The closing event, held on February 5, 2026, at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, marked the end of a year-long pilot that supported 100 women-led businesses from 23 countries. 

Backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank, in partnership with ASR Africa, women-led businesses in the first cohort mobilised more than $4 million in financing. 

Seventeen startups secured external funding, exceeding the original target set at the start of the program.

Founders from different stages, including early-stage startups and more established companies, participated in the first cohort.

Support focused on technical training, business coaching, mentorship and direct introductions to investors, with founders receiving over 120 hours of targeted technical support, more than 270 investor connections were facilitated, and about 100 mentors were involved across the continent. 

A smaller group of startups received additional advisory support beyond the standard training structure.

Speaking at the event, Marieme Niang Camara, IFC’s regional gender lead for Africa, said the pilot provided enough results to justify expansion.

“When we started with 100 women entrepreneurs, it was a successful pilot, but we realised that 100 is just the beginning for a region like Africa,” she said. 

“Now we’re moving from 100 to 1,000, and we’re doing it strategically through segmentation, from startups to growth-stage and scale-up companies.”

The initiative, built on readiness, focused on gaps faced by women founders, especially at the point where businesses move from early traction to engaging investors.

She Wins Africa leveraged catalytic grants of about $100,000 to reduce risk for private investors and this helped attract nearly $400,000 in follow-on investment from regional partners, including Octerra Capital, IMEX, Sahel Capital and Nubia Capital.

ASR Africa’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ubon Udoh, said the expansion reveals lessons from the first phase.

“We’re scaling up from the first phase of 100 women from 23 countries to 1,000 women across Africa,” he said. “This expansion will create more sustainable impact and extend the program’s geographical reach.”

Several founders shared their experiences at the closing event, revealing how the programme helped their business move from operating locally to preparing for cross-border growth, while improving internal planning and investor readiness. 

Mentorship and investor exposure also changed how they negotiated and positioned their company.

The next phase will prioritise businesses that are ready to scale, while still supporting early-stage founders. The expansion is the first of four projects planned under the She Wins Africa platform.

IFC noted that the programme aligns with its focus on private sector growth and women’s economic participation across Africa. 

ASR Africa, on the other hand, will continue to support the initiative as part of its work in economic and social development on the continent.

The closing event formally closed the pilot phase, but partners said the focus now shifts to onboarding a much larger group of women entrepreneurs and building on the results already recorded.

The initiative, which will have a dedicated zone within the GITEX Nigeria showcase, is a structural market intervention aimed at addressing the chronic under-capitalisation of women-owned enterprises. 

While women own 27% of businesses in Africa and contribute 13% of GDP, they secure only 7% of total venture capital funding.

“Who gets funded determines what gets built, and what gets built will define the economic future of Africa,” said Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of NITDA. “The LaunchPad ensures women founders are not just part of the conversation but central to Africa’s innovation economy. Closing this funding gap for women is not charity, it’s one of the smartest bets we can make for Africa’s future.”

The LaunchPad will channel $250,000 in catalytic capital into five ventures selected after GITEX Nigeria. Each startup will receive between $25,000 and $50,000, coupled with equity investment, regulatory guidance, and mentorship designed to prepare them for long-term growth.

What distinguishes The LaunchPad is its design. Unlike grant-only models such as the Cartier Women’s Initiative, or accelerators with limited follow-up, this platform integrates equity investment, regulatory de-risking, and structured pathways to scale.

At GITEX Nigeria 2025, The LaunchPad by NITDA and Alami zone will feature multiple touchpoints. These include a Funding Pavilion showcasing high-potential women-led ventures, Capital Readiness Clinics where founders engage directly with investors, and a Fireside for Scale, a dialogue on market expansion and IPO readiness. 

The event will also host the ‘To the Stars’ Bell Activation, a symbolic ringing of the bell with the SEC and women founders to mark the rise of women in Africa’s capital markets.

“As an investor, I witness the economics of exclusion every day. This is about building a vetted, investable pipeline of women-led ventures grounded in institutional rigour,” said Olu Olufemi-White, CEO of Alami Capital.

“Our mission is to shift capital flows, transform investment behaviour, and unlock Africa’s full innovation potential.”

