Diaspora Inside Africa

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Top 17 African Women in Biz Making Waves This Year

July 9, 2025

Top 17 African Women in Biz Making Waves This Year

Africa has the highest rate of women in biz (female entrepreneurship) in the world—and this is no coincidence. It’s a testament to the grit, creativity, and deep sense of community that define African women.

Across the continent, women are not just starting businesses out of necessity; they are increasingly building scalable, technology-driven, and globally competitive enterprises. From agriculture to manufacturing and services, women-owned businesses are making significant contributions to Africa’s economic growth.

Supporting this movement are numerous initiatives and organizations offering access to funding, training, and networking opportunities, empowering women to grow and sustain their ventures.

In this post, we dive into the deep roots and soaring aspirations of women in biz – their challenges, triumphs, and their incredible potential to reshape the continent’s economic future.

The Rise of African Women Entrepreneurs

Africa leads the world in female entrepreneurship, with around 24% of women engaged in early-stage entrepreneurial activity. In some countries, such as Uganda, Ghana, and Botswana, women actually outnumber men as business owners.

This entrepreneurial activity is often born out of necessity, but increasingly, it’s about innovation, empowerment, and economic leadership.

According to the World Bank, women account for more than 58% of the self-employed population in Africa. They are vital contributors to sectors like agriculture, retail, textiles, hospitality, and increasingly, tech. Their contribution isn’t just economic—it’s social, cultural, and generational.

Key drivers of the boom

Access to mobile technology
Community lending groups and cooperatives
Increased access to microfinance
Shifting cultural narratives around women in leadership

Women in Africa are not only starting businesses—they’re building ecosystems.

Digital Transformation of Women in Biz

As mobile penetration surges across Africa, women entrepreneurs are capitalizing on digital tools to expand their businesses.

Platforms like WhatsApp Business, Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, and Jumia have become lifelines for visibility, sales, and customer engagement.

More African women are transitioning their informal businesses online. For example:

Nigerian women use WhatsApp and Instagram to run boutique fashion stores.
Kenyan farmers are selling produce on Twiga Foods.
South African women offer digital courses via Gumroad or Selar.

Digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s how African women are scaling local businesses into global microbrands

Female Founders Leading Innovation in Tech

Across the continent, women are leading in sectors once thought off-limits.

Rebecca Enonchong (Cameroon)

Rebecca Enonchong is the founder and CEO of AppsTech, a global provider of enterprise application solutions. Since founding AppsTech in 1999, she has grown it into a multinational company with clients in over 50 countries.

A tireless advocate for digital inclusion and African innovation, she also founded AfriLabs, a network organization of over 400 tech hubs across Africa. She serves on multiple boards including the UN’s Digital Cooperation High-Level Panel.

Jihan Abass (Kenya)

Jihan is the founder of Lami, a digital insurance platform that enables businesses and individuals to create and distribute insurance products in real-time. After a career in finance in London, she returned to Kenya to solve a problem: less than 3% of Africans have insurance. Lami uses APIs and AI to customize microinsurance plans for underserved populations.

Odunayo Eweniyi (Nigeria)

Odunayo Eweniyi is the co-founder & Chief Operations Officer, PiggyVest, the largest digital and investment platform in Nigeria. She previously co-founded pushcv.com, one of the largest job sites in Africa with the largest database of pre-screened candidates.

As the COO of Piggyvest, she oversees the company’s entire operation which cuts across Finance, Investment Management, People Operations, Investor relations, Fundraising and related subcategories.

Judith Owigar (Kenya)

Judith is the co-founder of Akirachix, an organization that empowers young women from low-income areas with technical training in coding and entrepreneurship. She has played a major role in making tech accessible to underrepresented women across East Africa.

Yasmin Belo-Osagie (Nigeria)

Yasmin Belo-Osagie is the co-founder of She Leads Africa, a platform that supports African women entrepreneurs through education, community, and funding opportunities. The platform has reached thousands of women with programs ranging from digital marketing to fundraising.

Temie Giwa-Tubosun (Nigeria)

Temie founded LifeBank, a health-tech company that uses data and smart logistics to deliver blood and oxygen to hospitals in Nigeria. Her company has saved thousands of lives and is expanding to other African countries.

