This week we celebrated the close of the Western Cape Economic Growth Amplifier programme – an entrepreneurial development programme for 30 Female Founders run by WomHub in partnership with the Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism – a partnership with a joint mission to develop existing women led SME’s in the Western Cape to amplify economic growth in the province.
 
The programme was designed intentionally as an amplifier – recognizing the strides that SME’s have already made in creating and sustaining their businesses and then supporting their needs to stimulate growth and scale. On the programme, Founders were led on a journey of masterclasses, venture clinics and pitch coaching as well as mentorship, business and financial coaching to work on practically implementing learnings. In addition, cohort members received grant and equipment funding and access to the WomHub Cape Town co-working and innovation hub -  which this partnership with the Western Cape government contributed to enabling.
 
As we continue to work with female founders we recognise the importance of meeting them where they’re at, providing customised opportunities and coaching to support them and the obstacles faced with running businesses in a challenging economic environment regardless of business stage. On this programme, Founders demonstrated the resilience of female entrepreneurs, but more importantly highlighted the need for investment – in skills, equipment and much needed funding; and access – to networks, opportunities and collaborations to further develop and impact the reigniting of the economy for the province, the nation and the continent!
 
At the closeout session, entrepreneurs showcased their businesses in the pitch competition where Zandile Tlhapi, Founder of Sentle Tech & Tele Services (Pty) Ltd (formerly Khaltsha Communication Hub, Nthabiseng Msingatha, Founder of YOUMETA and Jasantha Singh Founder of Aurora Natural Skincare walked away with cash prizes and connected as a tribe and community on the way forward.

There is a misconception that a woman in engineering has to be an engineer; this is misleading and untrue. While the term "women in engineering" typically refers to women who are actively working or studying in the field of engineering, it can also encompass a broader range of roles and activities within the engineering domain. Here are a few examples that make up the ecosystem:

Engineers: Women who are trained and employed as engineers, designing, developing, and implementing various technologies and solutions.

Researchers: Women who engage in engineering research, contributing to advancements in knowledge and technology without necessarily working directly in industry roles.

Educators: Women who teach engineering subjects at schools, colleges, and universities, helping to educate the next generation of engineers.

Managers and Leaders: Women who hold managerial or leadership positions in engineering companies or departments, overseeing projects, teams, and operations.

Advocates and Activists: Women who work to promote diversity and inclusion in engineering, address gender disparities, and support the professional development of women in the field.

Entrepreneurs: Women who establish their own engineering-related businesses, such as startups focused on innovative technologies or solutions.

Consultants: Women who provide expert advice and services in engineering-related areas, contributing their specialized knowledge to various projects.

Technical Writers and Communicators: Women who excel in explaining complex engineering concepts through writing, communication, and media.

Policy Makers and Regulators: Women who contribute to shaping engineering policies, standards, and regulations at governmental or organizational levels.

STEM Advocates: Women who encourage and inspire young girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, manufacturing, and mining (STEM) fields.

In essence, "women in engineering" is a broad term that recognizes the various ways women can contribute to and impact the field of engineering, whether through hands-on technical work, research, education, leadership, advocacy, or other roles.

We reached out to some of the founders who were on our Sasol Women In Engineering Incubator programme and asked the following:

1 As a woman with an engineering (or engineering adjacent) business, why is it important to have support in the supply chain? 

“Support in any supply chain is incredibly important. As a woman, support in the supply chain means equal opportunity. By supporting women in the supply chain, we create a level playing field that allows women-owned businesses equal opportunity to access resources, contracts, and partnerships. Thus, allowing diverse perspectives where women-owned businesses can offer unique insights and creative solutions that benefit the industry as a whole.”
Meghan Rugg, Founder of Fawkes Thermal Manufacturing

“The support helps to break the stereotypes and bias, and this should not only be with supply chain, but the whole organization.”
Ndilisa Didiza, Founder of Kgothatso Innovations

