Startups
Every young South African business radio talked about this month: founders interviewed about what they built, new brands, first funding rounds. Hear them tell it in their own words.
128 businesses · 101 founders on air · 6 stations · last 30 days
Founder on air this week
Operates a challenger stock exchange that lists shares alongside the JSE
Fintech · Kevin Brady and Sean Melnick
A2X Markets is a South African stock exchange set up as a challenger to the JSE, letting companies list on both exchanges. Its CEO and co-founder Kevin Brady is interviewed about what he learned about taking on a large incumbent.
“Kevin, I have a few questions about what you've learned about starting something against a big incumbent.”
Beauty & fashion
Surf and beachwear clothing brand with a range designed by a young entrepreneur
Founded by Will Tremier
Sport & fitness
Represents female athletes as an agent and supports the development of women in sport
Founded by Jesse Kankomo
Beauty & fashion
Makes shoes designed for the African foot
Founded by Stelema Wooza
Beauty & fashion · since 2018
Makes handmade, heritage-inspired shoes that tell South African cultural stories
Founded by Sitelo Mabuza and Sikle Mabuza
Beauty & fashion
Sells natural skin and health products, including superfood smoothies and skincare for acne and pigmentation
Education
Parenting content and resources for raising children to see through curated social media images
Founded by Debbie McCrystal
Sport & fitness · since 2020
Runs cycling clinics that teach women to ride and then connects graduates to cycling clubs
Retail & e-commerce · Marshalltown
Independent bookshop in Marshalltown selling local and South African books.
Founded by Griffin Scheer
Health
Freeze-dries breast milk for mothers, processing each mom's batch individually and packaging it.
Founded by Melissa Hiels
Health
Offers breath work and sound bath sessions for mental health and wellness, in groups or privately
Founded by Mutidisi Mujapilo
Beauty & fashion · since 2018
Designs and sells opulent clothing, with its founder interviewed about starting the brand
Tech & software
Lets fans take part in live sports broadcasts from anywhere, including the Soweto Derby campaign
Founded by Neven Muragan
Supports children's physical development through structured movement and play, including gross motor skills and coordination.
Founded by Courtney Van Billion
Agriculture
Packs and distributes eggs in South Africa, aiming to supply neighbouring countries
Founded by Lebuma Shiko and Lebu Mashiko
Sport & fitness
Runs a boutique-style community fitness facility for people of all ages and levels
Founded by Emma Scaltz
Food & drink · Franschhoek
Serves a full Asian tasting menu and a lighter à la carte menu, with house-made ingredients.
Founded by Ryan Schell
Manufacturing
Manufactures and sells commercial espresso machines with a scoring system that coaches baristas.
Founded by Henlu Fan Divestes
Beauty & fashion
Designs local knitwear and black-and-white men's fashion, sold through its own stores.
Founded by Maxine Ginsburg
Agriculture
Offers practical gardening advice and plants suited to hot, dry conditions and low water use
Founded by Craig Dineca and Craig DeNicker
Beauty & fashion
Designs and makes ornate fine jewellery, with the founder's art training behind each piece
Founded by Niki Wemateblio
Beauty & fashion
Sells bold, colourful, patterned products from a maker brand with two market stalls
Founded by Kayleigh Higgins and Kaylee Higgins
Beauty & fashion
Fashion jewellery brand with ready-made pieces and a build-your-own silver or gold section
Beauty & fashion
Supplies jewellery to the tourism industry, started by a mother and daughter
Food & drink
Bakes and sells baked goods, run by a former government worker
Founded by Zizi Matakiti
locl transcribes South African radio as it airs. Every hour a model reads the stretches that talk about a founder, a startup or a small business and records each young business that was talked about with substance: what it does, who started it, and what was said. Charities, large and long-established companies, government programmes, adverts and general talk about entrepreneurs are left out. Names are as the transcript heard them, so a spelling can be off; a website or handle is shown as it was said, not checked. Claims about a business are its founders’ or the speakers’, not locl’s. Only conversations whose audio is still held are listed, so a business leaves the page with its audio.
Updated Monday, 02 November at 15:41 SAST. Showing 30 days.