The “Future is Female Mentorship Programme,” launched on Africa Day in 2020 by C. Moore Media International PR and now supported by Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Programme, Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, and F6S, has announced its fourth cohort of promising female-led tech startups.
The programme’s impact is evident as this year’s edition saw a significant uptick in applications, with 490 entries received from 37 African countries, showcasing a 42% increase from the previous year. Among these, twenty standout female-founded tech startups were chosen for the mentorship, representing diverse sectors and regions across the continent.
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The 2023 Selected Mentees
EGYPT
Mai Shakweer: Founder of AutoMechanic, a platform that connects car owners in Cairo with local mechanic services and workshops.
KENYA
- Celeste Tchetgen Vogel, Founder of e-Waka Mobility – a full-service platform for businesses to make cheaper, eco-friendly deliveries with tried and tested electric bikes.
- Juliet (Shiro) Njoroge, Founder of Mosmos Africa, a Save Now Buy Later (SNBL) platform, enabling Kenyans to save-to-buy conveniently with the Mosmos app.
- Natasha Makindu, Founder of Paydel, a social commerce fulfillment platform that aggregates logistics services on demand.
- Fridah Karani, Founder of Hela Money, a next-generation trade platform bridging traditional and digital finance enabling business to build for the future.
- Jackie Kamau, Founder of The Laundry Lady, an on-demand laundry, dry cleaning service offering convenient pick-up, wash, and delivery, with a focus on high-quality service at affordable rates.
- Elizabeth Nduta, Founder of Gwiji, which empowers low-income Kenyan women with training and flexible employment.
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NIGERIA
- Al Hassan Keita, Founder of EtioneraPay – an escrow payment gateway built for online and e-commerce user, processing payment and enabling payment for users.
- Jennifer Echenim, Founder of Bloccpay – a crypto-powered payroll solution for global businesses and talents.
- Gold Sylvester, Founder of Traddify – a global remittance platform that allows individuals and businesses to make cross-border payments seamlessly and instantly.
- Ngozi Nwabueze, Founder of PocketLawyers – a Nigerian legal tech startup that offers access to affordable premium legal services and solutions to SMEs and startups.
- Sarah Odiavbara, Founder of Craftmerce – a B2B e-commerce marketplace for African handcrafted enterprises.
- Olawunmi Akalusi, Founder of Rísé NG – a digital platform that seamlessly connect artisans and vendors with consumers.
- Bibi Ikuemonisan, Founder of FarmCorps – an agritech platform providing smallholder farmers in Nigeria with end-to-end market access, loans and more.
- Joy Akparobore, Founder of VAMUZ – a Nigerian e-commerce and logistics platform aimed at the local market.
- Kemi Ogunkoya, Founder of LeaderX – an innovative mobile application enabling African professional networks to bridge talent shortages, leadership gaps and more.
SOUTH AFRICA
Jacqui Rogers: Founder of My Pregnancy Journey – an app which aims to guide and empower South African/African women with information and expertise on pregnancy, health and parenting.
TANZANIA
Sophia Abeid: Founder of Vide – a Tanzanian educational video sharing technology for content creators.
TUNISIA
Rym Bourguiba: Founder of WildyNess – an online platform that offers travelers authentic experiences in Tunisia creating social impact in rural regions
ZAMBIA
Vwanganji Amatende-Bowa: Founder of Mightyfinance – an SME finance partner building thriving enterprises, that aim to transform lives through the provision of flexible, easy, and affordable loans.
Empowering and Equipping
Upon completion of the program, these talented entrepreneurs will have gained insights into PR and communications essentials tailored to early-stage tech startups.
They will learn to craft effective communication plans, leverage storytelling best practices, engage with diverse stakeholders through strategic business communications, and position their startups for investment opportunities. The programme’s virtual delivery includes sector-specific masterclasses and customized sessions that cater to each entrepreneur’s unique business needs.
A Vision for the Future
The “Future is Female Mentorship Programme” stands as a beacon of empowerment, fostering a more inclusive and equitable tech ecosystem in Africa.
By investing in the growth and development of female-led tech startups, the program paves the way for innovation, collaboration, and success, setting a promising example for the future of the continent’s technology landscape.