“Support in the supply chain is essential for a woman-owned engineering business. Such support, which is often lacking, goes beyond just teaching women how to grow their businesses. It ensures access to resources, leading to timely deliveries, high-quality materials, and ultimately resulting in smoother operations and improved customer satisfaction. This backing is particularly crucial due to the industry's gender imbalance, as it encourages a more balanced sector and challenges existing stereotypes.”
Noxolo Fani, Founder of Phenomenal Light Construction

“The supply chain is important for our services and products to be able to enter various market segments. It enables businesses to have competitive advantage which leads to an increase of sales. Sales is the core of every business therefore it is crucial to have support from the supply chain system. To be giving an opportunity to provide your products and services to potential clients that might also have suppliers providing a similar products and services.”
Nomagugu Mvelase, Founder of Lizwile Engineering Pty Ltd

Key Takeaway: 
Support in the supply chain is crucial in breaking barries, promoting access to markets, upskilling through capacity building initiatives, building relationships, collaborations and partnerships through key networking opportunities, funding opportunities through connections to investors, knowledge and experience sharing among entrepreneurs, having female role models in STEM which promotes equal representation and diversity. It is clear that supply chain support that addresses socioeconomic inequalities and provides tailored assistance can contribute to a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem.

2 What does it mean to be a woman in engineering?

“Being a women in engineering means creating space at a table for anyone who was not invited and allowing them to bring their own innovations and unique skills. I am also a firm believer in Representations Matters. This for me gives me the opportunity to become a role model that I did not have as a child. My story allows young girls to believe that they can become whatever they want to and not have to be concerned with whether they are the wrong gender.”
Meghan Rugg, Founder of Fawkes Thermal Manufacturing

“It means I have a valuable contribution to make to the industry and that I am capable and knowledgeable as my male peers.”
Ndilisa Didiza, Founder of Kgothatso Innovations

“Being a woman in engineering entails shattering stereotypes, offering diverse viewpoints, and conquering obstacles within a historically male-dominated sector. It involves making valuable strides in technological progress while also dedicating time to inspire and support young girls and women venturing into traditionally male-dominated industries. This facet holds personal significance to me; it embodies a sense of purpose that I've cherished even before entering the industry or establishing my business. I strive to be the guiding figure I wished for during my own youth, providing mentorship, inspiration, and encouragement to empower them with confidence, self-love, and the resilience to flourish despite outdated societal norms.”
Noxolo Fani, Founder of Phenomenal Light Construction

“I am aware that I have a responsibility to encourage and demonstrate that it possible for women lead successful engineering business.It means that I must share my journey with other women and assist them to believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Nomagugu Mvelase, Founder of Lizwile Engineering Pty Ltd

Key Takeaway: 
Being a woman in engineering involves navigating both challenges such as gender stereotypes, underrepresentation, workplace dynamics, cultural & societal norms, work-lef balance, and opportunities like diversity benefits, advocacy & support, changing landscape, educational initiatives and government policies. While there are obstacles to overcome, there is also a growing recognition of the value of diversity in the field, leading to efforts aimed at creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for women pursuing careers in engineering.

3 From your experience on the Sasol Women In Engineering programme, does one have to be an engineer to be on the programme?

“Not at all. The Sasol Women in Engineering programme was more focused on upskilling you with business skills. Yes, was tailored for Engineering businesses but more along the lines of how to market your product, how to overcome struggles of your business, creating a firm foundation to grow your business from, etc.”
Meghan Rugg, Founder of Fawkes Thermal Manufacturing

“No, I am not an engineer and I was selected. I bring in the science to help Engineers focus on what they do.”
Ndilisa Didiza, Founder of Kgothatso Innovations

“My university studies were in multimedia, with a focus on animation, rather than engineering. After a few years at an advertising firm, I realized it wasn't the right fit. When an opportunity arose in the construction industry, I spent years learning hands-on and receiving mentorship before establishing my engineering business. Initiatives like the Sasol Women In Engineering program welcome both female engineers who run engineering businesses and non-engineer females leading such businesses. Their goal is to empower and assist women in leadership roles within the engineering sector and further integrate these businesses into their supply chain.”
Noxolo Fani, Founder of Phenomenal Light Construction

“Sasol Women Engineering has provided an opportunity to enhance my business skills, access to international market and offered support to build a business that is anchored on financial excellence.”
Nomagugu Mvelase, Founder of Lizwile Engineering Pty Ltd

Key Takeaway: 
You do not have to be an engineer to be a woman in engineering!

