"First Cohort of She Wins Africa Program: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Africa"

Application deadline: Ongoing

She Wins Africa is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Through a strategic blend of training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, this program is dedicated to equipping female-led startups with the tools they need to thrive. Despite being the global leaders in entrepreneurial activity, African women face persistent challenges that impede their potential as founders and business leaders. These hurdles include limited access to startup capital, a scarcity of support ecosystems, and gender-lens investment strategies often overlooked by venture capital firms and funds. She Wins Africa steps forward to conquer these obstacles and enhance the prospects for women-led startups seeking financing.

You may also want to view, "Apply Now: Digital Skills for Women+ Program 2023 for Females in the Tech Industry"

Program Objectives:

She Wins Africa is designed to achieve several critical goals:

1. Investment Readiness Training: Equipping women-led startups with essential business skills and investment readiness training to enhance their ability to secure financing.

2. Gender-Lens Investing Capacity Building: Empowering funds and Venture Capital entities with the knowledge and expertise needed to implement gender-lens investing strategies. This strategic shift will expedite investments in women-led startups and enterprises, including ten startup support organizations.

3. Accelerator and ESO Capacity Enhancement: Building the capacity of accelerators and Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) to incubate early-stage startups effectively. This focus aims to cultivate a robust pipeline of startups ready for investment.

4. Matchmaking and Pitching Events: Facilitating matchmaking and pitching events that connect female founders with potential investors. This dynamic networking approach streamlines funding flows into women-owned businesses.

Eligibility for She Wins Africa Program:

Prospective participants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Age: 21 years and above.
• Gender: Female.
• Years in Business: Minimum of one year.
• Headquarters: Located in a sub-Saharan African country.
• Industry: Open to all industries with a central technology component.
• Previous Participation: Individuals who have previously engaged in similar IFC programs are ineligible to apply.
• Language Proficiency: Proficient in English. Learn More

Participants in the She Wins Africa program must be prepared to commit to online training sessions and attend networking events over the next 12 months. It's important to note that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will cover flight and hotel expenses exclusively for the program's duration.