Dr Michelle Von Stein, whose Stellenbosch studio turns her family’s hand-painted botanical and wildlife artworks into homeware, tableware and accessories, has been named South Africa’s 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year®.
The Coral Bloom® Studio founder took the overall title at the 38th annual Business Partners Limited Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards. Selected from 556 entrants and 15 finalists across multiple categories, Von Stein was recognised for building a design-led business that has expanded from a small family venture into a nationally and internationally supplied wholesale brand.
“Michelle leads every part of Coral Bloom® Studio, from strategy and finance to product development and sales, and she still meets her clients face to face wherever she can,” says Gugu Mjadu, Executive General Manager for Marketing and Impact Investing at Business Partners Limited. “The judges were impressed by her commitment to continuous learning, her willingness to seek out mentorship and business development opportunities and the disciplined way in which she has scaled her business while preserving its distinctive creative identity.”
Founded alongside her mother and sister, Coral Bloom® Studio has grown from a small creative venture into a wholesale design business supplying destination retailers, luxury lodges, hospitality brands, wine estates, conservation organisations and premium retailers in South Africa and abroad. Much of the company’s growth has been driven by referrals and repeat business, reflecting strong customer loyalty and a reputation for quality craftsmanship.
Products are printed on demand and made up by a network of independent seamstresses and small manufacturers across the Western Cape, which Von Stein manages alongside the studio’s in-house team. This on-demand operating model has enabled the business to scale production without carrying significant inventory, while maintaining consistent quality standards across a growing order book. Coral Bloom® Studio employs seven people permanently and a further 24 on a temporary basis, with women accounting for 97% of its workforce.
Beyond commercial operations, the studio contributes to a range of social and conservation initiatives. It supplies leopard-themed pieces for Cape Leopard Trust fundraising auctions and works with the Handwork Hub, a social enterprise that trains women in sewing and helps them earn an income. Its fabric offcuts are repurposed into pet beds, which it donates to animal welfare organisations, extending the use of materials that would otherwise go to waste.
This combination of commercial growth, job creation, supplier development and community impact distinguished Coral Bloom® Studio among this year’s finalists and contributed to Von Stein’s selection as South Africa’s 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year®.
Three category winners were also announced at the ceremony.
- Emerging Business Entrepreneur of the Year® – This award is open to entrepreneurs who have run their current business for between one and five years, with turnover of up to R10 million. It went to Lwando, Lwazi and Simnikiwe Ndlangalavu, founders of PB Gaz in Kempton Park, Gauteng. The brothers opened their first LPG outlet in July 2023 and became the first formal retailer in their area to sell cooking gas through pay-as-you-go micro-refills with no cylinder deposit. PB Gaz now serves between 5 700 and 6 800 township households a month from three branches in Kempton Park, Kaalfontein, and Ivory Park. Its rapid growth and innovative approach to energy access have earned the company preselection as an implementation partner for the G20 Clean Cooking Legacy Project.
- Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year® – Entrepreneurs whose businesses turned over between R10 million and R50 million in the previous tax year compete for this title, however long they have been trading. Noko Ramasenya, founder and owner of Noleo Projects in Benoni, Gauteng, took the award. Ramasenya started the construction and civil engineering company in 2016, and it counts Ardagh Glass Packaging, Tharisa Minerals and Mpact Plastics among its clients. Under Ramasenya’s leadership, Noleo Projects has grown from a start-up venture into a trusted contractor, building a reputation for quality delivery and long-term client relationships in highly competitive markets.
- Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year® – This category is for businesses with turnover above R50 million in the previous tax year. The winner was Jaen-Jacques Nell, founder of The CMF Group in Sandton, Gauteng. Nell started the business in 2018 and now distributes Defy, Philips and Samsung products through Takealot, Amazon and Makro. The company also handles marketplace management, fulfilment and after-sales support for the brands it represents.
The judging panel can also confer further titles at its discretion, and three were awarded.
- Job Creator of the Year® – This award recognises an entrepreneur who employs a significant number of people and invests in training and developing them. Douw Bezuidenhout of Henque Waste in George, Western Cape, received the title. Since joining the business in 2017, he has expanded its collection, sorting, recycling, logistics and training operations across the Garden Route and Hessequa, running it on the view that waste can create jobs and build skills while easing pressure on landfill. Henque Waste has grown its workforce to 134 permanent employees and a further 28 on a temporary basis. The company’s employment footprint is notable for its contribution to inclusive economic participation, with black employees comprising 98% of its workforce, 82% of employees are younger than 35 and women accounting for 39% of staff.
- Innovator of the Year® – The judges recognise entrepreneurs who have redefined how business is conducted in their industry or successfully introduced innovative products or services to the market. Marcel and Simone Hattingh and Nicholas Eve, founders of Donkey Long Tong in Paarden Island, Cape Town, Western Cape, were named this year’s innovators. What started as a tongue-in-cheek idea inspired by an oversized braai tong has evolved into a thriving manufacturing business. Today, the business manufactures all its products locally, is stocked in more than 200 retail outlets and generates approximately 30% of its revenue from export markets.
- Impact Business Entrepreneur of the Year® – This title honours an entrepreneur whose business creates meaningful social impact in the communities where it operates, beyond its commercial performance. The 2026 title went to Kgomotso Pooe, founder of SoWeToo Tours in Soweto, Gauteng. Established in 2012, this tourism business offers experiences that showcase the township through the eyes of local residents and entrepreneurs, with its itineraries incorporating community-based tourism enterprises. By prioritising local hiring and procurement, SoWeToo ensures that tourism spend circulates within the community.
Along with their titles, the winners share in a prize package that includes cash prizes, mentorship, technical assistance and business exposure.
“Our theme this year was Generation Build, and the seven awardees are not simply running businesses, they are building lasting enterprises that contribute to economic growth, job creation and innovation that South Africa can rely on,” concludes Mjadu. “By sharing their journeys, we want to celebrate their achievements while encouraging other entrepreneurs to see that sustainable success is within reach.”
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