More opportunities have been created for women as a result of the growing need for diversity and inclusion. The Future is Female Mentorship Programme is one of these opportunities presented to women through the launch of its second edition in 2021.
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The second edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Programme has chosen twenty-five African female-founded tech firms. This initiative gives PR and communications talent, information, and insights to African female tech founders of early-stage firms in order to assist them to build their businesses and get more visibility in order to attract consumers, investors, and strategic collaborations.
The 25 female-founded tech startups were selected from different parts of the continent with Rebecca Nanono from Shetechtive from Uganda. Shetechtive is a social enterprise that empowers African girls and young women in Uganda to use technology for social good. The startup enables girls and young women to have access to quality, inclusive and equitable education by providing study tablets and laptops through instalment payment plans.
The Future is Female mentorship Programme increased the intake this year from 12 to 25 early-stage African tech female-founded startups for its second edition giving more women the opportunity to gain from the programme.
It is aimed at African women based on the continent or in the diaspora, launching or growing a tech business for African markets or serving Africans in the diaspora. According to Disrupt Africa, a total of 180 applications were received from 26 different African countries.
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Other women selected for the Future is Female Mentorship Programme
Nigeria: Joanne Osuchukwu of Hlink, Ifedolapo Lawal of Afrinovate Technology, Adaobi Eneh of RoboRep, Ibironke Yekinni of Testify, Wunmi Akinsola of Fashtracker, Olarenwaju Erogbogbo of Doing Good Work in Africa, Kosi Ejieji of MyChassis, and Tale Alimi of Owoafara.
South Africa: Thato Schermer from Zoie Health, Gugu Kheswa of Hello Africa Travel, Joshna Nagar of APJ Technologies, Siyanda Mpambani from Pink Torque Projects, and Noxolo Fani of Platform Excel. There are two from Rwanda – Nisingizwe Joselyn of Smart Ikigega Project and Eva Barasa of Valley Hub, and two from Kenya, namely Nancy Passiany of Veesh Africa and Cathy Chepkemboi of Tushop.
The cohort is completed by Prisca Magori, Tenten Explore (Tanzania); Marly Diallo, BRT Energy (Guinea); Selma Ndi Ekfvei, Data Girl Technologies (Cameroon), Fatou Gning, Amal Crowdfunding (Senegal); Heba Eldessouky, As Good As New (Egypt); Rebecca Nanono, Shetechtive (Uganda); Nadege Bolingo, Connecticut Institute for Social Entrepreneurship (DRC); and Setsabile Mkhabela, Boast-ID (Eswatini).
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