Key Developments

IFC Announces 100 Women Entrepreneurs Selected for She Wins Africa Program

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has unveiled the 100 women-led startup owners chosen to participate in its She Wins Africa program.
This initiative, launched by IFC in 2023, aims to accelerate access to capital and empower women entrepreneurs leading startups across sub-Saharan Africa.

The selected participants will receive comprehensive support designed to enhance their companies’ investment readiness. This includes:

Mentorship and guidance: Experts will provide valuable advice and support.
Networking opportunities:
 
  • Participants will connect with potential investors, industry leaders, and peers through matchmaking and pitching events.
  • Capacity building: Tailored programs will strengthen their business skills.
    Promoting Gender Equality

She Wins Africa represents IFC’s ongoing commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women entrepreneurs in emerging markets.

The 100 participants were chosen from a highly competitive pool of nearly 3,000 applicants.

These women entrepreneurs represent diverse sectors, encompassing fields like agriculture technology, climate technology, e-commerce, education technology, healthcare technology, and financial technology.

Beyond supporting the chosen 100 participants, She Wins Africa will launch additional initiatives:

– Bootcamp for pre-seed startups: This program will help 200 pre-seed women-led startups reach the acceleration phase.
– Expanding access to acceleration: This initiative aims to connect an additional 200 women-led startups with acceleration support in underserved regions.
– Building a coalition of investors: This program seeks to create collaboration among funds, venture capital firms, and gender-lens investors to improve access to finance for women-owned businesses across Africa.

“IFC’s She Wins Africa empowers women entrepreneurs through coaching, training, and financing, accelerating their growth and investment readiness throughout sub-Saharan Africa,” said Nathalie Akon Gabala, IFC’s Director of Gender and Economic Inclusion.

“It’s time for investors to step up and fund women. A strong entrepreneurship ecosystem benefits us all.”

This announcement builds upon the launch of She Wins Africa at the Africa CEO Forum in Côte d’Ivoire last year.
 
It follows the success of IFC’s She Wins Arabia program, which has supported over 170 women entrepreneurs and 35 Entrepreneur Support Organizations in the Middle East and North Africa since 2021.

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