AFDA alumna Evelyn Maruping, founder and owner of Ping TVSA and Northern Cape Starlet recently was announced as the first female entrepreneur in the digital space to represent the Northern Cape in the MTN Women in Digital Business Challenge. Her company was officially inducted into the MTN Women in Digital Business Challenge as one of the ten top South African female-led digital businesses.
This forms part of the MTN Foundation’s second annual MTN Women in Digital Business Challenge, which displays the foundation’s commitment to empowerment in the digital economy.
On the 30 August 2023, Ping TVSA also released its first digital magazine, “Talking to Eve”, and it was welcomed successfully by readers with great reviews.
Lesimola Selepe, senior manager for community programmes at the MTN Foundation, says MTN SA believes that it is up to talented women to show what they can achieve within the science, technology, information and mathematics sectors.
In a second challenge, MTN will once again be extending opportunities for women to benefit professionally through the innovative and entrepreneurial environment created for their growth.
After the initial applications, the women compete in a two-day pitching competition during which they showcase their businesses and compete for a place in the top ten.
Following this, the entrepreneurs enter a four-month mentorship journey, and in addition are given help to ensure that the financial and business management skills required to run a successful small business are improved.
Once graduating from these programmes, each of the ten successful candidates receive their R100 000 funding for developing their businesses.
