At Darena Ventures, we believe entrepreneurship is a journey—one that begins with support, grows with vision, and thrives on resilience. In 2024, we welcomed Melisa Magwizi, Co-founder & Business Lead of ChatCash, into our Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme, a pre-accelerator initiative specifically designed to help women entrepreneurs launch their businesses and prepare for competitive accelerator programs. The program offered practical tools, strategic mentorship, and a deeply supportive peer network tailored to early-stage founders.
A year later, we checked in on Melisa’s journey. What Melisa alongside her co-founder and CEO, John Sakala built since then tells a story of transformation, innovation, and bold leadership.
Melisa’s Key Insights from the Programme
Reflecting on her experience, Melisa shared what shaped her entrepreneurial mindset:
“The importance of having a solid go-to-market strategy and clear plans for scaling.”
“Understanding the role of effective human resources and hiring practices in building a strong team.”
“Improved skills in pitch preparation and fundraising, boosting my confidence when engaging investors.”
“The programme emphasized mental health and work-life balance, which helped me recognize the value of self-care and resilience on this entrepreneurial journey.”
These insights laid the foundation for her accomplished since.
A Founder Who Shows Up
From the very start of the programme, Melisa stood out—not just for her vision, but for her presence. She was actively engaged at every session, consistently asked thoughtful questions, and demonstrated a genuine desire to learn and grow.
When it came time for the pitch preparation module, Melisa didn’t hesitate. She quickly willingly stepped forward to pitch her startup live, welcoming feedback and applying it with clarity and humility. Her willingness to lead by example inspired others and affirmed the power of showing up fully.
Growth Highlights: ChatCash Takes Off
After the programme, Melisa joined forces with John Sakala, to launch the business. Together, they’ve scaled ChatCash Private Limited & ChatCash LLC into one of Zimbabwe’s most promising tech ventures.
Since launching, they have:
- Successfully brought to market an AI-powered social and voice commerce platform (Feb 2025)
- Grown their team to 6 Agents and 3 Operations Staff
- Earned a spot in the Microsoft Azure AI Cloud Partner Program
- Been shortlisted as a finalist for the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator
Program (by Plug and Play Tech Center) - Secured a Bitrix24 Partnership and joined the ZB Bank Innovation Hub
- Built a CRM and pipeline of over 1000 corporate leads
“We pitched successfully for the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program… Most importantly, we have cultivated a resilient mindset, which has helped us navigate challenges with greater confidence.”
What ChatCash Offers
ChatCash is transforming digital selling across Africa through innovative voice and social commerce tools:
|
Feature |
Description |
|
WhatsApp Automation |
: Automates sales on WhatsApp, Facebook & LinkedIn using AI agents |
|
Voice Commerce |
: SIP-integrated voice support for seamless buying experiences |
|
Sellerthon Visibility |
: 10,000+ monthly searches boosting online brand discovery |
Visit: chatcash.org 📍 Based in Harare, Zimbabwe 📞 +263 772 166 388
Gratitude for Those Who Made It Possible
This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible industry experts who brought their time, expertise, and wisdom to each session. Their guidance helped shape the learning experience, challenged our participants to think bigger, and gave Melisa—and many others—the tools to move from idea to execution.
To every contributor who believed in the potential of African women entrepreneurs, we say thank you. Your impact goes far beyond the sessions—it lives on in ventures like ChatCash, and in the lives they’re changing every day.
Why This Matters
ChatCash’s journey is more than a personal success story—it’s a case study in scalable entrepreneurship.
At Darena Ventures, we are proud to support founders who build ventures with real-world impact. By investing in strategic programmes and personalized mentorship, we help unlock the potential of entrepreneurs like Melisa—who go on to create jobs, solve pressing challenges, and lead Africa’s innovation frontier.
And while ChatCash is based in Zimbabwe, its reach is continental. It serves as a reminder that when strong ideas meet meaningful support, borders blur and opportunities expand.
Let’s Build More Success Stories in Zimbabwe
If you’re a sponsor, investor, or partner seeking to empower emerging African businesses, let Melisa’s story be your invitation. Her success began with belief—and continued with guidance.
“Darena Ventures can continue supporting us by facilitating networking opportunities… ongoing mentorship… and sharing more platforms to showcase our businesses.”
We’re ready to work with those who want to build resilient ecosystems—and back the next wave of changemakers.
