The success stories of the Visa East Africa “She’s Next” contest inspires countless women entrepreneurs across Africa to pursue their professional dreams, which will drive economic growth on the continent and beyond.
On July 10, 2024 in Nairobi, Visa East Africa will celebrate the five 2024 “She’s Next” Kenya 🇰🇪 finalists who exemplify the spirit of innovation and leadership in the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) space.
The finalists are:
- Timao Group tackles plastic pollution and affordable housing in Kenya by transforming plastic waste into durable, cost-effective building materials for modular homes.
- Busu Skincare Limited addresses the need for locally manufactured emollients for sensitive African skin by incorporating local botanicals and traditional beauty practices from different Kenyan ethnicities.
- Code With Kids empowers children from low-income backgrounds with affordable and accessible STEM education.
- Crafts with Meaning is an award-winner, collaborating with artisans in Kenya and Uganda to create lifestyle accessories and corporate merchandise inspired by African heritage.
- Cladfy Inc. (Techstars ’22) has enabled micro-lenders to provide working capital loans to micro-businesses such as smallholder farmers, fish vendors, and motorcycle riders
The month long competition, launched in May 2024, was closed on the 12th of June after garnering over 2,300 applicants across various parts of the country.
The top winner will be announced on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
highlighting the importance of offering incentives for women-led businesses and how it promotes economic growth, Visa Kenya’s Country Manager, Eva Ngigi-Sarwari said:
We received an overwhelming number of applications across the country, they represent a diverse range of industries and are set to significantly contribute to the Kenyan economy and beyond,” said Ngigi.
These finalists have demonstrated exceptional business acumen, innovation, and resilience, standing out from a highly competitive field.
ABOUT
“She’s Next” – a global Visa endeavour that spotlights women funding, running, and growing small businesses – aims to help entrepreneurs rise above their unique barriers when doing business (particularly under tough economic pressures) and boost their resilience / determination while empowering them with resources, mentorship, and the recognition they deserve.
Since January 2019, the program has connected thousands of women entrepreneurs at both in-person and virtual workshops around the globe via inspirational talks from female creators & hands-on training with industry access.