HER STARTUP has opened applications for its second cohort, a pan-African accelerator designed to support women founders and CEOs building technology-enabled businesses. The programme combines intensive training, a monthly stipend, mentorship, and the opportunity to pitch for startup capital of up to US$5,000.
The initiative is led by KSH Foundation, Tomorrow Foundation and EHA Impact Ventures, in partnership with Founder Institute, one of the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerators.
Why HER STARTUP Matters
Despite women accounting for a large share of Africa’s self-employed population, female founders secured less than 1% of the more than US$2 billion raised by African startups in 2025. HER STARTUP was created to help close this gap by providing structured training, flexible financing and long-term support in a single integrated programme.
The pilot cohort (2024/2025) attracted over 200 applications from 18 African countries. Ten founders were selected for training, and three ventures secured funding at the Pitch Day held in Lagos in April 2025. Graduates have since won grants, attracted investor interest and gained greater visibility for their businesses.
What Selected Founders Receive
- 12–14 weeks of intensive training delivered by Founder Institute, with programme fees fully covered.
- Monthly stipend during the training period (paid in stages) to allow founders to focus fully on their businesses.
- Opportunity to pitch to the programme’s Investment Committee for seed financing of up to US$5,000 (structured as convertible revenue-based financing, not a grant).
- 6–12 months of sector-specific mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and experts.
- Access to the Founder Institute’s global network.
- Additional support that may include co-working space access and healthcare coverage (details confirmed for selected participants).
Only about 10 founders will be selected for Cohort 2.0.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Be a female founder, co-founder or CEO of the business applying.
2. Be aged 18–35.
3. Run a tech-enabled business.
4. Have an MVP or an existing product already on the market.
5. Generate at least US$500 in monthly gross revenue, sustained for a minimum of six months.
6. Be based anywhere in Africa (open to founders from any African country).
Additional selection notes from the organisers:
- Maximum 20% of selected companies will be fintechs.
- At least 15% of selected companies will come from Francophone Africa.
- Founders from Francophone Africa are strongly encouraged to apply.
The programme is designed for founders who are already operating a business, not for those at the pure idea stage.
Programme Structure
1. Selection – Based on HER STARTUP and Founder Institute criteria (team, product, traction, uniqueness and growth potential).
2. Training – Intensive accelerator programme focused on building investment-ready startups.
3. Funding – Successful graduates pitch for convertible revenue-based financing (average around US$5,000).
4. Mentoring – Ongoing support after the training phase to help founders continue growing their businesses.
How to Apply
Interested and eligible women founders should visit the official website using the Link provided 👉 Here and complete the application form
Deadline: 26 October 2026
Note: There is no application fee. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate that their business meets the revenue, product and operational requirements, and to clearly explain the problem they solve, their customers and growth potential.
HER STARTUP offers a practical pathway for African women tech founders who already have traction and want structured support to become more investment-ready. The combination of high-quality training, a stipend, mentorship and founder-friendly financing makes it one of the more comprehensive programmes currently available for women-led early-stage tech businesses on the continent.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, submit your application before 26 October 2026.
