Next time you say ‘there’s an app for that’ take a minute to acknowledge the incredible women who are behind these innovative digital solutions that make navigating life easier.
Below is a list of our favourite SA-based apps built by women.
Prim-U
Prim-U is an online booking hub that connects beauty entrepreneurs in the industry to customers and hundreds of salons, spas, hotels and guest houses countrywide.
The mobile app matches freelancers with salons and spas to offer their services which include doing make-up, hair, nails and massages.
Founder Thuli Hlongwane has a background in the IT industry. From being appointed as Head of Shared Application to Technology Director, Hlongwane is now the Managing Director of Prim-U. She has also worked for the likes of Old Mutual, Woolworths and Pearson.
Styld
Keshni Morar is the founder and creator of Styld, an online styling app which works with and sources local designer brands.
@jmvbfashion will be at Styld’s Designer Day 5th Aug, 11am – 4pm, 39 Saxby Avenue, Eldoraigne, Centurion Will you be there, let us know? . . . #styldobsession #styldgrandopening #styldstudioonsaxby #designerwear #localdesigners #supportingsouthafricandesigners #oneofakind #jmvbfashion #jmvbstyles
How it works is users sign up and the service will source and select clothing and accessories for them to try on in the comfort of their homes.
Minderz
The platform connects pet owners with minders in their area. It is the brainchild of techpreneur Boitumelo Menyatswe. Pet-owners can sift through the vetted homes and pet-minders featured on the app to find one they would trust with their beloved fur children.
Services include: house-slash-pet sitters, minders who will take pets into their own homes for overnight stays, drop-in visits, and a dog walking service.
Live Connected
The app aims to help modern-day parents connect and coordinate their “village” in assisting them to manage their children’s schedules.
It was launched by Nthati Mthembu who has over 10 years of working experience under her belt working as a programme head and key strategic consultant in the financial services arena.
Users can allocate drop off and pick-ups to specific members of their family and village. During specific pick-up/drop-off events they can track the designated villager using their simple track functionality. This tracking functionality will track the cell phone of the user entrusted with caring for your child.
SweepSouth
SweepSouth is an online platform that allows users to order and pay for home cleaning services.
Aisha Pandor is the CEO of SweepSouth and co-founder together with her husband, CTO Alen Ribic. The duo were selected for the Silicon Valley-based accelerator programme, 500 Startups. They were the first South African startup to have been accepted into the global accelerator’s program.
Since SweepSouth’s launch in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the home cleaning platform has expanded into Durban and Pretoria and launched a native mobile app.
ORU SOCIAL
Nombeko Florida Mpengesi’s ORU SOCIAL scooped the much coveted Women In Science, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the Sixth MTN Business App of the Year Award last year for her app. This is despite Mpengesi not having any coding or tertiary qualification or matric certificate.
ORU Social is a multi-purpose social network platform tailored for small businesses. It allows users to make new connections, share videos, and updates, advertise on the platform, create groups, have on-line conferencing sessions, access to presentations and videos and incorporate of other sites such as YouTube, Soundcloud or any other content. The platform is also available on Google Play and iTunes.
