In Africa, women entrepreneurs face a stark reality: for every raise woman there exist 10 men. Yet, despite systemic barriers, women are rewriting this narrative with grit, creativity, and transformative ideas. At Lion’s Leap, we’re proud to champion these visionaries. Here are three stories of resilience and innovation that embody Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit.
1. Tech Trailblazer: Bridging the Agricultural Divide
Adanna Nwosu, Founder of FarmConnect (Nigeria)
Adanna grew up watching her mother, a cassava farmer, lose profits to middlemen who exploited her lack of market knowledge. Determined to change this, she developed FarmConnect, a mobile app providing real-time crop prices and connecting farmers directly to buyers.
The Challenge:
Smallholder farmers, especially women, lost 30% of their income due to price manipulation.
The Innovation:
FarmConnect uses AI to aggregate data from regional markets and sends SMS alerts to farmers without internet access.
Impact with Lion’s Leap:
A $150,000 grant helped Adanna scale to 15,000 users across Nigeria. Today, farmers using FarmConnect report a 40% income increase. “Lion’s Leap didn’t just fund us—they connected us to mentors who refined our tech strategy,” Adanna shares.
2. Healthcare Hero: Saving Mothers, Transforming Communities
Fatima Abdi, CEO of SafeBirth Kits (Kenya)
After losing a sister to childbirth complications, Fatima launched SafeBirth Kits—sterile, affordable maternal health kits distributed via a network of community health workers.
The Challenge:
Kenya’s maternal mortality rate is 342 deaths per 100,000 births, often due to unhygienic delivery conditions.
The Innovation:
Each $5 kit includes sterile gloves, antiseptics, and educational pamphlets in local languages.
Impact with Lion’s Leap:
A $50,000 equity investment enabled Fatima to partner with 200 clinics and train 500 health workers. Maternal infections in target regions dropped by 60%. “Investors initially doubted a ‘women’s health’ startup could scale. Lion’s Leap saw its potential,” Fatima says.
3. EduTech Pioneer: Closing the Gender Gap in STEM
Zahra Mohammed, Founder of CodeHer (Ethiopia)
Zahra noticed girls in rural Ethiopia were often pulled from school to support households. She created CodeHer, a hybrid platform offering coding courses online and offline via solar-powered tablets.
The Challenge:
Only 22% of STEM graduates in Ethiopia are women.
The Innovation:
CodeHer’s gamified lessons work without steady internet, and graduates receive mentorship from global tech professionals.
Impact with Lion’s Leap:
A $100,000 hybrid grant-debt package helped Zahra reach 8,000 girls. 70% of participants now pursue STEM careers. “Lion’s Leap believed in our mission before we had a single user,” Zahra reflects.
Why Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Matters
These stories aren’t anomalies—they’re proof of what happens when women access resources:
- Economic Ripple Effect: Women reinvest 90% of income into their families and communities.
- Innovation Diversity: Female founders often solve overlooked issues, from maternal health to rural education.
- Breaking Cycles: Supporting women-led businesses uplifts entire generations.
At Lion’s Leap, 60% of our funded ventures are women-led. Yet, the $42 billion funding gap persists.
Join the Movement
To Women Founders:
Your idea is valid, viable, and vital. Apply for funding and join a network that amplifies your voice.