Twenty African female-founded tech startups have been selected for the fifth edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Program, a PR and communications mentorship program dedicated exclusively to African female tech founders.
Launched on Africa Day in 2020, by the Africa tech-focused PR agency C. Moore Media International PR, acquired by global agency Allison, The Future is Female Mentorship Program is the first and only PR and communications program dedicated exclusively to African women in tech. The 2024 edition has been supported for the second year by Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, joining longtime sponsors of the program including Africa-focused tech publication TechCabal, F6S, the world’s largest startup database, and Africa Communications Week a global platform that connects communications professionals focused on Africa’s transformation.
The 20 selected finalists for this fifth edition, come from North, South, East and West African regions and will become mentees of the Program, making up the #Classof2024. The mentorship program is complementary and supports the underserved market of African women and is one of the Continent’s fastest growing community of African female tech founders.
“We are so proud to have reached this incredible fifth-anniversary milestone of The Future is Female Mentorship Program. In five years, we have supported hundreds of African female tech founders and are delighted to have support from long-term partners such as Techcabal and Africa Communications Week as well as Google and Salesforce in recent years. As we look forward to the future of the program, we remain committed to scaling the initiative with supporting African female founders as our priority objective” said Claudine Moore, Managing Director of Africa, Allison and Founder of The Future is Female Mentorship Program.
THE 2024 FINALISTS
During the selection process, startups focusing on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability were given special consideration. Startups that provide solutions and/or address African women’s and girls’ needs also received special consideration.
Below we are delighted to present the 2024 African female tech founders selected from across the Continent…
The 2024 Selected Mentees
MOROCCO
- Adjayi Cyrus, Founder of My Steps, an incentive-based health-tech app that rewards users for maintaining daily health routines through eco-friendly mobility.
- Nassima Ben, Founder of Feizhoucom, a startup building technology products, software solutions and mobile apps for startups in Morocco.
RWANDA
- Aline Nicole Uwamariya, Founder of Geuza, a startup using electronic plastic waste and 3D technology to create prosthetics and crutches for disabled people in Rwanda.
KENYA
- Becky Kirima, Founder of INVA Solution, a startup providing comprehensive virtual assistance tailored specifically for individuals with attention deficit disorder (ADD).
- Maureen Macharia, Founder of Cluzar, an AI-powered customer feedback and market research startup enabling organizations to connect and gather insights from current and potential consumers.
NIGERIA
- Kieva Chris-Amusan, Founder of Fertitude, a digital platform that provides women with on-demand & stigma-free access to reproductive health information, products and services.
- Folashade Adegbite, Founder of Harmonics, a startup building technology products, software solutions and mobile applications for startups.
- Omolola Solagbade, Founder of Zendit, a logistics digital platform that connects businesses to multiple and affordable courier options
- Kikelomo Owoyale, Founder of SheFoundry, a gender-lens technological company contributing to bridging financial and fundraising gaps for women founders and entrepreneurs
- Tolu Ajibola, Founder of HerSynergyTribe, a network focused on empowering mid-level women in tech in the EMEA region by providing resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities aimed at career advancement and personal growth.
- Roddiyyat Nasirudeen, Founder of OpenHealth, a HealthTech platform addressing the critical issue of accessibility and quality by leveraging AI technology.
- Omowumi Omidiji, Founder of Souqos, a B2B cross-border supply chain management platform that streamlines diaspora-Africa trade by providing services for sourcing, logistics, warehousing, escrow, and embedded finance.
SOUTH AFRICA
- Roseline Mapuranga, Founder of Tsehla Holdings, a startup that focuses on climate smart agriculture through hydroponic farming
ZIMBABWE
- Priscilla Chigariro, Founder of The driven Group, a premium lifestyle startup curating events, restaurants, hotels, and experiences for users in Zimbabwe
GHANA
- Ruth Nduta, Founder of Africa HackNest, an edtech startup leveraging AI to provide capacity development training for organizations in Ghana.
- Ama Dadson. Founder of Akoobooks, a platform and experience provider focused on transforming African books into engaging audiobooks that reach new audiences on mobile phones.
- Roxanne Oduro, Founder of Merdeo, a cloud-based agri-tech startup leveraging data analytics to streamline operations for restaurateurs while providing farmers with access to markets
ETHOPIA
- Begashaw Meberate, Founder of Bfarm-Tech, a digital startup providing rental threshing services for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.
- Beamlak Alemayehu, Founder of Medanit, a startup providing medication delivery, doctors’ appointments system, tele medicine, mental health consultation as well As Ethiopia’s first all in one medical directory system.
TUNISIA
- Nada Ghamem, Founder of Bionic Soul, a startup manufacturing advanced bionic prosthetics that enhance the mobility and quality of life for amputees in Tunisia.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The Future is Female Mentorship Program is the first and only PR and communications mentorship program dedicated exclusively to African female tech founders. The Program is complementary to ensure no barriers to entry.
Once the 20 finalists have completed the Future is Female Mentorship program; they will own insights into the fundamentals of PR and communications for early-stage tech startups; they will also learn how to create a communications plan, storytelling best practices, strategic business communications with multiple stakeholders, how to position their startups for investment opportunities and more. The program is delivered virtually, and the mentees are invited to participate in masterclasses and sessions customized to the specific needs of their sector and business.
For the fifth edition, Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, collaborated for the second time with The Future Is Female Mentorship Program, joining TechCabal, F6S and, Africa Communications Week, long-term partners of the initiative. The program is now powered by Allison, a global integrated marketing and communications agency, with operations across 50 markets throughout U.S., Latin America, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.
As part of the collaboration, Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, which has invested in some of Africa’s top tech startups including Flutterwave and Andela, will be hosting a masterclass on VC funding for the selected mentees of the program. The partnerships enable the Program to provide additional perspectives, tools, and insights for the selected female founders and brings world-class and Pan-African PR insights from additional leading experts, complementing Allison’s global and African regional PR expertise.
As part of the partnership, selected TechCabal team members will lead a masterclass providing the 20 finalists with insights on working with tech media and understanding how to position their startups to gain the attention of the tech press. The partnership with AfricaCommsWeek will give the founders expanded Pan-African and multi-market PR expertise, a key component for many female founders whose startups cover multiple African countries.
MASTERCLASSES AND MENTORSHIP SESSIONS
The selected mentees will participate in masterclasses hosted by TechCabal, Salesforce and Africa Communications Week, in collaboration with the program’s mentors. The program mentors are the founding team, Claudine Moore, managing director of Africa; Allison; David Idagu, Africa regional consultant; Allison; and Tope Adubi, digital marketing consultant.
The mentors will host customized sessions with the mentees focusing on sharing insights into PR and communications fundamentals for early-stage tech startups, such as corporate storytelling and communications, media relations, digital marketing, and more.
