The Botswana Innovation Hub(BIH) today announced the 4 winners of the FemBioBiz(Female in technology Businesses) Programme Competition awards at the home of Innovation, Science and Technology Park, Gaborone at a glittering ceremony amongst stakeholders.
The shortlisted enterpreneurs Tuduetso Tebape, Founder and Managing Director of Nubian Seed, Tlotlo Phuduhudu Healthy Delights Animal seeds, Bonolo Montlhe Maungo Craft and Bame Rrammala Antimicrobial Toilet Seat Mat will get an opportunity to compete I the SA Innovation Summit start up competition for a trip to Silicon valley where they will stand a chance to win US$1 million.
This is in addition to the in-kind benefits that the Botswana Innovation Hub will make available to them in three stages of pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration.
“We manufacture organic cosmetics like body balms, lotion, lip balms, hair oils, beard oils and also the hospitality industry where we serve soaps and shampoos for hotels,” said Tuduetso Tebape, Founder and Managing Director of Nubian Seed. She said, “We also do corporate gifts like 400 lips balms we did for SADC conference. I am so excited at competing at regional level and networking.”
FemBioBiz, a programme by the Southern Africa Network for Biosciences(SANbio) exists in 8 countries being Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
There are opportunities for the female bio-entrepreneurs to compete at a global start-up festival called SLUSH in Helsinki, Finland in November 2018.
It aims to address to act as stimulus for women to improve their businesses and set up best practices for other women to emulate. Botswana’s 10 finalists were selected from 47 applications countrywide. The innovations seek to encourage them to pitch for overseas sponsors.
“Participating in the FEMBioBiz programme and competition has helped me to expand my business from supplying supermarkets to supplying KFC Botswana with Chakalaka that replaced the KOO brand Chakalaka. I have increased the number of my employees from 4 to 9 and we are proud to source our ingredients from local farm produce,” said Nkata Seleka of Sleek Foods Company, who0 is the 2017 FemBioBiz winner.
The winners will participate in key interventions provided for under the BIH Technology Enterpeurship programme covering access to subsidized host desk platforms with internet, facilitating access to markets, access to funds and access to key quality testing and products developments.
“By recognizing the FemBioBiz winners, Botswana Innovation Hub(BIH) remains committed to supporting women entrepreneurs leading Bio technology innovations that are financially and socially responsible. FEMBioBiz competition continues to contribute to the local and regional economy by seeking out courageous female enterpreneurs who continuously innovate sustainable solutions for present and future generations,” said Kemiso Ben, Brand and Communications Manager for BIH.
