• Home
  • Blog
  • Community
  • Knowledge
  • Cover Stories
  • Startup Stories
  • Playbooks
  • Podcasts
  • Português
    • Events Homepage & Booking
    • Start-Up Night Africa Series
    • Lioness Lean In Series
    • Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference
    • Harvard University / Lionesses of Africa Conference
    • Young Lioness Lean In Series
    • About Us
    • Impact Partners
    • Contributor Team
    • Contact
    • Join the Community
    • Signup for FREE Newsletters
    • Share Your Startup Story
    • Share Your Lioness Launch
    • Share Your Lioness Co-Lab
    • Become a Contributor
    • Nominate to '100 Lionessess'
    • Become an Impact Partner
    • Contact LoA
Menu

Lionesses of Africa

276 5th Avenue
New York, NY, 10001
(212) 634-4540
The Pride of Africa's Women Entrepreneurs

the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs

Lionesses of Africa

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Community
  • Knowledge
  • Cover Stories
  • Startup Stories
  • Playbooks
  • Podcasts
  • Português
  • Events +
    • Events Homepage & Booking
    • Start-Up Night Africa Series
    • Lioness Lean In Series
    • Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference
    • Harvard University / Lionesses of Africa Conference
    • Young Lioness Lean In Series
  • About +
    • About Us
    • Impact Partners
    • Contributor Team
    • Contact
  • Connect +
    • Join the Community
    • Signup for FREE Newsletters
    • Share Your Startup Story
    • Share Your Lioness Launch
    • Share Your Lioness Co-Lab
    • Become a Contributor
    • Nominate to '100 Lionessess'
    • Become an Impact Partner
    • Contact LoA

Sibongile Mthimunye, a South African entrepreneur building an environmentally friendly cleaning business

June 19, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Sibongile Mthimunye, founder, BWGL Group (South Africa)

Startup Story

Sibongile Mthimunye is the founder of BWGL Group in South Africa, a specialist business providing cleaning services to companies, businesses and households. Sibongile’s business is also a distributor of natural and environmentally-friendly cleaning products. The business was founded in 2020 and is growing and continuing to employ women from local communities. Sibongile is harnessing her 23 years of experience working in both the non-profit and corporate sectors for the benefit of her own business.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa
Comment

Flacia Wanjiru Nyamu, a Kenyan entrepreneur with a passion for training and consulting to elevate opportunities for the youth

June 12, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Flacia Wanjiru Nyamu, founder & ceo, Woven Link Africa (Kenya)

Startup Story

Flacia Wanjiru Nyamu is the founder and ceo of Woven Link Africa, with 19 years of combined experience in youth capacity building programs. Her greatest accomplishments are in setting up systems and structures for design, delivery and management of vocational education, entrepreneurship, and employability programs. She has worked with various organizations in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and UK.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Kenya, People Management
Comment

Stacey Spilsbury, a South African entrepreneur helping clients to connect mind, body and wellness

June 12, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Stacey Spilsbury, co-founder, Connectable Life (South Africa)

Startup Story

Stacey Spilsbury is the co-founder of Connectable Life in South Africa, an online platform that connects Mind, Body and Wellness specialists with clients. She grew up in the heart of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal. She is married to an incredible man, father and farmer, and they have 4 earth loving, wild and free, little boys. Both Stacey and her husband are passionate about Family, Faith and Business. She has a background in marketing and worked for a few years in London, UK before getting married and settling down back in South Africa.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa, Wellbeing & Mental Health
Comment

Elohor Oderowho, a Nigerian digital magazine creator promoting women-empowered lifestyles

May 29, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Elohor Oderowho, Founder and Chief Editor, Elowell Max (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Elohor Oderowho is the Founder and Chief Editor of Elowell Max which was established in 2020. Her initial pursuit was to promote healthy living and wellness among African Women. This passion started when she noticed that African women needed a platform solely dedicated to their growth in all aspects. Thus, she vowed to create a women's site like no other, giving every African woman something to feed on. Being a passionate writer, she begun creating awareness for African women on how to go about vital aspects of life including relationships, femininity, fashion and beauty on her website www.elowellmaxpost.com.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Nigeria, Media PR & Communications
Comment

Filomena Matimbe, a Mozambican entrepreneur creating business through banana flour innovation

May 29, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Filomena Matimbe, founder and ceo, Finana (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Filomena Matimbe is the founder and ceo of Finana, a Mozambican company specializing in Banana Flour processing and dry banana. She brings five years of experience in this business. Finana has won multiple awards including the world Gold Medal at the II World of Inventors and Innovators Forum, and also a SANBio award in Mozambique 2017. Banana flour is available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies. It is also served as a snack in schools and in the largest hospital in the country.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Agri-business, Mozambique
Comment

Maureen Obaweya, a Nigerian entrepreneur building a luxury leather accessory brand

