Top 30 Finalists

I used to own a complete nutcase ex-racehorse called Brat. Nothing on the market at the time would calm him down, so I invented a natural calming supplement. It worked fantastically well - and The Herbal Horse was born. The business has since branched out into pets, and produces a range of natural supplements for dogs and cats to local and international distributors, shops, vets as well as horse and pet owners.

Leafline was started when the founder worked at a retirement home and realised the need for a more affordable adult nappy. Retired folk have a limited budget and cannot afford costly disposable nappies - and most of these end up on dumpsites and create bacterial problems and landfill concerns. We then found an advertisement board showing different uses for pulp fibre and designed this to fit into the inner of the washable product.

Akani Paints is a 100% black woman-owned paint manufacturing business located in a semi-rural area of Tzaneen. The business specialises in water-based decorative and industrial paints. Akani’s target market are mainly local hardware stores, property developers and homeowners. Since 2016, the business has created 14 permanent jobs, as well as internships for more than 30 chemical engineering graduates since 2021.

Founded in 2004, Stepmor Supplies is inspired by my passion for knowing how stuff works which resulted in me qualifying as a mechanical engineer. The business specialises in mining and industrial supplies including customised nuts and bolts, pattern making and castings, stainless steel, industrial rubberising as well as industrial seals, moulding and customisation.

I'm a proud nurse entrepreneur and owner of Sha’pleft Healthcare services which provides basic primary healthcare services including making diagnoses, prescribing and dispensing medication up to schedule 4. The business services about 1000 clients a month and provides primary and occupational healthcare at an affordable cost in communities in which it’s needed the most.

Cyla Gonsolves is an award-winning luxury womenswear brand of knitwear and resort fashion. The business’ main mission is to add meaning to current and potential customers’ lives by producing high quality garments and accessories. We also focus on making customers feel good while wearing the clothing.

Almost 15 years old, Imsyser Marketing produces 100% natural health products using South African indigenous plants. The products are designed to support optimal immunity through effective gut health and are completely unique in their design. Imsyser’s range currently includes eight flagship products that bring a new level of excellence to nutraceuticals countrywide.

We Do House Plans specialises in plan formalisation or legalising unapproved alterations and additions to homes—work that most architects find quite tedious. The business targets middle income households and homeowners who often struggle to get professional and transparent advice, and who are rarely serviced by professional architects.

Spectacular Concrete Creations supplies the building, landscaping, civil engineering, and plumbing industries. We provide a diverse range of concrete products including pavers, planters, patio sets, benches and more - to suit residential, retail and commercial projects.

The Nanny Movement trains and gives professional development in both home-based and centre-based early childhood facilities. The business was born out of a deep passion for education and early childhood development - and an acknowledgment that everyone present in a child’s life should be well-informed and trained to create a solid foundation in that child’s life.

Puno Greenery is an innovative platform that merges technology with agriculture, offering crowdfunded investments and insurance to empower smallholder farmers across Africa. Our business model leverages investor funds to provide short-term loans and insurance, fostering a sustainable agri-value chain. We're the financial partner that empowers farmers, drives food security, and transforms lives.

Tech startups have unique requirements. They need a range of marketing skills and they need flexibilty and agility, as well as growth hacking and innovative, cost effective marketing solutions. Manjaro Marketing was created to address this unique market segment by offering a fractional resource model for tech startups in Africa who need marketers.

As a third generation farmer, I’m motivated by knowing that farmers contribute to South Africa’s food security. Yende and Partners focus on farming livestock and grains which are seasonal crops, as well as crops like butternuts that are not rainfed. Our business model is focused on finding gaps like expanding, creating food security and creating employment while empowering aspiring female farmers.

Lesedi Scientific Services (LSS) is a chemistry and microbiology testing laboratory that tests food, water and cosmetics for safety for human consumption against regulations and international standards (ISO). We target food and cosmetic entrepreneurs, as well as companies requiring quality management certification. With the testing certificates, consumers’ minds are put at rest, the SA economy grows by including entrepreneurs and jobs are created.

Tipped is a digital tipping and payment solution aimed at any service personnel receiving gratuity. The business services the unbanked, while FICA approves tippees and brings financial inclusion and education through its ecosystem. With the tipped bank account that we give to each recipient, we are bringing in pension and education funds, cash backs and discount baskets to anyone from any walk of life.

