July 2025 Meeting
2025-07-03 08:00 - 10:30 (Africa/Johannesburg) | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa
Topic: The Roller coaster Ride
From the mind-numbing lows of multiple business liquidations, to the exhilarating highs of raising millions of Rands in Venture Capital, and developing innovative solutions to solve challenges for global markets, Darlene’s entrepreneurial journey is a wild roller coaster ride jam packed with many stories and lessons. Join us, fasten your seatbelts, and enjoy the ride!

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R220.00 – R390.00Price range: R220.00 through R390.00BOOK NOW
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Guest Speaker: Darlene Menzies
The World Economic Forum named Darlene Menzies one of 6 Top Female Tech Breakthrough Entrepreneurs in Africa for 2017. She is a technology innovator and serial entrepreneur with 15 years’ corporate IT experience with ABSA Bank and ICT outsource giant BCX.
Since leaving corporate employment in 2001, she has established several successful technology businesses and has firsthand experience in what it takes to start and grow a successful enterprise and understands the difficulties entrepreneurs have to overcome to do so.
Darlene has used this experience to develop numerous easy-to-use digital solutions that address large gaps in the start-up and SME market. Two of these include:

The award-winning small business accounting system SMEasy, currently being rolled out across Africa by MTN (the continent’s largest telecommunications network provider).
Finfind, South Africa’s leading online SME access to finance solution, which is sponsored and supported by the Department of Small Business Development, USAID, Business Leadership SA, the Banking Association of South Africa and the SA SME Fund.

She has successfully raised more than R35m in early stage funding from nine Venture Capitalists to develop and commercialise disruptive innovations.
Darlene was awarded a South Africa Innovation Entrepreneur Award and was a top five Finalist for SA ICT Person of the Year alongside the MD’s of Microsoft and EOH. One of her Fintech solutions won the Country Award for Best Business Product at the 2013 World Summit Awards and a mobile innovations won Nokia’s Global Judges Choice Award (top 10 from 85 countries 1700 systems). She has also been identified by Zurich-based STARS Group as a future Global Leader.
She is a public speaker and a media spokesperson and recognised expert on the SME sector. Darlene is quoted in the national press on matters of entrepreneurship, small business development, innovation and disruptive technology.

Coffee Connect 15 July 2025: KZNSA Art Gallery
2025-07-15 09:00 - 11:00 | KZNSA Gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood

Coffee Connect 24 July: The Local Ballito Hills Estate
2025-07-24 09:00 - 11:00 | The Local Ballito Hills Estate, 2 Hills Avenue, Ballito

Coffee Connect 25 July 2025: LIV Coffee Shop
2025-07-25 09:00 - 11:00 | LIV Cafe & Thrift Store, 36 Aubrey Drive, Glen Ashley, Durban North

August 2025 Meeting
2025-08-07 08:00 - 10:30 | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa

Coffee Connect 15 August 2025: Essence Cafe
2025-08-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Essence Cafe, 57 Old Main Road, Hillcrest, 3610

August 2025 Workshop
2025-08-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Durban & Coast SPCA, Springfield Park, 2 Willowfield Cres, Durban, 4001, South Africa

Coffee Connect 21 August 2025: Plato Coffee Umhlali
2025-08-21 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal

Coffee Connect 26 August 2025: Noble Coffee Shop
2025-08-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Noble Coffee Shop, Durban North, Swapo Road (below Sorbet)

September 2025 Meeting
2025-09-04 08:00 - 10:30 | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa

Coffee Connect 12 September 2025: Strangers Coffee, Essenwood
2025-09-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Strangers Coffee, 41 Milner Road, Essenwood

Coffee Connect 18 September 2025: The Waterberry Coffee Shop Ballito
2025-09-18 09:00 - 11:00 | The Waterberry Coffee Shop, Dolphin Crescent, Ballito

Coffee Connect 23 September 2025: Neighbourhood Cafe Glen Ashley
2025-09-23 09:00 - 11:00 | Neighbourhood Cafe, 30 Braemar Avenue, Glen Ashley

October 2025 Meeting
2025-10-02 08:00 - 10:30 | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa

Coffee Connect 07 October 2025: Forest Cafe, Umhlanga
2025-10-07 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal

Coffee Connect 14 October 2025: Alverstone
2025-10-14 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal

Cocktail Connect 16 October 2025: North Coast
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:00 | KwaZulu Natal

Birthday Celebration Dinner
2025-10-23 18:00 - 21:00 | Elephant & Co., Shop ROF06, The Pavilion Shopping Centre, Jack Martens Dr, Dawncliffe, Westville, 3629

November 2025 Meeting
2025-11-06 08:00 - 10:30 | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa

Coffee Connect 14 November 2025: The Market, 185 Lothian Rd, Park Hill, Durban
2025-11-14 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal

Coffee Connect 20 November 2025: Fiamma Grill, Ballito
2025-11-20 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal

Coffee Connect 25 November 2025: Hillcrest
2025-11-25 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal

December 2025 Year End Event
2025-12-04 08:00 - 10:30 | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa

February 2026 Meeting
2026-02-05 08:00 - 10:30 | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa

Coffee Connect: 19 February 2026
2026-02-19 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal

Coffee Connects: March 2026
2026-03-01 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal

March 2026 Meeting
2026-03-05 08:00 - 10:30 | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa

KZNWIB 2025 AGM
2026-03-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove, Umgeni Park, Durban, 4065, South Africa

March 2026 Workshop
2026-03-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Master Builders, 40 Essex Terrace, Westville

Coffee Connects: April 2026
2026-04-01 09:00 - 11:00 | KwaZulu Natal
