Are you a Nigerian woman entrepreneur ready to take your business to the next level? Apply now for Growth4Her Cohort 4 and unlock the full potential of your SME

According to the African Development Bank (AfDB) 2021 report, there’s a $42 billion gender financing gap in Africa. As an AFAWA Women Entrepreneurship Enabler, Growth4Her addresses this challenge head-on.

This investor-readiness accelerator program is co-created and implemented by Creative Space Startups, Sociocapital Impact Group, The Learning Gate, and ActivSpaces.

Launched in 2022, the initiative has received over 1,500 applications from Nigeria and Cameroon across its first three cohorts.

To date, more than 300 women entrepreneurs have benefited from the program, seeing tangible results such as increased revenue, expanded market reach, improved mental health through psychosocial support sessions, and enhanced business management practices.

The vibrant, close-knit community of over 500 women fosters strong connections among the alumni, serving as a rich resource for opportunities, collaborations, partnerships, and first-hand funding and visibility opportunities.

Growth4Her is on a mission to support 1,500 women entrepreneurs across West Africa over the next five years. 

Cohort 4 applications are open for Nigerian women entrepreneurs! 

This transformative program will empower selected women entrepreneurs in Nigeria to transform their SMEs into fundable, high-growth ventures through investment readiness skills, connect them directly to funders’ funding opportunities, and cultivate an ecosystem that supports their businesses.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Women-led businesses based in Nigeria
• Minimum 51% or 20% woman-owned with a female CEO/COO
• At least 30% female board representation (if a board exists)
• 5-300 employees
• Annual sales between US$35,000 – US$15 million
• Assets ranging from US$100,000 – US$15 million
• Commitment to a one-week virtual/physical boot camp
• Dedicate 3 hours weekly for mentorship over eight weeks
• Participation of C-level executives is mandatory

What You’ll Gain:

• Expert mentoring from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders who have walked the path.
• Receive tailored training to address your business’s needs and challenges.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded women entrepreneurs and potential partners.
• Explore alternative funding options and learn how to pitch your business effectively.
• Receive psychosocial support and guidance to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

Don’t miss this opportunity to become INVESTMENT-READY and take your SME to a new level!

Apply today to join women entrepreneurs who have achieved remarkable growth and success, equipped with mentorship, training, funding, and networking opportunities.

Apply Now.

Growth4Her operates as a consortium involving Creative Space Startups, SocioCapital Impact Group, The Learning Gate, and ActivSpaces, overseeing the management of the Cohort.

Growth4Her is an investor readiness accelerator program designed to support and empower women entrepreneurs by providing them with capacity building and tools to scale up their businesses.

The program has a proven track record of success, with participants from its last two cohorts transitioning from small to high-potential, fundable growth-stage businesses.

The program equips women-led SME owners with investment readiness skills, connects them directly to funders, and cultivates an ecosystem that supports their businesses.

“We are excited to welcome the next generation of bold and innovative women leaders to the Growth4Her program,” says Sefunmi Obielodan, Program Manager at Creative Space Startups. “We believe that by investing in women entrepreneurs, we are not only driving economic growth but also fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future for Africa.”

Africa has the highest proportion of women entrepreneurs, but the challenge lies in ensuring they receive adequate support for growth, particularly access to funding. In 2021, the African Development Bank (AfDB) reported a $42 billion gender financing gap in Africa.

As an AFAWA Women Entrepreneurship Enabler funded by the AfDB’s AFAWA initiative, Growth4Her addresses this significant concern.

Over the next five years, the program aims to empower 1,500 women entrepreneurs across 10 African cities, with a specific focus on Women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (WSMEs).

The 100 selected women entrepreneurs will receive capacity building and mentorship, psychosocial and policy support, access to funding, media exposure and exposure to markets across Africa and beyond.

To be eligible, the business must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be at least 51% owned by a woman.
• Be at least 20% owned by a woman and have a woman serving as a C-Level Executive (CEO, COO, CTO, CFO, etc.).
• Have a board of directors with at least 30% women members.
• Have between 5 and 300 employees and operate in Cameroon or Nigeria.
• Have annual sales between US$35,000 and US$15 million.
• Be able to dedicate 1 week to an intensive virtual and physical bootcamp and 3 hours for mentorship engagement for a period of 8 weeks.

Women-led SMEs are invited to apply by March 6, 2024 using the link here.

The Growth4Her program is open to women SMEs looking to transition their businesses to growth-powered businesses as the program offers investor readiness training, psychosocial support, mentorship, access to financing opportunities and access to markets.  

Call Opens: 1st September 2022

Deadline: 7th October 2022

Growth4Her

Growth4Her is an AFAWA–AFDB funded project created by Creative Space Startups in partnership with Sociocapital Impact Group, The Learning Gate and WETECH. Growth4Her is a women’s support program which provides women entrepreneurs with the capacity and tools which enables them to transition from small to high potential fundable growth stage businesses.

In 2021, African Development Bank (AfDB) reported that there is a $42b gender financing gap in Africa.

Growth4Her is actively eliminating the Gender Financing Gap in Africa through the provision of adequate skills, knowledge, access to markets, access to finance, advocating for better policies and an adequate representation for women-owned Small and Medium Size Enterprises.

Over the next five (5) years, this program aims to empower 1500 women entrepreneurs across 10 African cities with a particular interest in Women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (WSMEs).

The program offers beneficiaries investment readiness skills, links them directly to funders, and fosters an ecosystem that supports WSMEs.

What will the program provide?

The Growth4Her program will provide beneficiaries with:

• provide you with market linkages across African cities.
• prepare you for investors and connect you with financial institutions.
• advocate for policy reforms and work with communities to enable a culture of support for WSMEs.
• provide adequate media representation.
• facilitate access to skilled and experienced mentors.

Eligibility

1. The organization should be at least 51% owned by a woman or, at minimum 20% owned by a woman and have at least a woman as CEO/COO (President/Vice President); and have at minimum 30% of its board of directors composed of women, provided there is a board.
2. Loan size between US$5,000 and US$1 million (Loans must not be from traditional financial institutions, however, loans from other sources such as associations, cooperatives e.g. “tontine/njangi”  “esusu”, family loans may be considered).
3. The organization should have between 5 and 300 employees.
4. Sales between US$35,000 and US$15 million.
5. Assets between US$100,000 and US$15 million annually.
6. Can dedicate 1 week to an intense virtual/ physical Bootcamp.
7. Can dedicate 3 hours for mentorship engagement for a period of 8 weeks
8. Must be a C-Level executive in the organization.

TO APPLY, VISIT here.