Growth4Her, an accelerator program targeted at building the capacity of women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) in Africa, has completed its inaugural cohort.
This cohort, which was officially launched on September 1, 2022, recorded a ground-breaking participation of 55 businesses located in Nigeria and Cameroon.
After an intensive 5 months of mentorship and psychosocial engagement, 14 Macro entrepreneurs graduated at the end of the program.
Run as a consortium co-created by Creative Space Startups, SocioCapital, The Learning Gate, and WETECH, the Growth4Her Accelerator is a women’s support program that is specifically designed to empower women entrepreneurs in Africa.
The program featured weekly sessions from respected, accomplished, and renowned experts and business leaders.
The program comprised:
– Detailed learning modules
– One-week capacity-building training
– 8 weeks of intensive mentorship engagement
– Focus group discussions
– Inception scoping workshops
– Mind modeling clinics.
The 6-month program also offered a variety of group and one-on-one virtual sessions and training on investor readiness, enterprise sales, customer engagement tactics, and technical readiness.
“We came with expectations, you went even further. Thank you for such devotion. We’ll never forget this cohort!”, said Nancy Ongolo, one of the participants.
Following the conclusion of the program, the businesses will work closely with Growth4Her and partners, who will support the graduating cohort via media exposure, access to a network of investors, and continued business advisory.
Speaking on the program and the conclusion of the cohort, Sefunmi Obielodan, Program Manager of Growth4Her, said, “Our mission is to contribute to eliminating the USD 42 billion gender financing gap in Africa, and we will achieve this by providing adequate skills, knowledge, access to markets, access to finance, and advocating for better policies and adequate representation for women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises.”
“The feedback we got from participants is a clear indication that we are on course to achieving our aim. We are proud to be part of the success stories of these women and we know that they will do greater exploits based on what they have learned from Growth4Her”, she concluded.
The next cohort is expected to launch in the second week of April and kick start in mid-May.
A spotlight on green businesses
Growth4Her prioritizes the SDGs and in a world where the harsh effects of climate change are being felt (especially in Africa), its commitment to the SDGs is further strengthened as evidenced in the products and services offerings by the participating businesses.
Of the 14 graduating businesses, 8 of them are on course to ensure a sustainable and climate-resilient Africa. Let’s meet them:
Malson Productions
Malson Productions is a Nigeria-based company that is focused on organic mushroom cultivation and processing, as well as black-soldier fly larvae farming.
Founded by Amaka Alison, the business converts biodegradable waste into food and animal feed, with the goal of alleviating hunger and poverty.
Yonah International Limited
Founded by Barbara Ayegbeni, Yonah International Limited is a waste management, natural resources recycling, and renewable energy company incorporated in Nigeria.
The business was founded as part of the wider efforts to ensure Nigeria meets its committed target of net zero emissions by 2060.
Tassiwa Multi-Purpose Services
Tassiwa Multi-Purpose Services is an agri-food business based in Nigeria that specializes in processing and packaging sweet potato tubers.
Owned by Hadiza Msheila, the business produces dry, milled, sugar-free sweet potato flour with no chemical additives or preservatives.
Africa Wealth Initiative
Africa Wealth Initiative, a social enterprise founded by Rebecca Amoo, works to improve the livelihood of Africa’s poorest people and communities by creating sustainable collaborations between Africa’s smallholder farmers and solution providers in the agriculture value chain.
The Queen Sarl
Owned by Nancy Ongolo, The Queen Sarl is a Cameroon-based business that focuses on African hair care products.
Beyond the sales of locally made hair products, the business also trains women in Afro hair care and cosmetics production and educates young people about valuing Afro hair.
Detoro Natural Limited
Detoro Natural Limited is an indigenous herbs and natural health production company founded by Hanat Akintola.
The company aims to eliminate chemicals and synthetics from daily routines by replacing them with safe and effective ingredients that are gentle and healthier for humans and the environment.
Froquantum Organics Hub Limited
Sefiyat Oladosu is the CEO of Froquantum Organics, a company that produces effective organic hair products from botanicals that are safe for the health and environment.
Hanabs Tantalizing Delicacies
Founded by Nafisa Ismail, Hanabs Tantalizing Delicacies is a Nigeria-based company that offers locally-grown food as part of its catering services. These include processed beef and chicken into floss (dried shredded meat snacks), spices, and beverages.
Watch out for upcoming exclusive interviews with these super women on Climate Action Africa’s ClimeLight Series. Watch this space!
About Growth4Her
Growth4Her is a 6-month Investor Readiness Accelerator Program, open to women in West and Central Africa.
The AFAWA-AfDB funded project created by Creative Space Startups in partnership with Sociocapital Impact Group, The Learning Gate, and WETECH, provides women entrepreneurs with the capacity and tools which enables them to transition from small to high potential fundable growth stage businesses.
The Growth4Her Accelerator is currently running cohorts in Cameroon and Nigeria. While its application portal is always open, selected candidates will only be contacted when they have been selected for a new cohort. Each cohort is open to, at least, 15 and at most, 25 women.
Over the next five (5) years, this program aims to empower 1500 women entrepreneurs across 10 African cities with a particular interest in Women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (WSMEs).
The program offers beneficiaries investment readiness skills, links them directly to funders, and fosters an ecosystem that supports WSMEs.
