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By Shumirai Chimombe 

“I believe dumplings are not just a treat that you have in the restaurant. It is something that we can change in the South African freezer. It will be your new freezer staple because it is convenient, healthy, and tasty.” 

This was part of Tina Long’s pitch at the Standard Bank EmpowHER conference in Cape Town on 21 August, when she spoke about how she founded Home Bao which manufactures frozen dumplings. After a round of dynamic business pitches from the top nine finalists, she emerged as the winner of the regional EmpowHER Cape Town 2025 pitching den. 

Tina will now represent Cape Town at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards this December, where she will compete alongside Gauteng winner Khabonina Mnguni, founder of Zibangwenya Supplies T/A ZS Uniforms, and KwaZulu-Natal winner Nokwanda Dlamini, founder of Ozel Group, for the prestigious title of Top Women EmpowHER Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 and a R100,000 cash prize, courtesy of Topco Media in partnership with Standard Bank.

Born in Taiwan but raised in South Africa, Tina had to fly back to her country of birth with her two children to spend some time with her father, Lee Hao-Sen in his final moments. It was an emotional and challenging time looking after her children and running between hospitals. And feeding her children well as a dietician was very important to her, but she didn’t have time to prepare everything from scratch. 

“And that’s when the magic of frozen dumplings dawned on me. In one single dumpling, you will have a well-balanced meal of protein, carbs, and vegetables. And it’s delicious. You just need a pot of boiling water prepared in under 10 minutes and dinner is served.  And that little victory sparked a big idea.”

She started Home Bao with one staff in her home kitchen with her aunt’s 30-year old bamboo steamer. The turn over for the first year was R12 500. Fast forward to July 2025, they are a team of 10 based in Salt River, and the business saw a turnover of just over R400 000. 

The vision of Home Bao is to create locally manufactured high-quality frozen dumplings that are in beautiful packaging with food safety certification.  Home Bao can be found nationwide in most of the large retail stores such as Checkers, Pick ‘Pay, Food Lovers Market, Spar and Wellness Warehouse. They have world-class packaging with clear cooking instructions, and this is their fourth consecutive year getting international food and health safety certification.

In closing Tina quoted her late father: If you live life without fear then your death will be one with no regrets.

“So join me in being fearless and changing South Africa’s food scene one dumpling at a time.”

We caught up with Tina to ask her about her win and what drives her as an entrepreneur. 

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What motivated you to enter the pitching den?

I wanted to share the Home Bao journey.  From rolling dumplings in my garage to building a proudly South African brand that celebrates Asian heritage. Competitions like this give entrepreneurs a platform to be heard, to learn, and to connect with people who believe in bold ideas.

 What did you learn from the experience?

It was such a humbling experience, being exposed to so many amazing entrepreneurs and hearing truly creative business ideas. Often, as entrepreneurs, we get so caught up in our own worlds that we forget what else is out there. The pitching den gave me the chance to make connections, and it was reassuring to see that other female entrepreneurs face the same struggles I do. It can be quite lonely at times, and this experience reminded me that I’m not alone on this journey.

How do you feel about winning the Cape Town pitching den? 

Honestly, proud and grateful. Proud of how far Home Bao has come, and grateful for the support from my team, my family, and our customers. Winning this round feels like recognition that Home Bao is more than making delicious dumplings – they can carry culture, community, and impact.

What drives you as an entrepreneur?

Impact. Home Bao is not just about dumplings, it’s about creating opportunities. We work with small farmers, run youth internships, and design packaging that reduces waste. Every bao we sell is a step toward building a business that feeds people well and leaves the world a little better.

Do you have any words of inspiration for other women entrepreneurs?

For many female entrepreneurs, starting a business isn’t just a dream – it’s a necessity. Failure isn’t an option, the only question is how quickly we can generate income. But in that drive, we often forget to make time for ourselves, and burnout follows. So, ladies, take a breath. Celebrate your grit and the wins, before diving back into the madness. As women, we wear so many hats: mother, partner, business owner. Too often we forget to put ourselves on the list. You matter too.

Find out more about Home Bao on their website

Take your business to the next level

The Standard Bank Top Women Awards have showcased the businesses leading in transformation over the past 19 years, acting as a source of inspiration for South Africa’s business elite.

This year the awards take place on 2 December at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. 

Are you ready to position your brand as a credible leader in gender empowerment and boost your reputation across industries? Seize this opportunity to enter your business in running for an award and submit your entry here

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