Her Startup, an accelerator supporting women-led technology businesses in Africa, has opened applications for its second cohort, seeking 10 early-stage founders ready to scale their ventures and attract investment.

Led by KSH Foundation, Tomorrow Foundation and EHA Impact Ventures, the programme will provide selected entrepreneurs with a 12-week training programme delivered by Founder Institute, a global pre-seed startup accelerator.

The initiative aims to tackle the funding disparity affecting women entrepreneurs across the continent. Data cited by Her Startup shows that women account for 58 per cent of Africa’s self-employed population but secured less than one per cent of the more than $2 billion raised by African startups in 2025.

Successful applicants will receive monthly stipends, have their training fees covered and gain access to 12 months of sector-specific mentorship. They will also be eligible to pitch to Her Startup’s Investment Committee for funding through convertible financing or revenue-based financing, a model in which repayments are tied to business revenue.

To qualify, applicants must be women founders or chief executive officers aged 18 to 35. They must operate technology-enabled businesses that have been running for at least six months and generate at least $500 in monthly gross revenue. Founders from Francophone Africa are particularly encouraged to apply.

Khalil Halilu, co-founder of Her Startup and founder of KSH Foundation, said the initiative seeks to broaden opportunities for women entrepreneurs to build successful businesses across Africa.

The second cohort follows a pilot programme held in 2024 and 2025, which received more than 200 applications from 18 African countries. Ten founders were selected for training, while three ventures secured funding during the programme’s pitch day in Lagos in April 2025.

According to the organisers, businesses that participated in the pilot have since benefited from grants and awards, attracted investor interest and gained increased visibility.

One beneficiary, Dynalimb Technologies, which produces affordable 3D-printed prosthetics, reported growth in customer adoption and product sales after participating in the programme.

“Since Her Startup, we’ve seen a steady rise in customer adoption and product sales, as more amputees experience the comfort and mobility that Dynalimb’s affordable 3D-printed prosthetics provide,” said Blessing Aniefiok, the company’s chief operating officer and a 2024 Her Startup associate.

Evelyn Castle, co-founder of Her Startup and EHA Impact Ventures, said the revenue-based financing model was developed to give founders more flexible funding arrangements to support business growth.

Maggie Gu, co-founder of Her Startup and president of Tomorrow Foundation, said technological progress creates opportunities for women to play a greater role in shaping economies and societies.

Applications for the 2026/2027 cohort close on October 26, 2026.

Eligible founders can review the programme details and submit their applications through the official website: https://www.her-startup.com.

Source: MSME Africa Online