A group of female tech entrepreneurs from across Africa has received a significant financial boost after winning equity-free grants aimed at supporting women who are shaping the continent’s digital economy. The funding was awarded during the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge finale, held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton.
The competition brought together ten women founders from various African countries who pitched their technology-driven businesses to a panel of judges. At the end of the event, five innovators from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo walked away with grants totalling more than R1.7 million to help scale their ventures.
The initiative was spearheaded by Naspers and Prosus and coincided with Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. It also aligned with broader discussions taking place during South Africa’s G20 presidency and the B20 Summit, which focuses on strengthening global business collaboration.
Interest in the programme was significant. During the application window in September, organisers received more than 1,100 submissions from women-led technology businesses across Africa, highlighting both the growing number of female innovators and the demand for funding opportunities in the sector.
Beyond the financial support, the winning founders will also gain access to mentorship and resources designed to help them grow their companies and expand their impact. The programme aims to support businesses developing technology solutions in areas such as agriculture, sustainability, and digital platforms.
The challenge reflects a broader effort to close the gender gap in technology and entrepreneurship across the continent. Advocates argue that increasing investment in women-led tech ventures is critical to ensuring that Africa’s digital transformation is inclusive and accessible to a wider range of innovators.
As Africa’s digital economy continues to expand, initiatives such as the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge are helping position female entrepreneurs as key contributors to the continent’s innovation ecosystem and future economic growth.
