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Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge (Naspers & Prosus) | MsingiLab

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CompetitionGrantCorporateClosed5 spots availableExpired

Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge (Naspers & Prosus)

Over $100,000 shared among 5 winners (equity-free grants)

ExpiredWebsiteEst. 2025

GrantTechnologyAgriTechHealthTechClimate TechFinTechAISustainable ManufacturingSeedEarly-stageGrowth

Strong Gender LensModerate Climate Lens

Apply Now

Equity-free grant competition for women-led tech startups across Africa. Five winners share over $100,000 in grants plus mentorship, visibility, and investor introductions. Developed by Naspers and Prosus in partnership with Lionesses of Africa. Finale held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Global Women's Entrepreneurship Day.

What You Get

Equity-free Grant

Share of over $100,000 in grants distributed among 5 winners

Mentorship

Access to mentorship from Naspers/Prosus network and Lionesses of Africa community

Visibility

Pitch at JSE on Global Women's Entrepreneurship Day with extensive media coverage

Investor Introductions

Access to Naspers/Prosus corporate network and investor ecosystem

Community

Membership in Lionesses of Africa network of 1.8M women entrepreneurs

How to Apply

Apply via Typeform on the Lionesses of Africa website during the open application window. Applications are reviewed by a panel of judges. Shortlisted finalists pitch live at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange finale event.

Geographic Focus

Pan-Africa

Applications Open

September 1, 2025

Decision Timeline

Approximately 2.5 months from application close to winners announcement

Key Dates

2025-09-01Applications open

2025-09-30Application deadline

2025-11-19Live finale at JSE, Johannesburg (Global Women's Entrepreneurship Day)

Eligibility

Startup must be focused on tech or tech-enabled products
At least one woman founder in a leadership position
Operating in Africa
Must be able to travel to Johannesburg for live finale if shortlisted

Traction Required

Demonstrated market traction; tech-enabled business solving real market problems

Team Requirements

At least one woman founder in a leadership role

Selection Criteria

Innovation and tech-enabled solution
Market traction and business viability
Social impact potential
Scalability across African markets
Strength of founding team

Focus Areas

Women-led tech startups

Tech or tech-enabled businesses led by women founders solving real market problems across Africa

What They Look For

Women tech founders building tech-enabled businesses that solve real market problems across Africa. Strong emphasis on innovation, market traction, and scalability. The 2025 winners spanned agritech (AI-powered pest detection), healthtech, climate tech, fintech, and sustainable manufacturing.

Post-Investment Support

Mentorship, media exposure, investor introductions via Naspers/Prosus network, Lionesses of Africa community access

Red Flags to Watch

Annual cycle — confirm 2026 edition dates before applying. Only 1 month application window.

Insider Tip

The 2025 edition had only a 1-month application window (September). Over 1,163 applications were received so competition is intense. Winners in 2025 came from Nigeria, Kenya, DRC, and South Africa across diverse tech sectors. Prepare a strong pitch deck — finalists present live at the JSE. Leverage the Lionesses of Africa community before applying.

2025

Active Since

Yes

Deploying

Notable Investments

Esther Kimani — Farmer Lifeline Technologies (Kenya, AgriTech, AI-powered pest detection) — 2025 overall winner; Additional winners from Nigeria, DRC, and South Africa in HealthTech, Climate Tech, Fintech, Sustainable Manufacturing