Students’ hair product innovation now sold by national retail giant

The student-founded and led natural hair care company Green Marvel – trading under the brand name Marvelously Green and dedicated to developing science-based, affordable and effective solutions for hair and scalp health – is growing from strength to strength.

City of Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, centre, with representatives of Green Marvel. Established on the belief that nature and science can work together to address real hair care challenges, the company has steadily grown from a small entrepreneurial venture into a promising business with national recognition.

Through perseverance, innovation and strategic partnerships, Green Marvel boasts  several significant achievements that demonstrate its potential for long-term success and impact. Green Marvel is an active member of the recently launched Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) Chapter at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), which supports and promotes women entrepreneurship and business development.

One of Green Marvel’s most notable achievements was its recognition as a finalist in both the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity Competition and the EDHE-ABSA Innovation Challenge in 2025. Building on its success in the EDHE ecosystem, Green Marvel was selected to participate in the EDHE Mentorship Programme for 2026. The prestigious programme connects promising entrepreneurs with experienced mentors who provide strategic guidance, business development support and industry insights. Participation in the programme will help Green Marvel strengthen its business model, overcome growth challenges, and accelerate its journey towards becoming a sustainable and scalable enterprise.

Green Marvel has been incubated by the Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme under TUT’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CDE). This incubation support has provided mentorship, business development training, strategic guidance and access to entrepreneurial networks. The programme has played an important role in strengthening the company’s business operations, leadership capacity and growth strategy.

Green Marvel also participated in the Jubilee Enterprise Hub programme, which provided additional opportunities for entrepreneurial development, networking and business growth. Through this platform, the company gained valuable insights into business management, market positioning and sustainable growth practices.

Green Marvel products, trading under Marvelously Green, have been tested for acute toxicity via the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and have been successfully listed at Makro, one of South Africa’s leading retail chains. This achievement represents a major step towards increasing market visibility and making the products accessible to a wider customer base. The company has also secured product placement at Kalapeng Pharmacy. This partnership enhances product accessibility while reinforcing consumer confidence in Green Marvel’s science-based approach to hair and scalp care. The pharmacy listing further strengthens the brand’s credibility within the health and wellness sector.

Guided by the Innovation and Technology Transfer Office in the Directorate for Research and Innovation in its application process, Green Marvel recently received R260 000 through the Technology Innovation Agency’s (TIA) Grassroots Innovation Programme (GIP). The funding represents a major vote of confidence in the company’s innovative products and growth potential. The award will support further product development, business expansion, manufacturing capacity and market penetration activities.