BDIH hosts fourth FemBioBiz
Female-led innovations have dominated the fourth installment of the FemBioBiz Acceleration Programme hosted by the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH), in partnership with the Southern Africa Network for Biosciences (SANBio).
The eight companies which presented three-minute elevator pitches were manufacturers of indigenous health, food, body, and skincare products. The companies demonstrated growth and diversity in the emerging, local, natural products landscape.
FemBioBiz guides and mentors entrepreneurial women running their businesses in various bioscience disciplines such as agri-food, health, biowaste, and natural cosmetics. It is a four-month programme that culminates with the entrepreneurs pitching their ideas where they stand a chance to represent Botswana at the final stage and have access to further business mentorship, markets, and finance to help them build sustainable businesses.
The programme exists in eight SADC countries; Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa,
Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Botswana, BDIH serves as a strategic partner for the implementation of the FemBioBiz Season 4 Acceleration Programme Competition.
BDIH Brand and Communications Manager, Kemiso Ben said their partnership with SANBio gives the female-led businesses access to a network of resources and tools that will better assist them in becoming global disruptors in big industries such as the natural health and body care sector.
“One of our sustainability key performance indicators as stewards of the digital and innovation drive in Botswana is to ensure empowerment and inclusion of women in the bioscience space in a meaningful way. The competition aptly comes as we approach the end of women’s month, but that should not be the end of championing women in entrepreneurship and innovation,” she said.
Phatsima Innovations walked away as the winner scooping P25,000, while Skin Glow took the second position walking away with P15,000, and in third place is Naturomedic, which walked away with P5,000.
Phatsima Innovations is a health and beauty company that manufactures soap, moisturisers, and edible products using the Moringa tree. The products help combat mineral deficiencies and skin problems as well as boost the immune system.
The runner-up Skin Glow is a skincare brand that offers sun protection and treats skin exposure to the sun, such as dark marks, and sunburn while Naturomedic is a natural health and wellness company that focuses on the prevention and reversal of chronic diseases by providing a range of herbal and organic teas and supplements.
Other participants included Rioqut Healthy Living, Lu & B, Keonee Soaps, Glow in a Jar, as well as Calla Lily Cosmetics.
BDIH Programmes Manager, Obakeng Segwagwe said Africa is in a unique position with the wealth of indigenous resources and an emerging group of curious innovators that are creating biotech-oriented products, businesses and industries.
“Women are also standing up more, demanding to be included in this environment not just as consumers but creators and the FemBioBiz Programme is a useful platform to support this growing cohort, regionally. It’s an exciting time for the many young women who are aspiring to make an impact in the biotech and bioscience industries,” he said.