Mathebe Ngwenya (Beauty on TApp): Redefining South Africa's Beauty Industry | Mashstartup Podcast скачать в хорошем качестве

Mathebe Ngwenya (Beauty on TApp): Redefining South Africa's Beauty Industry | Mashstartup Podcast

From an app that connected customers to beauty services, to a full-fledged e-commerce platform and now a flagship store in Mall of Africa, Beauty on TApp has become one of South Africa’s most inspiring examples of what happens when bold ideas meet relentless execution. The past few years have tested Mathebe’s leadership and resilience. Running both an online store and a physical space demanded new systems, sharper processes, and a deeper understanding of customers. “Walk-in retail is a completely different beast,” she shared. “You can’t hide behind a screen. The expectations, the stock control, the customer experience — it all has to be right, every day.” For her, expanding offline wasn’t just about sales — it was about building community. The store became a physical version of Beauty on TApp’s digital promise: a place where people could experience beauty, ask questions, and feel seen. Mathebe’s ambitions have grown beyond online carts and store shelves. She’s thinking about Africa’s beauty economy, and what it means to create a homegrown multinational that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s biggest brands. Her skincare line, Pastry, sits at the heart of that vision — locally made, community-driven, and built around the needs of African skin. But growth brings tough choices: whether to scale it independently or keep it exclusive to Beauty on TApp. “We’ve had retailers approach us to stock Pastry,” she said. “It’s exciting — but it’s also about protecting the brand and ensuring we grow with intention.” As the business scales, Mathebe is learning to lead differently. No longer the solo founder doing it all, she’s building teams, designing structures, and navigating the pressures of proving herself in a space that still doubts women founders. “Even in a beauty business, people still tend to trust men more,” she reflected. “So you have to prove yourself twice — once to the world, and once to yourself.” Her story is a reminder that consistency and community matter just as much as capital. Beauty on TApp’s growth has been powered by listening to its customers, refining its products, and showing up — every single day. Mathebe Molise isn’t just selling skincare — she’s building infrastructure for South Africa’s beauty future. And she’s doing it with conviction, process, and a vision that stretches across the continent. Her dream is simple but audacious: To make Beauty on TApp South Africa’s first true beauty multinational. “I want young women to look at this and know it’s possible,” she said. “We can build big, we can build here, and we can build for the world.” From Startup to ScaleBuilding for the FutureLessons in LeadershipThe Future of Beauty Is Local