These women are solving real problems—financial exclusion, access to health data, education, and skills—through scalable technology and innovation.

Sustainability and Social Impact of Women in Biz

African women are increasingly building businesses with sustainability and social impact at their core. Unlike traditional business models that focus solely on profit, many women-led ventures are mission-driven, addressing pressing environmental and societal issues.

Leading the green revolution

Women like Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu (founder of SoleRebels) are championing ethical fashion using recycled materials and fair-trade employment. Others, like Cameroon’s Green Girls Project, are teaching young women to install solar panels and build renewable energy systems in rural communities. These businesses reduce environmental harm while creating green jobs.

Health and education access

Many African women are also filling gaps in education and healthcare through social enterprises. Doreen Kessy of Ubongo is transforming learning for children across Africa through interactive edutainment, while Temie Giwa-Tubosun’s LifeBank saves lives by ensuring timely blood and oxygen delivery to hospitals.

Community-led empowerment

A large percentage of women entrepreneurs reinvest profits into their families and communities. Businesses in shea butter processing, local textiles, and small-scale farming often prioritize women’s employment, local sourcing, and reinvestment in education and health.

Funding Gaps and Financial Innovation

Despite accounting for a large portion of Africa’s entrepreneurial force, women receive a disproportionately small share of investment capital. According to Briter Bridges, women-led startups in Africa received only 3% of total startup funding in 2022.

Barriers to accessing capital

Lack of collateral for traditional loans
Gender bias among investors
Informal business structures that limit eligibility for formal funding
Lack of financial literacy and advisory support

Innovative financial solutions

VCs like FirstCheck Africa and Alitheia IDF specifically invest in women-led startups.
Microfinance institutions such as FINCA and Women’s World Banking offer tailored credit for women entrepreneurs.
Crowdfunding platforms like StartSomeGood and ThriveAgric allow women to bypass traditional gatekeepers.
Angel networks like Rising Tide Africa connect female founders with female funders.

Financial education and support

Initiatives like AWEC (African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative) and the She Leads Africa finance bootcamps help women understand business models, profit margins, unit economics, and fundraising strategies.

Addressing the gender finance gap is not just fair—it’s economically smart. McKinsey estimates that advancing gender equality in Africa could add $316 billion to the continent’s GDP by the end of 2025.

Infrastructure and Digital Access Barriers

Technology has opened doors for African women in business, but significant access challenges remain.

Digital divide

Women are 37% less likely to use mobile internet than men in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to GSMA. Barriers include:

High cost of mobile data
Limited smartphone ownership
Digital illiteracy and language barriers
Fear of online harassment and cybercrime

Connectivity & inclusion efforts

Organizations like Barefoot College, Smart Africa, and TechHer are working to:

Distribute affordable smartphones
Train women in digital literacy and online safety
Build community Wi-Fi networks

Infrastructure gaps

In addition to digital access, physical infrastructure—like reliable electricity, roads, and market access—remains a challenge, especially in rural areas. This disproportionately affects women, who are more likely to run informal or home-based businesses.

Without inclusive infrastructure and affordable internet, many women risk being excluded from the digital economy

Mentorship, Networks, and Policy Support

Mentorship and access to strong networks can be just as vital as funding.

Power of networks

Communities like Lionesses of Africa, She Leads Africa, and Women in Tech Africa provide a space for:

Peer learning and collaboration
Exposure to new markets and ideas
Visibility and public recognition

These platforms host virtual summits, pitch contests, masterclasses, and investor meetups that help women gain traction and validation.

Formal mentorship

Programs like AWIEF’s Growth Accelerator and TechWomen (U.S. Department of State) connect women with seasoned professionals for 1-on-1 mentorship across sectors like agriculture, healthcare, fintech, and clean energy.

Policy advocacy

Public-private partnerships and institutions like the African Development Bank (AfDB) and UN Women are supporting inclusive policy reforms:

Promoting gender-responsive procurement
Advocating for equal access to land, credit, and contracts
Encouraging national policies that prioritize women-led SMEs in public tenders

Policy support remains essential to scale these individual efforts into widespread, systemic transformation.

