IFC has announced the names of 100 women-led startup owners selected to participate in the She Wins Africa programme, an IFC-led initiative that aims to accelerate access to capital for women-led startups across Sub-Saharan Africa.
IFC – a member of the World Bank Group – is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. The She Wins Africa programme was launched at the Africa CEO Forum in Ivory Coast in 2023, and is part of IFC’s broader commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
The 100 women selected to take part in the programme were drawn from almost 3,000 applicants, and will participate in comprehensive interventions that will strengthen their companies’ investment readiness, include advice and mentorship, and provide access to potential investors, industry leaders, and peers through matchmaking and pitching opportunities across Africa.
In addition to the investment-readiness program for the 100 selected participants, She Wins Africa will roll out other initiatives, including a bootcamp to help lead 200 pre-seed women-led startups into acceleration phase, an initiative to open up acceleration support for an additional 200 women-led startups in areas where such support is not easily available; and a programme to create a coalition of funds, venture capital firms and gender-lens investors to improve access to finance for women and their businesses across Africa.
“IFC’s She Wins Africa empowers women entrepreneurs through coaching, training, and financing, accelerating their growth and investment readiness throughout Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Nathalie Akon Gabala, director of gender and economic inclusion at IFC. “It’s time for investors to step up and fund women. A strong entrepreneurship ecosystem benefits us all.”
