African Women Tech Founders Get Second Shot at Funding

Her Startup, an accelerator helping women-led tech companies across Africa, just announced applications are open for its second cohort of founders. The numbers behind this program tell a frustrating story: women run more than half of Africa's self-employed ventures, yet captured less than 1% of the $2 billion African startups raised in 2025.

The program partners three organizations committed to changing that reality. KSH Foundation, Tomorrow Foundation, and EHA Impact Ventures team up to select ten women founders who will get far more than typical startup training.

Selected entrepreneurs receive a 12-week intensive course with Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed accelerator, with all fees covered. They also get a monthly stipend so they can focus completely on building their businesses without financial stress.

But the real game-changer comes in how they fund these companies. Her Startup offers convertible revenue-based financing, meaning founders repay based on what their company actually earns. This approach protects entrepreneurs from crushing debt if growth takes longer than expected.

"It's not enough to just give these companies financing. It's about giving them financing that will truly help them succeed," said Evelyn Castle, Co-founder of Her Startup and Co-founder of EHA Impact Ventures.

The first cohort proved the model works. Over 200 applications poured in from 18 African countries in 2024. Three ventures won funding at the April 2025 Pitch Day, and participating founders have since secured grants, attracted investors, and gained international visibility.

Blessing Aniefiok, COO of Dynalimb Technologies and a 2024 graduate, now sees steady growth in customers using their affordable 3D-printed prosthetics. Her company emerged from that first cohort ready to scale.

The Ripple Effect

This second cohort specifically encourages applications from Francophone Africa, spreading opportunity across more of the continent. Women aged 18 to 35 who run tech-enabled businesses generating at least $500 monthly can apply if they've operated for six months or longer.

The program recognizes something profound about this moment in history. "For thousands of years, physical strength and traditional structures of power placed women at a disadvantage," said Maggie Gu, Co-founder of Her Startup and President of Tomorrow Foundation. "Today, intelligence, creativity and judgment can be amplified as never before."

Beyond funding individual companies, Her Startup graduates gain access to Founder Institute's global network and receive 12 months of sector-specific mentoring. That combination of capital, training, and connections addresses the full spectrum of barriers women entrepreneurs face.

The application window closes October 26, 2026. Full details live at www.her-startup.com for founders ready to turn their tech ventures into investment-ready businesses that could reshape Africa's entrepreneurial landscape.