She Leads Africa has announced the 10 early-stage startups that will take part in its inaugural accelerator programme, which has just kicked off in Lagos, Nigeria.
Disrupt Africa reported in April She Leads Africa had launched a three-month accelerator for women, and had opened applications for the first cohort to female entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
Ten startups have now been picked to make up the first cohort, with She Leads Africa partnering the Work in Progress! Alliance – which includes VC4Africa and Oxfam – and Guaranty Trust Bank for the accelerator programme, designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
She Leads Africa received applications from over 120 startups from across Nigeria, with the selected entrepreneurs evaluated based on their traction and progress in the market, management team and vision to grow and scale across Africa.
The selected businesses are eco-friendly social enterprise Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services, courier service DeliveryBros, medical procurement startup VivaSante, confectionary company Koko’s Kitchen, tea company Bubble Tii, transport startup Shuttlers, weight loss firm Keek’s, quick service restaurant chain Native Bukka, beauty company BathKandy Co, and virtual assistant startup Independent Personal Assistant (iPA).
Accelerator participants will spend the next three months working on their business strategy and growth, while networking with investors and potential partners. The entrepreneurs will then have the opportunity to pitch their businesses at an investor Demo Day in October and compete for NGN2 million (US$6,750) investment from She Leads Africa along with other business support services.