Spotlight Profiles of Women in Biz Making Waves

Thandi Sibisi (South Africa)

Thandi is the first Black woman to own an art gallery in South Africa—Sibisi Gallery. She has used her platform to elevate indigenous African art, preserve cultural heritage, and empower rural women artisans.

Mpumi Madisa (South Africa)

As CEO of Bidvest Group, Mpumi is the first Black woman to lead the multinational conglomerate listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She represents the highest level of corporate leadership and mentorship for women.

Emma Theofelus (Namibia)

Appointed at just 23, Emma is Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology. She has spearheaded digital awareness campaigns and is a vocal advocate for youth and women in politics.

Divine Ndhlukula (Zimbabwe)

Founder of SECURICO, one of Zimbabwe’s largest security firms. She started her business in a male-dominated industry and now employs over 4,000 people, many of them women.

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu (Ethiopia)

Founder of SoleRebels, an eco-friendly footwear brand that has become a global success story. She promotes sustainability and fair trade while employing artisans in Ethiopia.

Dr. Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi (Tanzania)

An award-winning entrepreneur and CEO of KOM Group of Companies, Jesca drives impact in agroprocessing, steel, and food manufacturing. With a doctorate in business and extensive leadership training from Harvard and Oxford, she empowers youth and women through mentorship and job creation.

Doreen Kessy (Tanzania)

Co-founder of Ubongo, Africa’s leading edutainment company reaching over 31 million families with locally produced, educational cartoons and radio shows. Doreen blends creativity, tech, and impact to improve early childhood learning.

Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani (Nigeria)

An investment professional and entrepreneur, Rolake has served as Chief Commercial Officer of Mixta Africa and Managing Director at EnergyInc Advisors. She champions women in energy and infrastructure across the continent.

Fana Haregot (Ethiopia)

Fana Haregot is a chemical engineer turned social entrepreneur from Ethiopia. She founded Fana Hygiene Solutions (also known as Fana Chemicals) in 2019 to tackle a pressing issue: the lack of access to affordable hygiene products, which had personally affected her family and community.

Adanne Uche (Nigeria)

Adanne Uche is a Nigerian entrepreneur and the founder of Ady’s Agro-Processing Limited, a company dedicated to producing preservative-free, hygienically processed cooking ingredients for health-conscious consumers. She is also a mentor and advocate for women and youth entrepreneurship, inspiring others through her journey of resilience and innovation in the African food industry.

Atamelang Free (Botswana)

Atamelang Free is an entrepreneur from Botswana and the founder of Skin Free Soaps, a pioneering plant‑based skincare brand launched in 2019. With a mission to restore self‑confidence and promote holistic mental wellbeing for environmentally conscious consumers.

Platforms Championing African Women in Biz

Lionesses of Africa

A digital media platform amplifying the voices and stories of African women entrepreneurs. Lionesses of Africa publishes daily interviews, startup success stories, and business tips. It also organizes the Lioness Lean In events to connect women with mentors and investors.

She Leads Africa

An online community and learning hub for young African women entrepreneurs. With online courses, pitch competitions, and a robust community, SLA has empowered thousands of women to build digital businesses and personal brands.

AWIEF (Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum)

A Pan-African nonprofit supporting women-led enterprises through annual conferences, business accelerators, and capacity-building programs. AWIEF actively engages policy makers to shape a gender-inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Women in Tech Africa (WiTA)

Africa’s largest women-in-tech organization with over 30,000 members. WiTA provides technical training, mentorship, and career growth resources. Programs like #HerFutureAfrica and Tech Needs Girls are breaking barriers in STEM.

African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC)

A one-year, high-impact leadership and business management program for women entrepreneurs across Africa. AWEC focuses on growth-stage women-led businesses and provides access to mentors, capital, and tools to scale.

Just4WomenAfrica

An online media platform that publishes news, features, interviews, and reports about African women excelling in business and leadership. It highlights female entrepreneurs across sectors and hosts events that celebrate their success.