Waste cooking oil is damaging to people’s health, ecosystem and marine life. INO-Biodiesel is a green energy company that produces 100% clean fuel (biodiesel) from waste cooking oil. We collect this waste oil from households and local small restaurants and convert it into clean fuel for running engine construction, farm, mining equipment, generators, fleets and aeroplanes.

Unjani Clinic is a network of primary healthcare clinics that provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to communities in low income areas. It compliments the re-engineering of our healthcare system by creating community-based healthcare structures at the point of need. It’s an innovative model that addresses the inequality which exists between private and public healthcare services in our country.

Back in the old days, social clubs would help with the catering needs for funerals in the community - but these days, many women now have careers and work far from home. Phalala Grocery Scheme is a funeral catering policy that creates a sense of community by helping organise the funeral event, including preparing amazing meals for those who have come to pay their last respects.

Mo's Crib produces meticulously crafted homeware items that blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. The company is dedicated to environmental sustainability by only using recycled materials, and the brand has already garnered recognition with partnerships with local esteemed retailers like Woolworths and Mr Price and @Home, and internationally at Target and Crate and Barrel.

Mrs Milk is aimed at breastfeeding moms who wish to increase their milk supply and keep up their energy levels – in the most natural way possible. The business sells two two varieties of oat bars which contain all natural ingredients to boost milk supply. The brand aims to shift the perception of breastfeeding being difficult to it being the most ideal and natural way for a mother to nourish her baby.

With over 15 years in the ICT sector, ABOT Technology is a software development company that creates technology to help organisations find value in their data. In doing so, we help companies reach new levels of business maturity leading to increased profit, automate business processes, improve staff engagement and lift productivity.

I come from a big family with high unemployment: my family would collect waste, hire transport and sell it in town for extra cash. From this background I came up with the idea for Ku Green Hands: a waste buy-back centre that buys recyclables materials from trolley pushers, compresses them and sells them to manufacturing companies who make them into useful products. Today, we employ seven people full time, and have collected over 75 000 kgs of waste.

Afrizulu Tech is a tech solutions company with a key focus in Robotics and AI training in underprivileged communities in Africa. We supply robotics and AI kits, training and laptops together with leadership and innovative skills development. We also offer the youth the opportunity to gain advanced robotics and AI coding skills that they can then showcase through the projects that they do.

Based in Limpopo, our business provides the region as well as neighbouring countries with state-of-the-art medical tests and treatments. Our business has alleviated the travel required to seek healthcare to neighbouring countries and provinces. Our facility is the only one in the province with a Pet/ct scanner; I was the first black woman in South Africa to own one. Many provinces in South Africa still don’t have this equipment - in both the private and public healthcare sector.

Shopping used to be a nightmare for Ouma Tema: either she found what she wanted but not in her size, or everything in her size had ‘grandma’ written all over it. As a result, Ouma Tema started making her own plus-sized clothes — which then evolved into Plus-Fab, a fashion brand targeting plus-size women. Plus-Fab now employs 16 people in its factory and sells online as well as through The Space retail chain.

Zenzo Multitrade manufactures coffins and caskets for burial and supply funeral undertakers. As a young black woman, I wanted to help funeral undertakers have access to quality products and affordable prices. As a result, we came up with our own new designs to accommodate small businesses in the funeral undertaking business. We aim to uplift young women by helping them acquire the skills to design casket and coffin interiors - a skill that is scarce in South Africa.

RBKM specialise in broiler production, processing and marketing broilers that are live or have been dressed, packaged, labelled, priced and sold to potential buyers. We also sell fresh eggs, and our chickens are raised in large spacious houses and they can roam freely and eat and drink as they wish. RBKM is set up to promote the creation of jobs, women and youth empowerment, economic development and poverty alleviation.

Founder Shocky Seloane gave up her job at Power Stations to chase her dream of leading a mechanical engineering company. The result was Tembo Engineering, a 100% Black youth women-owned and led company that provides mechanical engineering consulting work including design, drawings and steel fabrication. The company also launched Match-a-Spec, a sales platform for engineers and suppliers to match a specification correctly.

Jackrabbit Chocolate Studio is a renowned artisanal chocolate business based in Pretoria. With a passion for creating high-quality and exquisite chocolates, JRCS has gained recognition for its unique and handcrafted confections. The brand consists of a wide range of chocolate products meticulously made using premium ingredients.

Farmers Hope is our story of humble beginnings, determination and commitment to putting nutritious food on the table and sustain families. For each yield produced, a portion of the produce is shared with community members. In this way, the farming initiative empowers the community through a sustainable food programme, fostering collaborations and empowering local community members, especially women.