Female Techpreneur today announced the second edition of the Female Founders’ Lounge – Lagos, an evening of in-depth discussions and networking taking place on Thursday 30th May 2024 at the GAIA House, V.I Lagos. Nigeria. Designed specifically for female Tech founders, experts, and ecosystem partners, this event is a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur, a seasoned professional, or a rising star in the tech industry, you’ll find valuable insights and inspiration at this event.

Since its inception in 2018, Female Techpreneur has been building a community of women with the goal to funnel more women into the tech ecosystem by creating opportunities for mentorship and networking. The all female evening event on the entrepreneurial scene is set to be the cornerstone of inspiration, empowerment, and connection for over 100 women-led business owners. Hosted by Tech entrepreneur and founder of the Techpreneur Bukky Babajide, this one-day event will focus on the theme: “Navigating the evolving ecosystem to thrive”. 

The event will feature an engaging keynote address from Abiola Laseinde, CEO and Founder of Edniesal Consulting With over two decades of experience at the intersection of law, governance, and corporate leadership. The panel session and fireside chat will feature leading female founders and investors like Olatowun Candide-Johnson, Lexi Novitske, Bisi Akintayo, Chizor Malize, Oz-Omazino Eguh, Kemi Oyesola who will share their own entrepreneurial journeys. You will be motivated by how their hard work and resilience have helped them to push through the barriers and challenges of running a successful business. 

Commenting Bukky Babajide Founder of Female Techpreneur said: “I am delighted that the Female Founders’ Lounge – Lagos is back and that we will be hosting another incredible lineup of speakers and entrepreneurs in the room. Female Techpreneur want to encourage female  tech entrepreneurs to launch and scale their businesses, to challenge themselves and connect with others and are looking forward to welcoming female founders, and innovators to the lounge this May.”

The full event agenda promises a diverse range of topics catered to the evolving needs of female entrepreneurs. From innovative strategies to sustainable growth practices, attendees can expect a comprehensive programme aimed at enhancing their business acumen and personal growth.

To find out more about the event and to book your tickets visit Female Founders’ Lounge – Lagos.

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Africa’s Business Heroes (Image: Supplied).

Between April 20-27, the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, hosted 40 participants consisting of top 10 Heroes, other finalists and partners from across Africa in Hangzhou, China. Participants engaged in an immersive experience at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou and have returned to their home countries enriched with valuable insights to further enhance their entrepreneurial endeavors on the continent.

During their visit, the ABH Heroes (spanning cohorts from 2019 to 2023) participated in a wide range of activities. These included deep dives that explored various facets of the digital economy from cloud computing, AI-driven logistics to e-commerce villages. They participated in a series of workshops and site visits all designed to elevate entrepreneurs to a higher level of success. The Heroes also exchanged knowledge and explored opportunities for collaboration with business leaders from Alibaba and with each other. These activities provided the participants with new knowledge and perspectives that they can potentially apply to overcome challenges, seize opportunities and scale their businesses.

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Diarra BOUSSO, Founder & Creative Director of Diarrablu and ABH 2020 top 10 Hero, who was among the participants in the trip to China, expresses her gratitude for the experience, stating: “This trip was so inspiring in so many ways. First, meeting all these entrepreneurs who are the top entrepreneurs on the African continent and spending a week together was an incredible experience. And second: being immersed in the world of Alibaba and all the companies Jack Ma and his team built over time and understanding the vision behind it was like a dream come true.”

In another exciting development, ABH is extending its deadline for 2024 entries from May 19 to June 9 to accommodate more entrepreneurs eager to participate in the competition. Candidates selected for the top 50 will gain access to a host of resources, including training, mentorship and networking opportunities, as well as a supportive network of fellow African business leaders. US$1.5 million in grant funding will be distributed among the top 10 finalists; the first prize winner will receive an award of US$300,000.

This year, ABH has also hosted information sessions and community events across the continent to facilitate the application process and nurture a vibrant entrepreneurial community. These events have taken place in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, with upcoming sessions scheduled for Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Senegal. These events are conducted in partnership with local entrepreneur organizations and key ABH stakeholders including judges, Heroes and partners.

To date, ABH has received applications from entrepreneurs spanning all 54 African countries. Entrepreneurs from across the continent – regardless of sector, age or gender – are invited to participate. Applications can be submitted in English or French HERE.

Individuals are also encouraged to nominate eligible entrepreneurs who they believe are creating impactful and sustainable solutions to challenging issues HERE.

Khady D. is a young entrepreneur and mother of Senegalese origin, founder of Xalé, a brand of games and toys that take parents and children on a cultural journey to the heart of Africa. Mother of two children, it is for them, and for all other children with a blood or heart connection with Africa that I decided to create Xalé which means ‘child’ in Wolof. Passionate about games since I was little, I found that it was the ideal locomotive to drive my message.

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Xalé was born out of a personal frustration: the lack of knowledge about Africa’s past by Afro-adolescents themselves, leading to a lack of awareness of their identity. Khady wants to make young people aware of the riches of Africa by making them discover the continent in a fun way. 

The Xalé brand allows children, especially those who live far from their mother earth, to be able to identify with themselves and have a better self-esteem. Special attention has been paid in the illustrations to represent the characters in a realistic and attractive way. Xalé means child in Wolof, the language spoken in Senegal.

Khady D Founder of Xalé said, “Our vocation is to help parents pass on their African cultural heritage to their children (Xalé). Our toys will serve as a support to give you a better vision of Africa far from the clichés often conveyed in the West.”