Womenpreneur Top 30 Announced

Womenpreneur Her Perfect Pitch Competition Top 30 Announced from a Record-breaking Pool

Two big brands, Jacaranda FM and Access Bank South Africa joined hands to elevate businesswomen in South Africa and win over R1 million in business assistance.

“After a process that involved reviewing over 500 applications and selecting the top 30 Womenpreneurs in South Africafor a panel review, we are thrilled to announce the Top 30 exceptional women from which one winner, two runners up, and the Top 10 will be chosen.”

So says Sugendhree Reddy, Chief Executive Officer at Access Bank, noting that Womenpreneur Her Perfect Pitch Competition – in partnership with Jacaranda FM – has been “a success in so many ways. Learning about the many women who have created their own futures with phenomenal businesses has been inspiring.”

Deirdre King, Managing Director of Jacaranda FM, concurs:

“Choosing just 30 female economic builders was no easy task when there are such remarkable women entrepreneurs out there. What we are particularly excited for is the cross-business and peer-to-peer mentorship that will start taking place at our networking event, and then continue for the year thereafter as our winners and new networks share ideas and pass on knowledge.”

And the Top 30 entrants are…

MORONGWE MOKONE – Mo’s Crib
JABULILE MOROBI – Lesedi Scientific Services
MATIMU MALULEKE – Phalala Grocery Scheme
EVETTE VAN DEN BERG – The Nanny Movement
MALESELA RACHEL TEMA – Plus Fab
NOMPILO NXUMALO – Ku Green Hands
DIANE NEETHLING – Imsyser Health
DONETTE WERKMAN – We Do House Plans
PEARL KHOZA – Zenzo Multitrade
SHOKY NENGOVHELA – Tembo Engineering
STEPHANIE CERONIO – JackRabbit Chocolate Studio
HLOBISILE BATHABILE YENDE – The Yende and Partners
BERYL SHUTTLEWORTH – The Herbal Horse & Pet
CYLA GONSOLVES – Cyla Gonsolves
NATASHA BUITENDAG – Mrs Milk
NGWANAMATLOA MOKONE – ABOT Technology
EMMERENTIA VAN DER MERWE – Spectacular Concrete Creations
NOSISA DHLOMO – AfriZulu Tech
MAHLATSE MAMAILA – INO Biodiesel
MAMPE ELISA KONYAMA – Unjani Clinic Botshabelo
CLEOPATRA NGOIE – Sha’p Left
KIMLYNN TEMPLE – tipped
PRUDENCE THULISILE MOKWANA – RBKM Chickens
NTANGANEDZENI MUAMBADZI – Molecular Imaging & Therapy Limpopo
CATE OLIFANT – Akani Paints
TEBOGO NYATHELA – Farmers Hope
CHRIS-CHE MONICA BOTHA – Stepmor Supplies
FAITH MOKGALAKA – Puno
HEIDI PATMORE – Manjaro Marketing
CANDY ANDROUAKOS – Leafline

To enter, women were asked to visit JacarandaFM.com to deliver their perfect pitch about their business, how their business gives back to communities, and what help they need to take their business into the next stage of success.

“Womenpreneur Her Perfect Pitch has established a special networking event for the top 30 finalists where Access Bank and Jacaranda FM will engage with and introduce them to the Womenpreneur community,” says Reddy. “We can’t wait to put faces and personalities to the incredible entry pitches our 30 finalists made.”

The prestigious networking session will give the finalist immediate assistance with an exclusive ‘How to Pitch your Business‘ masterclass, as well as the opportunity to meet, relate to, share knowledge, and network with other like-minded women in business.

King highlights the prizes again, especially through the lens of global economies relying more and more on SME’s for their economic contribution.

“This prize will not only elevate 10 women’s businesses, but ultimately develop and grow peer-to-peer networks that are critical for growing their businesses.”

Here’s what’s at stake…

The Winner
The R1 million worth of shared prizes includes:

R500 000 in Radio airtime on Jacaranda FM where your adverts will be crafted and shared with 1.3 million listeners.
R100 000 in cash with an investment guide to help you invest from Access Bank
360° support for your business in the months to come. The winning entrepreneur will also win a 6-week mentorship.
A tailor-made business model.
Presenter training.
PR and Digital consultation

Runner Up
The runner up will receive R75 000 in cash with an investment guide to help you invest from Access Bank

Third Place
The third- placed entrant will receive R50 000 in cash with an investment guide to help you invest from Access Bank

Top 10
The Top 10 finalists will each receive R100 000 worth of airtime on Jacaranda FM and R50 000 educational study voucher from Access Bank.

“We are so excited by the partnership between Jacaranda FM and Access Bank! Our goals are so closely aligned that we knew a partnership would amplify the impact of our end goal to assist women owned businesses in a holistic, impactful manner that surpasses 9 August every year,” says King. Reddy concurs, noting that she is keen to keep an eye on all the winners as they make their way to greater business success. “The Access Bank team has been truly inspired by all the entrants, and hope each one continues to innovate, invest wisely and participate in our economy in a way we know the whole Womenpreneur community can.”

The winner announcement will be at a Gala dinner on 2 November 2023.

About Jacaranda FM
Jacaranda FM broadcasts at 94.2 FM from Midrand, Gauteng and is one of the most popular radio stations with a substantial footprint across Mzansi. The station has a bilingual (English and Afrikaans) commercial license in the country; broadcasting regionally across Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the North West Province.

Jacaranda FM also carries a national footprint through streaming audio on www.jacarandafm.com or the Jacaranda FM App. The multi-channel media brand provides an array of popular talent, easy-listening music, radio programming, social media engagement, concerts, online shopping, as well as sporting and social events.

Sustainable community initiatives form part of Jacaranda FM’s DNA with Good Morning Angels helping people and communities in need for the past 17 years. The station engages with over 4 million people across their platforms monthly, and provides market access for thousands of businesses seeking to engage a loyal South African community.

Connect with Jacaranda FM:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

About Access Bank
Access Bank Plc. is a leading full-service commercial Bank operating through a network of more than 600 branches and service outlets, spanning three continents, 12 countries, and 31 million customers. The Bank employs 28,000 people in its operations in Nigeria and has subsidiaries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom (with a branch in Dubai, UAE) and representative offices in China, Lebanon, and India.

Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1998, Access Bank is a diversified financial institution that combines a strong retail customer franchise and digital platform with deep corporate banking expertise and proven risk management and capital management capabilities. The Bank serves its various markets through four business segments: Retail, Business, Commercial, and Corporate. The Bank has over 900,000 shareholders (including several Nigerian and International Institutional Investors) and has enjoyed what is arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last twelve years. Following its merger with Diamond Bank in March 2019, Access Bank became one of Africa’s largest retail banks by retail customer base.