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
Fintech
Provides wealth management software, retirement planning tools and employee financial wellness programmes
Founded by Alex Cook
Energy & environment · since 2024
Waste management and recycling business run by Ria Lebocha, working with communities
Founded by Ria Lebocha
Beauty & fashion
Sells swimwear designed for women after mastectomy, sold online and by direct phone sale
Beauty & fashion
Designs and sells swimwear and resultwear, including prosthetic-supportive swimsuits for women after mastectomy.
Founded by Debbie Combrug
Sport & fitness
Runs High Rocks, a sport that has grown into a global community and participation activity
Funding: Acquired by LVMH for 600 million Euro
Food & drink
Winery run by young co-founders, making and selling wine
Founded by Ratabila Khatlani
Sport & fitness
Offers adaptive strength and fitness training for people with permanent disabilities, including wheelchair users.
Founded by Victor Betendach
Retail & e-commerce
Creative products made and sold online, with items printed on demand
Food & drink
Makes a low-calorie sparkling hard seltzer for South African drinkers
Founded by Michael Tone
Food & drink · Cape Town
Sells matcha tea and runs matcha stores in Cape Town
Founded by Michaela McClain
Services
Plans weddings for couples, helping them manage the cost of getting married
Founded by Dumeno Makamu
Beauty & fashion
Makes swimwear designed to fit and flatter women of all shapes, sizes and life stages
Health
Wellness brand making products from honey and other botanical and indigenous natural ingredients
Founded by Maria Angotzeng Masiu
Media & creative
Writes and performs custom storytelling and poetry for corporate events, galas and special functions
Founded by Donald Mokhaile and Cabello KB Ringani
Media & creative · Johannesburg · since 2018
Runs an online Formula One fan channel on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok
Founded by Lufefe Mayakiso
Other · Cape Town
Printed pink parking fines and novelty parking-violation merchandise poking fun at bad Cape Town parking
Education
Runs masterclasses teaching people how to learn stock market investing
Founded by Ritang Pasla
Food & drink · Soweto
Manufactures and sells fruit-based beverages supplied to retail stores
Founded by Lungiello Lawrence Mugaka, Patrick Torke and Lungie Lumbaga
Funding: Started with R800 from the founders' savings
Health
Corporate well-being tech platform offering wellness programmes for employers and their staff
Founded by Dina Batista
Tech & software
Parenting app delivering age-specific information to parents of babies on iOS and Android
Founded by Meg Forah
Services
Event and PR agency run by its founder, Kensani Wanda Mabunda
Founded by Kensani Wanda Mabunda
Food & drink
Makes wine, and is developing a non-alcoholic wine, and is already exporting
Food & drink
Makes wines with colourful African-inspired labels, including five wines, two of them lifestyle wines priced to be affordable.
Mobility & logistics
Provides taxi rides for commuters, offered as a lower-cost way to get to work.
Founded by Pessy, Pesi Gamata and Pessi Gamata
Young businesses talked about on South African radio, found hourly in our transcripts. A website is linked only once we've checked it's theirs. What's said about a business is the speakers' view, not locl's.
Updated Monday, 02 November at 16:28 SAST.
