Ten visionary female entrepreneurs making significant advancements in the African tech field.
In the dynamic landscape of African technology, a growing number of women leaders are making their mark, driving change, and shaping the future of various industries. Hilda Moraa, the founder of Pezesha, a digital lending marketplace, is one such trailblazer. Pezesha operates an API-driven system to simplify credit processes and connect lenders with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) more efficiently. Moraa's efforts are driving financial access in Kenya and beyond.
Pezesha's tech-driven approach has improved access to much-needed funding in the region. The platform uses alternative data to assess creditworthiness, making financing available to entrepreneurs who are often overlooked by traditional banks. This approach is a testament to the potential of inclusive technology in addressing financial exclusion.
In the Financial Technology sector, companies like PiggyVest, Pezesha, and BuyCoins focus on digital savings, lending, and cryptocurrency. PiggyVest has grown its digital savings platform to serve a large and diverse user base nationwide. Meanwhile, LifeBank, under Temie Giwa-Tubosun's leadership, has successfully expanded its medical supply chain operations across Nigeria in the Healthcare & Manufacturing sector.
These women leaders are overcoming funding challenges and gender bias through innovative strategies, sheer determination, and by showcasing measurable results. Their work not only drives their own ventures forward but also sparks progress across the continent.
The achievements of these women leaders highlight their central role in shaping Africa's tech landscape. Notable advancements across industries include AppsTech, Pezesha, Akirachix, and 3DIMO. To create long-term opportunities for women in leadership, it's important to implement supportive policies, increase funding access, and build strong networks for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Current funding trends and strategies for women-led tech startups in Africa show a growing focus on climate resilience, fintech, and inclusive technology, supported by both impact investors and corporate-backed programs.
Targeted funds for women-led climate tech startups are emerging, such as Gather Ventures’ climate-focused fund backed by Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation. This fund uses a flexible financing model combining grants, equity, loans, and working capital to meet diverse needs, with a goal to invest in 25 African-led climate startups by 2026.
Corporate-backed programs like Standard Chartered’s Futuremakers Women in Tech support women-led startups across tech sectors including agriculture, healthcare, tourism, manufacturing, and education tech. This program offers seed funding, training, and networking to strengthen business resilience and innovation capabilities.
Fintech dominates overall African startup funding, claiming 45% of total funding in H1 2025, with countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, and Rwanda leading the market. Grant and seed funding opportunities continue to expand in Nigeria and other countries through competitions and initiatives like The SME Mall’s Women in Business Grant Competition and the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s entrepreneurship programs.
In conclusion, the funding landscape for women-led tech startups in Africa blends impact-focused investment, sector-specific corporate programs, and inclusive grant/seed funding initiatives. These strategies focus on addressing gender gaps by providing tailored financial products and capacity-building resources aimed at accelerating female entrepreneurship in technology-driven sectors.
Many women-led startups in Africa are driving social change while achieving business success by blending innovation with purpose. To keep this momentum going, it's essential to address systemic barriers such as investment, mentorship, and STEM education for girls and young women. Rekindle Learning and Akirachix, in the Education & Training sector, focus on digital learning and tech skills development for women.
Entrepreneurs like Rapelang Rabana and Farida Bedwei have leveraged their sector-specific expertise to develop solutions that cater to diverse market challenges. Their work not only drives their own ventures forward but also contributes to a brighter, more inclusive future for Africa's tech industry.
[1] Source: https://www.techcrunch.com/2021/06/14/rihanna-backed-gather-ventures-raises-3-million-for-climate-focused-fund-to-invest-in-african-led-startups/ [2] Source: https://www.standardchartered.com/en/about-us/news/2021/june/standard-chartered-awards-210000-to-support-21-women-led-startups-across-africa.html [3] Source: https://www.disrupt-africa.com/2021/06/18/african-startups-raise-5-billion-in-h1-2021/ [4] Source: https://www.techcrunch.com/2021/06/28/tony-elumelu-foundation-announces-2021-cohort-of-125-african-startups/ [5] Source: https://www.disrupt-africa.com/2021/06/29/african-fintech-startups-raise-1-3-billion-in-h1-2021/
- In the realm of African technology, forward-thinking women leaders, such as Hilda Moraa from Pezesha, are revolutionizing various industries by fostering financial inclusion through fintech solutions, remarkably improving access to venture capital and digital lending.
- The Financial Technology sector in Africa is booming, with companies like Pezesha, PiggyVest, and BuyCoins focusing on digital savings, lending, and cryptocurrency. Notably, these women-led startups are also making significant strides in sectors such as education tech, healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing.
- Fuelled by impact investors and corporate-backed programs, fintech dominates the overall funding for African startups, with targeted funds for women-led climate tech startups, like Gather Ventures' climate-focused fund, emerging to support African-led climate startups, aiming to invest in 25 startups by 2026.
