur with a passion for helping people to become healthier in their lives
Phanice Shamalla, founder of Iris Management (Kenya)
For many people, staying fit and healthy is a real challenge and often requires a combination of specialist help, advice and access to resources, to make those essential healthy living choices. Iris Management, the business venture of health and wellbeing entrepreneur, Phanice Shamalla, is working hard to change mindsets and make it easier for people to think and live healthier lives.
Read moreJazeera Suwani, an entrepreneur creating artisan chocolates for those with dietary challenges in Kenya
Jazeera Suwani, founder Say it with Chocolate (Kenya)
For the many people who long for the wonderful taste of chocolate but their dietary regimes mean it is not an option, Kenyan entrepreneur Jazeera Suwani, founder of Say it with Chocolate, has the answer. She has created a business making fabulous handmade chocolates that specifically cater for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan.
Read moreShola Ade-Okafor, an entrepreneur with a passion for bringing professional make-up tools and products tailor-made for African women
Shola Ade-Okafor, founder of BlushinGirl Tools (Kenya)
For many women entrepreneurs in Africa, the inspiration for launching a new business, product or brand comes from trying to find a solution to a challenge or addressing the lack of a particular product in the marketplace. For Shola Ade-Okafor, the inspiration for her company, BlushinGirl Tools, came from not being able to find an eyeshadow primer suitable for professional make-up artists.
Read moreChristine Moraa, the startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur helping startups to promote and brand themselves in the marketplace
Christine Moraa (L) and Ruth Ogendi (R)
Finding a niche in business can often be a challenge in itself for many entrepreneurs, but for Christine Moraa, founder of Kenyan PR company Tendai Communications, her journey was inspired by her personal business experiences.
Read moreSarah Munyiva, a Kenyan entrepreneur on a mission to help busy people and companies with their cleaning needs
Sarah Munyiva, founder of Royal Maids Cleaning Services (Kenya)
For both homeowners and business owners alike, the challenge of keeping important living and work spaces clean and tidy is one that Kenya-based Royal Maids Cleaning Services is happy to deal with. Founder and CEO Sarah Munyiva is providing a useful and much-needed service to those requiring hassle-free cleaning solutions in their lives.
Read moreCelebrating Kenya’s talented women entrepreneurs putting the country on the global business map
Through the month of July at Lionesses of Africa, we have been focusing on the inspirational women entrepreneurs who are changing the face of business in Kenya. Each of these businesswomen, in their own unique way, is making a positive contribution to the growingentrepreneurial environment in Kenya. Their successful businesses, brands and social enterprises are helping to put the country firmly on the pan-African and global business map.
Read moreMary Njoki - The startup story of a tenacious Kenyan entrepreneur helping the continent’s brands become newsmakers
Mary Njoki, founder of Glass House PR (Kenya)
The world of public relations and brand positioning is a highly competitive one, particularly on the African continent, but Mary Njoki, the founder of successful Kenyan PR firm Glass House PR, is determined to be an industry leader by building a foundation of innovation and creativity.
Read moreRobertinah Nzula - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur transforming the image of the modelling and talent industry
Robertinah Nzula, founder of The Tianar Models (Kenya)
Changing perceptions and creating opportunities are objectives at the heart of The Tianar Models, an organisation created by Robertinah Nzula, a Kenyan entrepreneur on a mission to make a difference to the lives of others. She is not only changing an industry sector for the better, but she is empowering young people to follow their unique career and life paths.
Read moreThiitu Karega - The startup story of a natural beauty entrepreneur who is celebrating Africa’s bounty of natural ingredients
Thiitu Karega, founder Binti Naturals (Kenya)
Many women entrepreneurs in Africa are inspired to create businesses as a way of not only fulfilling personal ambitions and goals, but also of creating solutions or products that can help others. Binti Naturals is one such company that is looking to make its mark on the African beauty scene and provide natural beauty solutions for women who want an organic alternative.
Read moreShikha Vincent - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur who has founded a business based on her passions for jewellery design, travel and conservation
Shikha Vincent, founder of SHIKHAZURI (Kenya)
Many women entrepreneurs in Africa are inspired to start their businesses because of a personal passion, and in the case of Kenyan entrepreneur Shikha Vincent, her jewellery design company SHIKHAZURI, was motivated by just such passions. Her fascination with ethnic and tribal jewellery from across the African continent, combined with her desire to support wildlife conservation in her country, resulted in the creation of a jewellery brand with a strong backstory and purpose which is resonating with customers at home and abroad.
