In line with celebrating the strides of women this Women’s Month, Visa is honoured to announce the finalists for the 2024 She’s Next Programme, an initiative dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs across Africa. In partnership with Absa, the She’s Next Programme aims to provide women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the resources, tools, and mentorship needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.
She’s Next part of Visa’s and Absa’s efforts to support the creation of an inclusive, equitable world where women business owners can flourish. The programme aims to support women-owned small businesses through funding, training, and mentorship. In its inaugural edition in South Africa, the programme has received an overwhelming response, with applicants representing the very best of female entrepreneurship and showcasing resilience, creativity, and a commitment to driving economic growth within their communities. The finalists who will compete for the grand prize of over R1 million worth of prize money are:
- InoBiodiesel
- Moli & Mela
- Diamond Days
- eFama App Pty Ltd
- HVAC Partners
Lineshree Moodley, Country Manager at Visa South Africa, commented that “We are delighted to announce the finalists for this year’s She’s Next Programme. These remarkable women exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that is vital for Africa’s economic future. At Visa, we are committed to supporting women-owned businesses by providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. Our partnership with Absa has been instrumental in expanding the reach and impact of this programme, and we are excited to see the incredible journeys of our finalists unfold.”
In addition to the top five, another 25 SMEs will participate in an exclusively tailored capacity building and mentorship programme in partnership with Absa to further support and empower women entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the next level.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists of the 2024 She’s Next Programme,” says Sanah Gumede, Head of Strategy and Customer Value Management at Absa Relationship Banking. “As the Bank of the Entrepreneur, Absa is committed to support business-owners along their journey while enabling financial inclusion. It is our hope that our continuous efforts to enhance our solutions and support for women-owned businesses will help them unlock new opportunities for growth, development and impact in their communities.”
Selected finalists were drawn from various industries including green energy, agriculture, and manufacturing services. They include:
- INO-Biodiesel is a green energy company, producing 100% green-fuel from waste cooking oil. The company collects waste cooking oil and converts it into green-fuel for a running engine construction, farm, mining equipment, fleets and aircraft.
- MOLI & MELA Group was born out of a vision to provide eco-friendly and sustainable waste management solutions. The group aims to address the waste management crisis through a new state-of-the-art waste management and medical waste treatment facility in then Moses Kotane Municipality in Ledig village, in North West, South Africa
- Diamond Days is a company grown as a private jeweller assisting clients with creating custom diamond engagement rings at more competitive prices. The organisation has since grown its everyday fine jewellery brand, making luxury jewellery accessible to the market.
- eFama is an innovative digital marketplace designed to connect farmers directly with buyers, NGOs, and donors. By leveraging blockchain technology, eFama aims to transform the agricultural supply chain, enhance food security, and support sustainable farming practices across Africa.
- HVAC Partners is a black female owned air conditioning and refrigeration contractor which boasts a team of highly qualified technicians with vast experience in the industry. The business provides tailor-made air-conditioning solutions for direct spaces i.e Hospitals, household or manufacturing plants, offering a unique turnkey solution by importing equipment, supply, installation, commissioning right through to maintenance.
Visa has digitally empowered 16 million small and micro businesses (SMBs) worldwide, surpassing its multi-year goal set in 2020 to digitize 50 million SMBs. Additionally, the Visa Foundation has allocated $1 million in funding to organisations across Sub-Saharan Africa that support SMBs. This funding encompasses grants and impact investments in programmes offering SMBs training, support services, and access to capital, with a focus on gender inclusivity and diversity. She’s Next in Sub-Saharan Africa will further extend the reach and impact of this programme.
The winner of the 2024 She’s Next programme will be announced on 19th September 2024.
