Female entrepreneurs shine at Nedbank’s 2020 Business Ignite Competition

Nedbank, in association with Primedia’s 702 and CapeTalk, recently held the Nedbank 2020 Business Ignite Competition to support entrepreneurs to move their businesses forward.

Three out of the five winners were women – each with an innovative idea that caught the judges’ eyes – and earned them a share of packages valued at more than R1 million.

As Women’s Month draws to a close, Nedbank, in association with 702 and CapeTalk, celebrates all five winners of its Business Ignite Competition – especially the three women who founded and ran their operations. 

The three female winners

• Michelle Mokone, cofounder of Mo’s Crib, a homeware manufacturing business based in Pretoria. Mo’s Crib manufactures all their products from unusual and eco-friendly material. Their baskets and planters are made from old PVC waterpipes, each individually handpicked and collected from landfills and construction sites, ensuring the material is kind to the environment.

• Lerato Dontache, cofounder or Nxatel, a cloud communication platform that allows people to make calls with their landline number on cellphones, desk phones or computers using any internet medium of their choice. 

• Hannah Lavery, founder of her own clothing company in 2008 after obtaining a qualification in design. Her bespoke designs offer a complete wardrobe in neutral tones with clear lines and kind-to-your-skin materials. Hannah’s fashion brand made headlines around the world last year when Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, wore a white Hannah Lavery Tencel Shirt dress on the final day of her and Prince Harry’s 2019 royal tour of Africa.

According to Matsi Modise, vice chairperson of SiModisa Start-up and a judge of this year’s competition, vision and resilience are what made these women stand out.

‘It’s exciting to see this year’s competition dominated by female entrepreneurs. These women have demonstrated outstanding skills and leadership qualities to stand out above the rest. Nedbank has always been committed to investing in female entrepreneurs. I look forward to working with these women as they go through the business incubation programme,’ says Modise.

Business Ignite 2020 offered five small businesses the chance to win packages worth over R1 million. Each package is worth more than R260 000, including an incubation programme worth R40 000 with Modise, an independent business growth specialist, a media booking to the value of R200 000 on either 702 or CapeTalk talk radio stations, and a cash injection of R20 000 for their business.

The two other winners

• Greener Pastures Recycling, the brainchild of Thabiso Hlongwane, specialises in managing waste on site, including the collection, transporting and recycling of waste.

• Skywalk Innovations, a software development company founded by Siyabonga Tiwana, helps businesses improve their business process to increase customer service delivery and internal processes.

According to Ashrinee Gopi, Provincial Manager of Nedbank Retail Relationship Banking in the Western Cape, Nedbank votes for small businesses that strive for growth and is particularly supportive of female entrepreneurs. 

‘It’s been great to see the calibre of businesses that entered this year’s competition. Each year the competition gets bigger and tougher. Nedbank’s support for small businesses goes beyond offering finance and related products; it extends to offering tools and solutions required to build a holistic business. We’re particularly proud to see women dominate this year’s competition and hope they go on to inspire others to emulate their amazing journeys,’ she concludes.

Visit www.igniteyourbusiness.co.za for information about Nedbank Business Ignite.