Nigerian Women Founders Unlock $1.75M in New Capital Access

A new program in Nigeria is preparing female tech entrepreneurs for serious funding opportunities, with up to $1.75 million available per founder.

FSDH Merchant Bank just launched the second edition of its Female Founders Growth Programme in partnership with Africa Guarantee Fund and WEAV Capital. The initiative targets a real problem: women-led businesses consistently struggle to access the capital they need to grow, not because their ideas lack merit, but because they often lack the investor-ready frameworks that traditional lenders and equity investors require.

The program offers practical training in the skills that matter most when seeking capital. Participants will learn how to build financial structures that satisfy lenders, create pitch materials that resonate with investors, and position their businesses for sustainable growth beyond a single funding round.

Beyond training, the program opens direct pathways to capital. Selected founders can access up to $1 million in debt financing from FSDH Merchant Bank and up to $750,000 in equity investment from WEAV Capital, amounts substantial enough to meaningfully scale operations.

To qualify, applicants must run revenue-generating tech or tech-enabled businesses that have operated for at least two years. The business must be at least 50% female-owned or have a woman serving as CEO, COO, or CTO, and founders should be seeking at least $200,000 in funding.

The program runs through physical sessions, requiring full commitment from participants. It culminates in a Demo Day where founders pitch directly to investors and financial institutions, creating visibility that often matters as much as the training itself.

The Ripple Effect

When women-led businesses access growth capital, the impact extends far beyond individual success stories. Research consistently shows that female entrepreneurs reinvest earnings into their communities at higher rates, creating jobs and economic opportunities that benefit entire neighborhoods.

This program addresses a systemic barrier by changing how female founders are prepared for and perceived by the investment community. By equipping 50 women with investor-grade skills and materials, the initiative could influence how dozens of investment committees evaluate hundreds of future applications from women-led ventures.

The ecosystem connections alone matter tremendously. Participants gain access to networks of fellow founders, industry experts, and financial institutions, relationships that often prove more valuable than any single funding round.

Applications close June 11, 2026, giving eligible founders time to prepare their materials and assess whether this intensive program fits their growth timeline.

Nigeria's tech ecosystem continues maturing, and initiatives like this signal growing institutional commitment to ensuring that ecosystem includes everyone with strong ideas and execution capacity, regardless of gender.