In June this year, She Lead Africa launched with the goal to empower tech-savvy women active in the continent’s entrepreneurial tech scene. The initiative has now announced its top 10 finalists for its 2014 Entrepreneur Showcase.
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Selected from 380 applications from more than 27 countries, these young entrepreneurs represent some of the best young female entrepreneurs across the continent.
On 20 September in Lagos, the finalists will pitch their companies to a panel of esteemed business leaders and investors from leading venture capital firms to compete for more than US$30 000 in cash and prizes.
Here are the top 10:
Banke Kuku Textiles – London, United Kingdom
Banke Kuku Textiles designs African-inspired luxury fabrics and accessories for the fashion, interiors and soft furnishings markets. As noted on the site, the company’s designs are featured in some of the world’s most renowned global publications, such as Vogue, Elle, The Times UK, and Good Homes.
Fashpa – Lagos, Nigeria
Fashpa is an online retailing platform, dedicated to providing African consumers with access to fashion and lifestyle brands. The company features multiple payment options such as online payments, bank deposits and cash on delivery.
Lizzie’s Creations – Abuja, Nigeria
Lizzie’s Creations develops mobile and web applications uniquely aimed at the development and education of women and children in Africa. The initiative has developed interactive traditional African stories for smartphones and tablets.
Night Bus – Johannesburg, South Africa
Bus is a safe, cool way of getting around town at night. Commuters pay a fixed amount and can expect buses to pass specific popular location every 20 minutes.
Rare Customs – New York, USA
Rare Customs connects SMEs to emerging African tourism and investment trends. The firm aims to create the next generation of tourist “hot spots” through custom assessment, government coordination, business alliances, event curation, media planning, and grassroots tourist cultivation.
Thandos – Lagos, Nigeria
Thandos provides a platform that empowers aspiring African artists to design women’s fashion footwear that is comfortable, convenient and affordable. The company has developed shoes that are foldable, which aims to give women compact and comfortable fashionware.
Afrocentric Bamboo Limited – Kumasi, Ghana
The company designs, develops, and markets bamboo bikes and frames and related products and services.
Loue 1 Voiture (Book 1 Car) – Casablanca, Morocco
Loue 1 Voiture is described as the first online platform that enables you to reserve a car from big and small car hire companies in Morocco.
Mamelette – Lagos, Nigeria
Mamalette is a website and information portal dedicated to the needs of Nigerian parents and parents-to-be.
MKP Fast Foods – Johannesburg, South Africa
MKP Fast Foods creates youth employment in SA by operating a low-cost, scalable mobile kitchen for a growing chicken brand, Galito’s.