May 22, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Maureen Obaweya, founder and Creative Director, Morin.O Designs (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Maureen Obaweya is the Founder and Creative Director of Morin.O Designs in Nigeria. She is an award-winning designer whose initial career was in a pharmacy before taking an unchartered course. The Morin.O brand is a luxury brand focused on creating leather items and accessories for individuals with the aim to share African beauty, craftsmanship, and creativity with the world. Maureen established her brand in 2013 and opened her first store in Lagos in 2015. She has over 29 years of experience that cuts across arts, decor, gift company, pharmacies, and many more.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Nigeria, Fashion, Handbags
Comment

Rachelle Best, a South African entrepreneur creating an app to help parents manage their children’s online safety

May 22, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Rachelle Best, founder, FYI play it safe (South Africa)

Startup Story

Rachelle Best founded FYI play it safe, a downloadable app that helps parents protect their children from online harm and potential physical danger. She wanted to create a solution she and other parents can use to navigate the harsh realities of managing children’s online safety. Being confronted by the dangers associated with social media platforms and the open world of the internet, led Rachelle to embark on a research study to get a clear view of the available solutions.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa, Apps
Comment

Jean Archary, a South African financial wellness coach empowering people about money matters

May 14, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Jean Archary

Startup Story

Jean Archary is a Certified Financial Planner® and created MONEY MESSAGES, a financial education and wellness company in South Africa that offers a range of solutions for employees and their families. Jean is a published and AfriCan award-winning author, financial wellness coach, speaker and mom. Her passion is to empower as many people about money matters and shift the way they think, feel and behave with money. Her company is based on the philosophy that "When you know better, you do better - (Maya Angelou).

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa, Financial Literacy
Comment

Sian Louw, an entrepreneur in eSwatini on a mission to change lives and organisations

May 14, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Sian Louw, ceo and owner, The Pacific Institute Swaziland

Startup Story

Everyone wants to have the opportunity to become the best versions of themselves, but achieving the desired end goal is not always easy with out expert help. In eSwatini, entrepreneur Sian Louw, ceo and owner of The Pacific Institute Swaziland, is assisting those who are looking to transform themselves and their organisations.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Eswatini, People Management
Comment

Oghenetega Gbadagri, an entrepreneur delivering on-demand mobile spa services to customers in Lagos, Nigeria

May 8, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Oghenetega Gbadagri, founder, The Mobile Spa (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Oghenetega Gbadagri is a well-being entrepreneur and the founder of Nigeria’s foremost on-demand Spa, The Mobile Spa, founded in 2017 and now a business employing 17 people. She is certified by the International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC UK), and she has certifications in various therapies including – Massage, Facials, Collagen Induction, Electrocautery and Advanced Skin Peel. Oghenetega is committed to helping people improve their skincare and well-being by making rejuvenating spa services easily accessible to them in their personal space.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Nigeria
Comment

Gugu Mpungose, a South Africa entrepreneur with a passion for media and storytelling that inspires 

May 8, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Gugu Mpungose, founder, Black Tie Media and Communications (South Africa)

Startup Story

There is nothing quite as powerful as women who share their experiences and insights through storytelling in order to inspire others. Gugu Mpungose, founder of Black Tie Media and Communications, is creating platforms through publishing, content creation and event experiences to tell stories and share information that can help and inspire others.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa, Media PR & Communications
Comment

Marie Behrens, a serial entrepreneur in Mauritius building a pan-African marketplace for beauty and wellness professionals

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Marie Behrens, founder and CEO, Kipepeo (Mauritius)

Startup Story

Marie Behrens is the founder and CEO of Kipepeo in Mauritius. She is a serial entrepreneur with over 13 years experience developing beauty salons and spas internationally, and with that skillset and passion for the industry she is now building a pan African marketplace that provides beauty and wellness professionals with a management and booking solution to optimize their business. It is the first start up of its kind in Mauritius and has been operational for more than a year, creating a community and business support to over 100 professionals. Her vision is to create equal growth opportunities for these professionals across Africa by using an end-to-end digital solution.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Apps, Beauty & Wellness, Mauritius
Comment

Tatum Billson, a South African baby stroller business and brand builder 

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Tatum Billson, founder, NoolaBaby

Startup Story

NoolaBaby (formally known as NulaBaby) is a South African online retailer founded by Tatum Billson that specializes in baby strollers. Since launching the brand, the range has expanded to over seven different strollers (including a twin stroller), and now also sells nursery furniture, rocking chairs, as well as 360-degree rotation car seats and accessories.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa, children, Retail
Comment

Bertha Kgokong, a serial techpreneur from South Africa developing software applications and platforms

