The Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award 2026 celebrates six exceptional entrepreneurs who are redefining leadership, innovation and impact across South Africa
The Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award 2026 has unveiled its inspiring finalists, recognising six women whose businesses are reshaping industries ranging from manufacturing and beauty to education, technology, sustainability and women’s safety.
Now in its fifth year in South Africa, the prestigious award honours the legacy of Madame Clicquot, the pioneering businesswoman who transformed Veuve Clicquot into one of the world’s most celebrated Champagne houses. Today, the award continues that legacy by celebrating female entrepreneurs whose bold ideas and unwavering determination are creating lasting impact.
This year’s finalists compete across two categories: the Bold Woman Award for established entrepreneurs and the Bold Future Award, which recognises emerging business leaders making significant strides within their first five years.
Bold Woman Award finalists
Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa – Lindiwe Sanitary Pads
Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa has transformed a powerful idea into Africa’s first large-scale sanitary pad manufacturing facility owned and operated entirely by women.
Based in Centurion, Lindiwe Sanitary Pads manufactures 800 SABS-compliant sanitary pads every minute while empowering women through white-label manufacturing, distribution opportunities and strategic partnerships across the continent.
The company also supplies South Africa’s National Sanitary Dignity Programme, helping provide free sanitary products to more than 100,000 schoolgirls in 2026 alone.
Sonto Pooe – Nativechild
What began as homemade castor oil mixed in a kitchen has grown into one of South Africa’s leading Black-owned natural haircare brands.
Founder Sonto Pooe launched Nativechild after her own childhood experience with damaged hair inspired her to create plant-based products designed specifically for textured hair. Today, the brand is stocked by major national retailers and has expanded into several African markets and the United States.
Xolile Mabuza – Tendalo Trading
Sustainability meets luxury craftsmanship through Tendalo Trading, founded by Xolile Mabuza.
After recovering from a stroke, Mabuza turned discarded rubber tubes into premium handcrafted accessories, creating a business that diverts approximately 1.2 million rubber tubes from landfill every month while showcasing African design on the global stage.
Bold Future Award finalists
Maambele Khosa – SheCab
Founded during South Africa’s growing concerns around gender-based violence, SheCab is a women-led e-hailing platform connecting female passengers with professional female drivers.
Built from the ground up without outside investment, the business has become far more than a transport solution. It is creating employment opportunities while fostering a supportive community where women empower one another.
Pretty Kubyane – eFama App
As Co-Founder and Tech Lead of eFama App, Pretty Kubyane is modernising agriculture through artificial intelligence, data and digital innovation.
The platform connects farmers directly with buyers, helping thousands across South Africa make smarter production decisions based on market demand while strengthening agricultural supply chains.
Tshaamano Mabuba – Buddy Learning
At just 22 years old, Tshaamano Mabuba has built Buddy Learning into a fast-growing education platform supporting more than 10,000 families.
Its flagship product, BuddyAI, is Africa’s first multilingual AI tutor integrated into WhatsApp, providing affordable curriculum-aligned learning for students, particularly in underserved communities.
Celebrating bold leadership
The 2026 finalists reflect the changing face of African entrepreneurship — innovative, purpose-driven and globally ambitious. Each entrepreneur has overcome significant personal and professional challenges to build businesses that deliver meaningful social and economic impact.
The winners of the 2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award and Bold Future Award will be announced on 15 July 2026, joining the global Bold by Veuve Clicquot network alongside an international community of trailblazing women leaders.
Whether driving innovation in technology, advancing sustainability or creating opportunities for women and young people, this year’s finalists prove that bold leadership continues to shape the future of South African business.