Read moreFidelis Wanjiku - The startup story of a Kenyan marketing specialist creating winning solutions for her clients and their businesses
Fidelis Wanjiku, founder of Round Square Marketing Limited (Kenya)
Any successful business knows the importance of strong marketing campaigns to get key messages to customers and connect them to brands and services. One Kenyan company, Round Square Marketing Limited, founded by entrepreneur Fidelis Wanjiku, is demonstrating a powerful track record in creating campaigns and solutions that delivers to its clients.
Read moreMeet 25 inspirational women entrepreneurs who are helping to put Kenya on the global business map
Last year, when President Barack Obama and the United States partnered with the Government of Kenya to host the sixth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit, it marked a new global interest in the country and its inspirational entrepreneurs. The event had an overarching focus on generating new investments in entrepreneurs in the country, particularly women and young entrepreneurs.
Read moreLinda Kimeu - The startup story of a Kenyan enterprise addressing the country’s hygiene and sanitation challenges
Kimmies non toxic enterprises is the entrepreneurial brainchild of three women co-founders - Linda Kimeu, Faith Kimeu and Mel Ngao - who are committed to making a difference to the lives and health of Kenyan people, especially children and youth, by improving their personal hygiene knowledge and awareness.
Read moreAngela Kamanzi - The startup story of a magazine publisher in Kenya passionate about women’s empowerment
Angela Kamanzi, founder of Arkad World Limited & publisher of Mkazi Magazine (Kenya)
One woman entrepreneur is bringing her wealth of expertise and experience in the field of publishing to create an online magazine that celebrates enterprising African women and provides a great resource of homegrown solutions to Africa’s unique challenges. Arkad World Limited, the holding company behind Mkazi Magazine, is the brainchild of Kenyan entrepreneur, Angela Kamanzi, and creates information to inspire, motivate and improve the lives of African women entrepreneurs.
Read moreRuth Mwanzia - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur bringing pure drinking water to the country
Ruth Mwanzia, founder of Koola Waters (Kenya)
The challenge of water scarcity and improving access to clean, safe drinking water in Africa is one that entrepreneur Ruth Mwanzia understood only too well growing up in Kenya. That experience was the inspiration behind her company, Koola Waters, a business venture which manufactures and distributes pure water to the country’s citizens.
Read moreHelen Njoroge - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur making procurement opportunities accessible through digital patforms
Helen Njoroge, founder of Tenders Kenya
One of the biggest challenges for many women entrepreneurs is finding new business opportunities. One women-led startup, Tenders Kenya, is looking to make a difference by connecting women entrepreneurs with new business opportunities by providing access to the tender environment in the country.
Read moreJudith Owigar - The startup story of a visionary Kenyan techpreneur working to make a huge impact by nurturing the talents of women in technology
Judith Owigar, co-founder of Akirachix (Kenya)
Take one woman with a big vision to nurture generations of women who use technology to develop innovations and solutions for Africa, and the energy to match, and you have the inspirational Judith Owigar, co-founder of Akirachix - a real gamechanger for women innovators in Africa.
Read moreSophie Umazi Mvurya and Brigit Wasike - The startup story of two dynamic fashionpreneurs who are creating affordable, trend-setting clothes for discerning Kenyans
Brigit Wasike (top) and Sophie Umazi Mvurya (bottom), founders of House of Tahzi
They say that great minds think alike, and in the case of Sophie Umazi Mvurya and Brigit Wasike, this is certainly a meeting of the minds. These two highly talented and passionate fashionpreneurs have a dynamic vision, to not only capture the fashion market in Kenya, but to take their unique House of Tahzi brand and transform it into a major global lifestyle name.
Read moreMonica Masiga & Justine Kiwanuka - The startup story of two micro-entrepreneurs bringing health and wellbeing to their communities in Kenya and Uganda
Justine Kiwanuka (L) & Monica Masiga (R), Living Goods micro-entrepreneurs
Across the African continent, particularly in rural areas, promoting good community health and wellness to local people remains a challenge. Life-saving products and services don’t do any good unless they get into the hands of the people that need them and know how to use them. Social entrepreneurship venture, Living Goods, is helping to solve the “last mile” problem by recruiting, training, and managing the performance of Community Health Promoters. Monica Masiga in Kenya, and Justine Kiwanuka in Uganda, are two such Living Goods micro-entrepreneurs who are making a difference.
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