Pan-African initiative celebrates its fifth anniversary, empowering women-led tech startups across the continent with PR and communications mentorship.
The highly anticipated fifth edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Program has announced its 20 finalists, spotlighting promising African female-founded tech startups across various sectors. Launched on Africa Day in 2020 by Africa-focused PR agency C. Moore Media International PR, now part of global communications agency Allison, the program is the first and only PR and communications mentorship exclusively dedicated to African female tech founders.
Unparalleled Growth and Pan-African Reach
Over the past five years, The Future is Female Mentorship Program has witnessed a significant 253% increase in applications from female founders across Africa, with participants now hailing from 37 African countries, up from just 12 in its inaugural year. The program’s growing reputation as a foundational PR and communications resource has made it one of the continent’s fastest-expanding networks for African women in tech.
The 2024 Class: Diverse Solutions Addressing Critical Needs
This year’s cohort, representing North, South, East, and West Africa, demonstrates a diverse range of innovations aimed at solving some of the continent’s most pressing challenges in health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability. The selected startups provide impactful solutions, with several projects tailored to meet the specific needs of African women and girls.
Among the selected founders are Morocco’s Adjayi Cyrus, whose app My Steps incentivizes healthy living, and Rwanda’s Aline Nicole Uwamariya, whose startup Geuza recycles electronic waste into prosthetics for disabled individuals. From Kenya, Maureen Macharia leads Cluzar, an AI-powered tool for customer insights, while Nigeria’s Kieva Chris-Amusan helms Fertitude, a digital reproductive health platform. These are just a few examples of the groundbreaking efforts represented by this year’s finalists, highlighting the diversity and potential within Africa’s female tech landscape.
End-to-End PR and Communications Training
The Future is Female Mentorship Program provides each finalist with a robust and fully funded training in PR and strategic communications, aiming to eliminate any financial barriers for participants. Throughout the program, mentees will gain essential insights into media relations, storytelling techniques, digital marketing, and creating comprehensive communication strategies tailored to their business needs. By the program’s end, each participant will be equipped to enhance their brand visibility and position their startups effectively for investment opportunities.
“This fifth anniversary is a monumental milestone for The Future is Female Mentorship Program. In these five years, we’ve had the privilege of supporting hundreds of African female founders and helping to shape the continent’s tech sector. With the continued support of our partners and sponsors, we are committed to scaling this initiative to reach even more African women in tech,” said Claudine Moore, Managing Director of Africa at Allison and founder of the program.
Empowering Female Founders Through Strategic Partnerships
The 2024 edition is supported for the second consecutive year by Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, which joins other program partners like TechCabal, F6S, and Africa Communications Week. As part of their support, Salesforce Ventures will deliver a masterclass on VC funding, providing invaluable insights for startups seeking capital. TechCabal, a prominent Africa-focused tech publication, will lead a masterclass on effectively engaging with tech media, while Africa Communications Week will share multi-market PR expertise to help founders scale their influence across the continent.
With masterclasses designed to address the specific needs of early-stage tech startups, these partnerships bring industry-leading expertise to participants. The mentorship will be delivered by program mentors, including Claudine Moore and other experienced professionals like David Idagu, Africa Regional Consultant at Allison, and Tope Adubi, a digital marketing consultant.
The 2024 Finalists: A Snapshot of Africa’s Female-Driven Tech Innovation
The selected mentees showcase a broad spectrum of technological innovation across Africa:
- Kenya: INVA Solution (Becky Kirima) – Virtual assistance for individuals with ADD.
- Morocco: My Steps (Adjayi Cyrus) – A health-tech app promoting eco-friendly mobility.
- Rwanda: Geuza (Aline Nicole Uwamariya) – Creating prosthetics from recycled e-waste.
- Nigeria: SheFoundry (Kikelomo Owoyale) – Bridging funding gaps for women entrepreneurs.
- South Africa: Tsehla Holdings (Roseline Mapuranga) – Climate-smart agriculture using hydroponics.
- Ghana: Akoobooks (Ama Dadson) – A platform transforming African books into audiobooks.
- Ethiopia: Bfarm-Tech (Begashaw Meberate) – Rental threshing services for small farmers.
- Tunisia: Bionic Soul (Nada Ghamem) – Manufacturing bionic prosthetics for amputees.
These founders bring fresh perspectives and groundbreaking solutions to the African tech space, marking the importance of female-led innovation on the continent.
Virtual Program Delivery
Conducted entirely online, the program ensures accessibility for founders regardless of location. Through this virtual format, participants will attend customized sessions addressing the unique demands of their sectors. This accessibility and flexibility contribute to the program’s high application rates, affirming its role as a bridge for women eager to break into tech with limited resources.
A Model for Female Empowerment and Tech Development
Beyond training sessions, the program also amplifies participants’ visibility and influence across African and global tech ecosystems. Recognized by top publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and Disrupt Africa, the initiative has become a model for mentorship programs focused on underrepresented groups.
For more details on the 2024 finalists and insights from the program, visit The Future is Female Mentorship Program’s website at thefutureisfemalementorshipprogram.com and follow the hashtag #CMMtheFutureIsFemale on social media for updates.
As the tech landscape continues to evolve, programs like The Future is Female Mentorship Program are essential in fostering a more inclusive, innovative, and vibrant African tech industry.
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