LinkedIn & websites: 

1. Meghan Rugg & Fawkes Thermal Manufacturing & Supplies,
2. Ndilisa Didiza & Kgothatso Innovations, 
3. Noxolo Fani & Phenomenal Light Construction, and 
4. Nomagugu Mvelase & Lizwile Engineering (Pty) Ltd

Application Link: Sasol Women in Engineering Incubator 2023 - WomHub
Deadline: 13 August 2023

Circular Economy Incubation product sprint
At WomHub, we have designed our Circular Economy Incubator (#CEI) around a design sprint methodology in order to support and leverage rapid product growth and iteration for our cohort founders. Design thinking is a human-centric approach to problem-solving and innovation that places a strong emphasis on understanding the needs and preferences of users. When testing a new product for the market, applying design thinking principles can offer several benefits:

User-Centric Focus: Design thinking begins by empathizing with the end-users. This approach ensures that the product's design and features are aligned with the actual needs, behaviours, and desires of the target audience. By deeply understanding users, you increase the likelihood of creating a product that resonates with them.​
Enhanced User Experience: Design thinking encourages a holistic view of the user experience. Through iterative prototyping and testing, you can identify pain points, challenges, and opportunities to enhance the overall usability and satisfaction of the product.

Iterative Prototyping: Design thinking involves creating prototypes and mock-ups of the product early in the development process. By testing these prototypes with users, you can gather feedback, refine the design, and make improvements before investing significant resources in full-scale development.

Innovation and Creativity: Design thinking fosters a culture of creativity and encourages teams to think outside the box. By exploring a wide range of potential solutions, you increase the likelihood of uncovering unique features or approaches that can set your product apart in the market.

Reduced Risk of Failure: By involving users early and often in the design and testing process, you can identify and address potential issues and challenges before the product is launched. This reduces the risk of launching a product that fails to meet user expectations or market demands.


Cross-Functional Collaboration: Design thinking promotes collaboration between different teams and disciplines, such as designers, developers, marketers, and business analysts. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that all aspects of the product, from its functionality to its branding, are aligned and cohesive.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Design thinking encourages a flexible and adaptive mindset. As you gather feedback and insights from users, you can make informed adjustments to the product's design and features, ensuring that it remains relevant and valuable in a rapidly changing market.

Early Validation: Through rapid prototyping and testing, design thinking allows you to validate your product concept early in the development process. This validation helps you make data-driven decisions and minimizes the risk of investing in a product that doesn't resonate with the target market.

Empowerment of Stakeholders: Design thinking values input from various stakeholders, including users, clients, and internal teams. This inclusivity empowers stakeholders to contribute to the product's design and development, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement.

Focus on Long-Term Success: Design thinking isn't just about creating a product; it's about creating a product that solves real problems and provides long-term value to users. By prioritizing user needs and satisfaction, you increase the chances of building a successful and sustainable product in the market.

Incorporating design thinking principles into the process of testing a new product can lead to more user-centered, innovative, and effective outcomes, ultimately increasing the product's chances of success at market. The #CEI programme is an eight month hybrid programme that kicks off in September 2023 and is centered around these principles to test and validate circular solutions for either early stage ideation startups or for businesses that are currently at market but would like to test and validate more circular products and approaches. 

