Across Africa, women-led startups are driving transformative change by equipping other women with essential skills for economic empowerment and innovation. 

These ventures not only bridge gender gaps, but they fuel sustainable growth in dynamic sectors. 

Connecting Africa has compiled a list of five female-led startups offering skills training to women on the continent. 

1. ImpactHER (Nigeria)

Founded by Efe Ukala, ImpactHER empowers female entrepreneurs across Africa with business training, digital skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship workshops. 

The company’s programs include entrepreneurship training, digital marketing support, investor readiness preparation and advocacy for gender‑smart policies.

ImpactHER operates across the African continent, delivering training and support to women entrepreneurs in more than 50 countries, including for women in rural and underserved communities.

Related:Four South African women in tech to watch

2. GirlCode (South Africa) 

Founded by Zandile Mkwanazi and Tinyiko Simbine in 2014, GirlCode is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to empowering girls and women across Africa through technology. 

It began as an all‑female hackathon and has grown into a continent‑wide movement offering coding, digital literacy, and tech‑career development programs.

The organization offers technology education, coding and digital skills training, mentorship, hackathons and career‑readiness programs to boost female participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and tech fields.

GirlCode works to close the gender gap in the tech industry by removing barriers for women and girls and expanding their access to meaningful economic opportunities through technology skills.

It addresses the severe underrepresentation of women in ICT by providing equitable pathways into tech education and employment.

3. She Leads Africa (Nigeria)

Co-founded by Afua Osei and Yasmin Belo‑Osagie, She Leads Africa (SLA) is a pan‑African platform and community for young, ambitious African women.

It aims to help women build successful careers and businesses by providing community, content and opportunities.

It focuses on training and accelerating female-led ventures through mentorship, classes, pitch competitions and accelerator programs.

women in tech

Women-led startups in Africa are driving transformative change by equipping other women with essential tech skills. (Source: Image by prostooleh on Freepik)

SLA delivers a wide range of programs, events, digital content, coaching, skills training, and business resources that empower African women to advance their careers, build successful ventures and unlock economic opportunities. 

These offerings include pitch competitions, entrepreneurship support and personal development initiatives.

Related:Hot startup of the month: South Africa’s Chocolate Tribe

4. Shule Direct (Tanzania)

Tanzanian nonprofit Shule Direct delivers digital learning resources to learners and teachers across Africa. 

It was established by Faraja Kotta, a lawyer turned edtech entrepreneur and social innovator.

The incubator offers personal and professional development training, networking and digital tools to help women launch and grow businesses.

Shule Direct works to expand access to quality education by tackling barriers such as limited learning materials, overcrowded classrooms, low digital literacy, inadequate teacher support and unequal access – particularly in rural and underserved areas.

5. Queen Moremi (Nigeria)

Founded by Moremi Elekwachi, the Queen Moremi platform offers free public relations training to 5,000 Nigerian female SME founders in 2026. 

The initiative equips women with digital visibility, storytelling and communication skills to enhance business growth in competitive markets.

The platform offers women the skills, confidence and support needed to grow personally and professionally.



Source link