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April 2025 Lagos
In an inspiring celebration of innovation, resilience, and the power of women in business, the HerStartup Pitch Competition lit up Lagos on April 10, 2025. The event marked a major milestone for the HerStartup initiative, a dynamic program founded by Tomorrow Foundation, KSH Foundation, and EHA Impact Ventures to empower female entrepreneurs across Africa through training, funding, and mentorship.
The HerStartup program is more than an accelerator — it's a movement. Designed to address systemic barriers facing female founders, it blends entrepreneurship education with tangible investment opportunities and a supportive network. The April 10 event was the culmination of a 14-week intensive training program facilitated by the Founder Institute, giving eight talented participants a platform to showcase their ventures to an esteemed investment committee.
The day began with a welcome address from the heads of the founding organizations: Maggie Gu (Tomorrow Foundation), Khalil Halilu (KSH Foundation), and Evelyn Castle (EHA Impact Ventures). Each emphasized the initiative’s vision: to level the playing field for women entrepreneurs and build a self-sustaining ecosystem of female-led businesses across Africa.
The highlight of the morning saw the six HerStartup associates introduce themselves, share the essence of their businesses, and recount memorable moments from their accelerator journey — often highlighting the bonds formed and lessons learned during the program. A special moment was the introduction of family members present to support the founders, reinforcing the importance of community in entrepreneurial success.
Guest speaker Aysha Tofa, an accomplished entrepreneur herself, delivered a keynote sharing her personal business journey, lessons learned from failures and successes, and the importance of perseverance. Her story set an empowering tone ahead of the pivotal pitch session.
The pitching segment was a showcase of brilliance and innovation. Among the standout startups were:
Following their pitches, participants answered probing questions from the investment committee and audience members, demonstrating not only their business acumen but also the personal growth fostered during the program.
Recognizing Excellence: The Winners
At the close of the event, three exceptional founders were announced as winners:
Each winner was awarded $5,000 in convertible financing, healthcare plans, access to co-working spaces, and 6 months of dedicated mentorship from the heads of the founding organizations. This comprehensive support package aims to help these founders scale their businesses sustainably and continue their impact journeys.
In her closing speech, the Communications Lead of KSH Foundation reinforced the broader mission: "HerStartup is not just about funding startups — it’s about changing mindsets, opening doors, and redefining possibilities for women across the continent."
Building the Future, One Founder at a Time
The HerStartup initiative is already bearing fruit. The inaugural cohort’s success stories are a testament to what targeted support, investment, and mentorship can achieve. As envisioned by the program's leaders, the long-term goal is bold: a $50 million fund to empower female entrepreneurs across Africa within the next decade.
With a growing network of mentors like Amina Ibrahim Idris and Usman Fori, who advocate for female-focused entrepreneurship support, and participants who are poised to lead industries across technology, healthcare, law, and logistics, the future looks bright.
In the words of Wheapadu Emmanuel, a participant, "This program pushed me out of my comfort zone and kept me focused on building a sustainable business. I almost gave up — but here I am."
Indeed, here they are — and they are just getting started.
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