If you would like to read more on the circular economy and unpack the CE value chain, we have published these helpful links:

• What is the Circular Economy
• Circular Economy Value Chain
• Are you a Circular Startup
• SAFM radio interview on the Circular Economy

Click here to #Apply to the Circular Economy Incubator: Circular Economy Incubator - WomHub

When someone asks me what we do at WomHub, I usually say we solve for pain. That is at its essence what entrepreneurs do. Find a pain point and figure out a solution. Sometimes the solution is easy, other times it’s complex, especially when you look for a sustainable solution not just a band-aid. So, this women’s month marks almost 18 years of building various solutions to solve the pain of the lack of women in STEM. We define it as science, technology, engineering, mining and manufacturing. This is a personal pain as women engineers turned entrepreneurs turned investors. We have found as we evolved that at each point in the value chain women remain underrepresented, underfunded and underestimated. We also have the hindsight to have been working on supporting women in STEM, the foresight to build what’s next and the insights from our work. Collectively we have built the entire ecosystem for women in STEM. But what does this mean.


The Chinese have a proverb that says the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best is now. Almost 20 years ago we planted the seeds of STEM for girls. We had to start early as research from leanin.org showed that girls as young as 6 are socialised into thinking that maths and science are difficult, and it is what boys are good at. We challenge these misconceptions and showcase a world of engineering to girls, brought role models into their space and made a commitment to empower 1 million girls around the world into STEM. I was on a call a few weeks ago with our partners at Sasol and one of the engineers said to me she became an engineer because of us and the power of the GirlEng programme. The seeds have grown into incredible trees. I posted this on LinkedIn and had my comments inundated with similar stories of women who because engineers because of us. Their lives irrevocably changed. 

I think about this and the entrepreneurship ecosystem where we are supporting female entrepreneurs in STEM. You can’t have an industry without talent. I think about Pamela from Shareopps who was a fellow on our university programme and started a company. There are many like her who are senior engineers and deciding to journey into entrepreneurship. They are funding us and I’m so excited to support their growth. I received an email from Byeronie. She and her business partner Dineo are both WomEng fellows - they were on our university employability and entrepreneurship programme and have started a company. She needed meeting space for a strategy session and our co-working and innovation spaces provided that for her. In fact, this month, we partner with Cisco and launch the first female focus super tech spaces. The power of Cisco and WomHub collaboration brings fintech labs, full stack observatories for cybersecurity, VR and health tech boys. It’s a techie paradise democratising access to deep tech. But none of this means anything if we can’t move capital into female founders. It’s embarrassing that only 2% of VC dollars is going to women in Africa. So, we are solving for that pain, by investing in entrepreneurs like Thato who is also a WomEng fellow.

This is a coming-of-age story, that the WomHub group has been working tirelessly on. From talent to entrepreneurship to spaces to capital. The only entity in the world to comprehensively build the entire ecosystem for women in STEM and in doing so ignite the ecosystem. This is only the beginning. I can’t wait to show you what we solve next. Watch this space. 

The Circular Economy Accelerator (CEA) brings together 25 South African women eco-preneurs with validated green and eco products that are looking to accelerate their growth, market share and product strength. #CEA2023 aims to strengthen, accelerate and support the growth of female founded businesses in the circular economy through the provision of an entrepreneurial acceleration programme & thematic expert support.  

Participation in an accelerator can significantly boost a businesses chances of success by providing the necessary support, resources, and exposure to take the business to the next level. At WomHub we deliver acceleration through a holistic nine-month hybrid approach including founder health and wellbeing, an in-person venture clinic, a series of thematic master classes, mentorship and access to industry experts. 

If you would like to read more on the circular economy and see if your business contributes to the CE value chain, we have published these helpful links to unpack the Circular Economy.

• What is the Circular Economy
  
• Circular Economy Value Chain
  
• Are you a Circular Startup
  
• SAFM radio interview on the Circular Economy
  

The focused thematic Circular Economy programme can support you in unlocking potential business growth. Applications are open until the 6th August; jump on the opportunity to be part of the WomHub community and the Circular Economy Accelerator.

Click here to #Apply: Circular Economy Incubator - WomHub

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