4 African Women Entrepreneurs Selected for the Women\’s Venture Xchange Initiative

The Global Entrepreneurship Network has selected four (4) women to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, for the Women’s Venture Xchange – a one-month mentorship and networking program for high-growth women entrepreneurs based in Africa.

Each Xchange participant was selected based on the likelihood of the company’s successful regional expansion, the uniqueness of the individual’s concepts and goals while in the program. The entrepreneurs are Annet Ayamba, Hyasintha Ntuyeko, Nobukhosi Ndlovu and Linda Mukangoga.

Ayamba is founder and managing director of Your Choice Agro Processors based in Kampala, Uganda. Her company processes, packages and distributes soya millet, soya rice, karo, peanut butter and other food products. Products made by Your Choice Agro Processors are manufactured by a 3,000-woman co-op based in Eastern Uganda.

Ntuyeko is founder and CEO of Kasole Secrets Co. Ltd., which manufactures and distributes sanitary napkins made out of bamboo. The company also informs children about menstrual hygiene and sexual education. Based out of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the company currently provides sanitary napkins to 17 different regions in Tanzania and hopes to open a factory soon.

Ndlovu is founder and managing director of Nutrie Foods. Nutrie Foods produces predominantly peanut butter products, as well as small grains and dried fish. The Harare, Zimbabwe-based company employs 30 people, and Nobukhosi hopes to compare best practices with fellow agriculture entrepreneurs while in Nairobi.

Mukangoga is the founder of Haute Baso, a clothing and accessories company based in Kigali, Rwanda. The company harnesses the creative talents of women across Rwanda to design and sell unique high-end fashion items. Haute Baso will have its ecommerce business running soon, and they are hoping to open new workshops Rwanda.

More than 80 entrepreneurs applied for the initiative, which also includes travel and accommodations in Nairobi. The program begins with Global Entrepreneurship Week and runs through December. The Xchange program is being run by the Global Entrepreneurship Network, the Case Foundation, the Mara Foundation and the U.S. State Department.

– See more at: Women\’s Venture Xchange