Natalie Kolbe, general partner at Norrsken22 Interview with Natalie KolbeGENERAL PARTNER, NORRSKEN22 Lives in: South Africa Natalie Kolbe, general partner at Africa-focused venture capital firm Norrsken22, believes social commerce could transform how Africans shop. In this interview, she explains why. For readers who might not be familiar, what exactly is social commerce? Social commerce, a…
The Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP) is proud to announce the third annual Bellville Business Expo, taking place on 28–29 October 2025 from 09h00 to 16h00 daily at the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre Arena. Don’t miss the Northern Suburbs’ only business expo – a flagship event that provides a vibrant platform for businesses to stand out,…
Partner content: Africa’s Business Heroes The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative of Alibaba Philanthropy, today revealed the Top 20 entrepreneurs selected to advance to the 2025 Semi-Finals, taking place in Dakar, Senegal on 10-11 September 2025. The selection of the Top 20 reflects a rigorous and highly competitive process. Starting from nearly…
Datara, the enterprise platform powering next-generation customer data, AI orchestration, and intelligent advertising, announced a strategic operational consolidation under which it will assume all global duties for LeadRobot. The move unifies three complementary technology platforms – Atlas CDP, Astra AI Workflow Automation, and Echo Intelligent Advertising – into a single, internationally aligned operation. The consolidation capitalises on Datara’s…
Hadija Jabiri, founder of Tanzanian agribusiness company GBRI Avocados and apples are the focus of two ventures that show the range of farming opportunities in Tanzania. Tanzanian entrepreneur builds avocado export business from $300 start Hadija Jabiri is the founder of GBRI, a Tanzanian agribusiness company that began with vegetables and now exports avocados to…
Press Office: Green Fuel Nestled in one of Zimbabwe’s most arid agricultural landscapes, Green Fuel is spearheading a remarkable transformation. Through an ambitious and visionary land and water development programme, the company is not just producing clean bioethanol fuel but is also igniting a rural farming revolution founded on WaterWise agriculture, year-round irrigation, and an…
South African businesses are no strangers to resilience. But far too many are stuck in survival mode—treading water, unable to scale, expand, or evolve. From one-person startups to large operations, a growing number of business owners are asking the same question: Why isn’t my business growing? According to Gary Bateman, founder of Mechanics of Business, the…
NIQ’s latest report reveals that Generation X is an influential segment that brands in South Africa should not ignore. Gen X’s global buying power stands at $15.2 trillion in 2025 and is projected to reach $23 trillion by 2035. In South Africa, this generation is at the peak of its earning power, but faces strain…
Entrepreneurship is often presented as the solution to South Africa’s unemployment crisis. For Adriaan Grové, a self-taught entrepreneur, this is true — but it comes with a dose of realism. “As we observe World Entrepreneur Day on 21 August, let’s be honest about what entrepreneurship really involves. It’s tough. It demands sacrifice, resilience, and learning…
For many entrepreneurs, growth is seen as a clear marker of success. However, for South African SMEs, expanding too quickly or for the wrong reasons can slow momentum and dangerously overstretch resources. “Growth shouldn’t be a leap of faith, but rather a strategic move grounded in data, operational readiness, and sound financial planning,” says Nicole…