How to Apply

To be among innovators who will see business scale via The LaunchPad, apply via the link.

This is a 32-fold increase in the value of African tech and a 17-fold increase in Europe over the last decade.

But despite these gains, the last eighteen months have seen a significant reversal in venture capital (VC) investment, with European investment in business software companies decreasing by 59%, and a 40% overall decline in global tech investment from 2022 to 2023. 

Africa has experienced a similar trend, with a 40% decrease in VC investment during the same period.

This was revealed in the report by Google for Startups in partnership with Notion Capital. The report investigates the intersection of diversity, entrepreneurship, and investment in the European and African tech sector, focusing on the impact of Google for Startups’ Black Founders Fund. 

It reveals both progress made and ongoing challenges faced by Black founders in securing funding and resources.

Challenges Faced by Black Founders

Investment Disparities

Since 2000, Black-led tech businesses in Europe and Africa have received $2.5 billion in investments, which accounts for just 0.51% of the total investment in all tech startups. 

In Europe, Black founders received only 0.43% of all tech investment ($2.09 billion out of $482.5 billion), and in Africa, only 3.11% ($413 million out of $13.3 billion).

Decline in VC Investment

The peak of VC investment was seen in 2021, with global heights reaching $734 billion during the pandemic. However, this figure has since dropped to $317 billion in 2023, nearly half of the amount seen just two years earlier. 

This decline affects all founders, but underrepresented Black and ethnic founders are likely to feel the impact more acutely due to existing funding pressures and systemic biases.

Funding Gaps

There is a huge investment opportunity gap for Black founders. In Europe, if investment were proportional to the Black population, it would have reached $6.3 billion from 2000 to 2023, indicating a $4.21 billion shortfall. 

In the UK alone, Black-led tech businesses should have received $3.11 billion, but they have only garnered $1.38 billion, reflecting a $1.73 billion gap. 

In Africa, the investment opportunity gap is estimated to be nearly $10 billion, considering that around 80% of the continent’s population identifies as Black.

In Europe, women-led startups received only 1.1% of total venture capital funding in 2023 – average funding for women-led startups was €3 million, compared to €6 million for male-led startups.

The situation in Africa is similar, with women-led startups receiving less than 5% of total tech investment.

Despite these challenges, women-led startups have shown resilience and potential for growth. The growth rate for women-led startups in Africa was reported at 20% year-on-year, reiterating their ability to thrive even with limited resources.

Google for Startups’ Recommendations

Policy Advocacy

Google for Startups recommends collaborating with policymakers to advocate for policies that incentivise diversity in tech and address systemic barriers faced by Black founders in accessing capital.

Investor Education

Implementing educational programs for investors is necessary to raise awareness about biases and challenges faced by underrepresented founders. This will facilitate a more inclusive investment sector.

Community Building

Strengthening community-building efforts is essential to create a supportive industry where Black founders can connect, collaborate, and share experiences.

Data Collection and Transparency

Advocating for enhanced data collection on diversity metrics in the tech industry is important to promote transparency and informed decision-making.

Inclusive Investment Strategies

Google for Startups recommends inclusive investment strategies that specifically target women-led startups. In creating funds and initiatives focused on supporting women entrepreneurs, the tech industry can address the gender investment gap more effectively.

Mentorship and Networking

Providing mentorship and networking opportunities for women founders is necessary. Programs that connect women entrepreneurs with experienced mentors and industry leaders can help them navigate challenges, gain insights, and build valuable connections.

Highlighting Success Stories

Celebrating and highlighting the success stories of women-led startups can serve as inspiration and provide role models for aspiring women entrepreneurs. These stories can also ascertain the prospect and impact of investing in diverse leadership.

Training and Development

Offering training and development programs targeted at the needs of women founders can help them with the skills and knowledge required to secure funding, manage growth, and lead successful ventures.

Gender-Sensitive Policies

Advocating for gender-sensitive policies within the investment community and broader tech sector can help create a more supportive environment for women entrepreneurs. This includes policies that address unconscious biases and promote equal opportunities.

The challenges faced by Black founders in the tech industry are multifaceted, encompassing differences in investment, systemic biases, and funding gaps. Addressing these issues requires a collective effort from various stakeholders.