Leading Ladies Africa

A storytelling platform profiling African women in business, media, tech, and leadership. Their #100Women series is a popular campaign recognizing impact-makers on the continent.

These platforms not only document the achievements of African women in biz but also build the networks, visibility, and ecosystems necessary for their long-term success.

Trends and Emerging Opportunities

Looking ahead, the future is promising for African women in business. As more women enter sectors previously dominated by men, they are shaping entirely new markets, consumer behaviors, and economic trends. Here are the most promising growth sectors and trends to watch:

Green and renewable energy

Clean energy is not only a sustainability issue—it’s a business opportunity. African women are launching ventures around solar-powered cooking stoves, community mini-grids, and renewable-powered water systems. The growing demand for climate-smart solutions is opening the door for new green entrepreneurship.

Health and wellness

The intersection of health and technology is booming. From mobile clinics to digital health apps for maternal care and mental health support, African women are finding new ways to improve lives while growing impactful businesses.

EdTech

With increased demand for remote learning, e-learning platforms tailored for African learners—especially women and girls—are gaining momentum. Female entrepreneurs are launching apps and platforms that offer vocational training, language courses, and coding skills.

AI-powered productivity tools

Women entrepreneurs are beginning to leverage artificial intelligence for business efficiency—from chatbot-based customer service to smart inventory management systems. There is a growing ecosystem of AI startups led by women or supporting women-led businesses.

Beauty and skincare innovation

The African beauty market is estimated to reach over $14 billion by 2027. African women are building brands that celebrate melanin-rich skin, local ingredients (like shea butter and moringa), and traditional beauty secrets. Brands like R&R Luxury and Arami Essentials are examples.

Cultural export: film, fashion, and content creation

Women are also leading the charge in Africa’s cultural economy—building fashion labels, running content creation businesses, and producing globally acclaimed films. As Africa’s creative economy expands, women are uniquely positioned to monetize it.

These trends reveal that African women in business are not just responding to market needs—they are actively shaping future industries and driving demand.

Practical Tips for Aspiring African Women in Biz

For African women aspiring to build successful businesses, here are actionable strategies to grow, scale, and thrive:

1. Start small, think scalable

It’s okay to begin with a small operation, but always design your business model to be scalable. Whether it’s offering digital products or building a supply chain, ensure there’s room to grow.

2. Embrace technology from day one

Digital tools can drastically reduce overhead and increase reach. Use:

WhatsApp Business for customer interaction
Canva for branding and marketing materials
Selar or Paystack to sell products online
Trello or Notion to manage tasks and collaboration

3. Build or join a network

Join entrepreneur communities such as She Leads Africa, Lionesses of Africa, or Women in Tech Africa. These communities provide mentorship, funding opportunities, and collaborative support.

4. Prioritize financial literacy

Understanding how to manage cash flow, set pricing, access credit, and fundraise is crucial. Attend finance workshops or online courses on platforms like Coursera, edX, or local hubs like Afrilabs.

5. Apply for grants and competitions

There are dozens of grants and competitions available:

Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)
AWIEF Growth Accelerator
Google’s Black Founders Fund
Mastercard Foundation’s Women Entrepreneurs Initiative

6. Focus on branding and storytelling

People don’t just buy products—they buy stories. Craft a compelling story about your purpose and origin. Use social media, blogs, or podcasts to amplify your voice and brand.

7. Upskill continuously

The market is evolving. Stay ahead by learning new skills—whether it’s SEO, digital marketing, supply chain logistics, or customer service. Free and affordable courses exist through platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and ALX Africa.

8. Take care of your mental health

Entrepreneurship is demanding. Balance is essential. Surround yourself with a support system, practice mindfulness, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed.

9. Seek local partnerships

Forming partnerships with local manufacturers, influencers, cooperatives, or logistics firms can reduce costs and increase market penetration.

Conclusion

African women are redefining what it means to be in business—not just surviving, but thriving and uplifting communities along the way. With access to funding, supportive policies, mentorship, and technology, they can unleash economic transformation at scale.

To truly empower African women in biz, we must tell their stories, invest in their dreams, and build ecosystems where they can succeed. The future is female—and it’s African.

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