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Startup Story

Skhokho is a software development company based in South Africa and launched by tech entrepreneur Bertha Kgokong. Bertha is a self taught developer who graduated with an Engineering degree in 2003 and has spent over 15 years in corporate. Her entrepreneurial journey started in 2017, where she founded Tati Software. Since then she has created numerous software applications, and also runs an online tech learning platform called Skolo https://skolo.online - where she provides free programming lessons on Youtube, and some paid courses on her website skolo.online.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa, Edupreneur, Edutech
Comment

Helen Viljoen, a South African sustainability focused luxury jewellery brand builder 

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Helen Viljoen, founder Nebü (South Africa)

Startup Story

Nebü is a transparently priced, pure investment-grade gold jewellery brand inspired by and made in South Africa by entrepreneur Helen Viljoen. She creates legacy pieces for clients that will not only hold their value but grow in capital appreciation Helen believes this value not only enriches her customers but preserves our precious natural heritage.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa, Jewellery, Sustainability
Comment

Dr Hajira Mashego, a South African business founder making fitness and exercise more accessible

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Dr Hajira Mashego, founder, Fitness Junction (South Africa)

Startup Story

Dr Hajira Mashego is the founder of Fitness Junction in South Africa. She is a qualified sport physiotherapist who studied further to complete a Master’s Degree in Public Health (with a focus on fitness) and a PHD in Human Movement Science (also focusing on fitness). She has vast experience in sport physiotherapy, exercise science and sport management and has served a combined 26 years in the health, wellness and sports sectors. Hajira resigned from a senior management government position, took her pension contributions and established Fitness Junction, a gym company in February 2018. The company has been bootstrapped and has grown organically, now employing 14 people. Fitness Junction is a provider of commercial, corporate and home gyms.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags South Africa, Health & Wellbeing, Business Services
Comment

Abira Mahumane, a Mozambican entrepreneur with a niche business focused on invitations and gifting

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Abira Isabel Mahumane, founder, Bibi Invites e Flores (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Abira Isabel Mahumane, graduated in Financial and Insurance Management and is an entrepreneur and founder of the brand Bibi Invites e Flores in Mozambique. She started her business in 2019, a company specializing in invitations and gifts for various occasions, which operates in e-commerce. She has always been passionate about art and decided to turn this art into work. She now has three employees who carry out various tasks with great passion for its growth.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Business Services, Mozambique
Comment

Erica Paiva, a Mozambican woman entrepreneur building a strong personal media brand

April 10, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Erica Paiva

Startup Story

Erica Paiva is a creative woman entrepreneur from Mozambique who decided to use her own unique skills as a tv host, writer, actress, master of ceremony, and event planner to create a niche, personal brand in the marketplace. Erica’s brand has been in the market for 7 years, but she has been working for a total of 15 years.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Mozambique, Media PR & Communications
Comment

Eliana Silva, a Mozambican communications specialist with a passion for storytelling

April 10, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Eliana Silva, founder, Marcas Por Escrever (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Eliana Silva is the founder of Marcas Por Escrever in Mozambique, an online publication focused on Lusophone communication, marketing, entrepreneurship and social responsibility. She is a communication specialist with a career spanning more than a decade working in journalism, public relations, and advertising. Her professional experience is currently focused on advertising, brand activation and strategic communication. Eliana began her career in the Portuguese media industry, at Revista Máxima in 2009, and then migrated to the world of public relations. Over the years, Silva has always been interested in storytelling and has developed her media tools by working with video, writing and photography. In Mozambique since 2014, Eliana completed a degree in Journalism in Lisbon, and after a postgraduate degree in the same city in Digital Marketing, she attended courses in London and São Paulo.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Mozambique, Online Service
Comment

Kemi Olawoye, a Nigerian entrepreneur building a fast-growing parenting community 

April 3, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Kemi Olawoye, ceo & co-founder, Babymigo (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Kemi Olawoye is the ceo & co-founder of Babymigo, Nigeria's largest pregnancy and parenting community. She is a veteran entrepreneur and an award-winning business leader. Kemi's business focuses of building an easily accessible online community for mums to gain information and bridge the communication gap on maternal health in Africa. She founded the business in 2018 and has over 150,000 members across Africa. The business employs 12 people.

Read more
In Startup Story Tags Nigeria, Community & Social Networks
Comment
← Newer Posts Older Posts →

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


LATEST PODCAST

LIONESSES OF AFRICA · AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace

Lioness Radio Show: AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace - Tune in for an engaging conversation designed to equip you with the knowledge to embrace AI and unlock its possibilities for your business.


LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa
Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa
Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder
Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder
Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures
Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures
Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow
Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

Image of the Day / Reform Studio

Sustainable fashion accessories…We love showcasing women business innovators, so this morning we are featuring the work of sustainable lifestyle brand, Reform Studio, an inspirational eco-focused manufacturing
Image of the Day /Femi Handbags

Full Bloom Style…Add a touch of summer florals to your wardrobe with one of the beautiful new Bloom handbags from Femi Handbags in Nigeria, founded by Femi Olayebi. With their eclectic pops of colour, there&rsq
Image of the Day / Melvins Teas

Time for tea…If you love tea, then this Cool Chamomile tea from the Melvins Tea brand, founded by Flora Mutahi in Kenya is just what you need. The brand is part of Melvin Marsh International, the Kenyan-based f
Image of the Day / Afropian

Storytelling through accessories…Afropian, the Pan-african lifestyle brand founded by Ethiopean entrepreneur Hortense Mbea, is a rare, fully hand-made in Africa brand. It uses traditional know-how in a modern way t
Image of the Day / AAKS

Vibrant Ghanaian craftsmanship,…We just have to share one of our favourite accessories of the year, this beautiful hand-woven bag created by award-winning designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi and her AAKS brand in Ghana. We lo
Image of the Day / Ledikana

Contemporary South African Chic…Knowing exactly how to spot a gap in the marketplace is key to the success of any fashion brand, and Mapholo Ratau, founder of Ledikana in South Africa, has achieved that goal. For h
Image of the Day / The 1964 Brand

Modern relaxed fashion…Olakunmi Oni is the founder of The 1964 Brand in Nigeria, a fashion business that proudly promotes self-care through minimalist clothing for the modern woman. Loyal patrons of The 1964
Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c
Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi
Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company
Image of the Day / Reform Studio

Sustainable fashion accessories…We love showcasing women business innovators, so this morning we are featuring the work of sustainable lifestyle brand, Reform Studio, an inspirational eco-focused manufacturing Image of the Day /Femi Handbags

Full Bloom Style…Add a touch of summer florals to your wardrobe with one of the beautiful new Bloom handbags from Femi Handbags in Nigeria, founded by Femi Olayebi. With their eclectic pops of colour, there&rsq Image of the Day / Melvins Teas

Time for tea…If you love tea, then this Cool Chamomile tea from the Melvins Tea brand, founded by Flora Mutahi in Kenya is just what you need. The brand is part of Melvin Marsh International, the Kenyan-based f Image of the Day / Afropian

Storytelling through accessories…Afropian, the Pan-african lifestyle brand founded by Ethiopean entrepreneur Hortense Mbea, is a rare, fully hand-made in Africa brand. It uses traditional know-how in a modern way t Image of the Day / AAKS

Vibrant Ghanaian craftsmanship,…We just have to share one of our favourite accessories of the year, this beautiful hand-woven bag created by award-winning designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi and her AAKS brand in Ghana. We lo Image of the Day / Ledikana

Contemporary South African Chic…Knowing exactly how to spot a gap in the marketplace is key to the success of any fashion brand, and Mapholo Ratau, founder of Ledikana in South Africa, has achieved that goal. For h Image of the Day / The 1964 Brand

Modern relaxed fashion…Olakunmi Oni is the founder of The 1964 Brand in Nigeria, a fashion business that proudly promotes self-care through minimalist clothing for the modern woman. Loyal patrons of The 1964 Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

Featured
Tumelo Tshwagong, a South African agri-entrepreneur contributing to finding sustainable local solutions to addressing food insecurity
Tumelo Tshwagong, a South African agri-entrepreneur contributing to finding sustainable local solutions to addressing food insecurity
Gloria Sellwane Phala, a South African entrepreneur helping clients benefit from the transformative impact of yoga
Gloria Sellwane Phala, a South African entrepreneur helping clients benefit from the transformative impact of yoga
Nondumiso Leshaba, a South African business builder providing professional business advisory and accounting services to SMEs
Nondumiso Leshaba, a South African business builder providing professional business advisory and accounting services to SMEs
Anneline Lucinda Lopis, an entrepreneur on a mission to grow small scale miners around the African continent
Anneline Lucinda Lopis, an entrepreneur on a mission to grow small scale miners around the African continent
Gadifele Moeng, a South African entrepreneur empowering young people to find their voices through public speaking
Gadifele Moeng, a South African entrepreneur empowering young people to find their voices through public speaking

LIONESS DATA & INSIGHTS


LIONESS PLAYBOOKS



Screen Shot 2020-01-27 at 6.01.32 PM.png
Screen Shot 2020-01-27 at 5.34.58 PM.png

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.

* indicates required
Required: Please select your newsletter(s):


LIONESS BOOK REVIEWS

Featured
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul
Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul
Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World by Sheena Yap Chan
Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World by Sheena Yap Chan
Authentic Selling: Be Real to Seal the Deal by Kendrick Shope
Authentic Selling: Be Real to Seal the Deal by Kendrick Shope

About Us  |  Contact Us  | PRIVACY POLICY | terms OF SERVICE  | Community Guidelines  

© 2025 LIONESSES OF AFRICA public benefit corporation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.