Naspers and Prosus, two of the world’s most influential technology investors, have announced the launch of the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge, a $100,000 initiative designed to accelerate the growth of women-led technology and tech-enabled ventures across the continent.
Three selected founders will receive equity-free grants, alongside access to senior-level mentorship, strategic networking opportunities, and enhanced business visibility. The initiative builds on the success of a similar programme rolled out in India earlier this year and underscores Naspers and Prosus’ growing commitment to empowering underrepresented founders in the global tech ecosystem.
“The Tech FoundHER Challenge is about closing one of Africa’s most urgent gaps in entrepreneurship the lack of funding and visibility for women-led startups,” said Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, Chief Executive of Naspers South Africa. “Female founders are already proving that they can build competitive, tech-enabled businesses that drive growth and innovation. What they need now is capital, networks, and access to markets to scale.”
Addressing Africa’s $42bn Gender Funding Gap
The challenge comes at a critical moment. According to the African Development Bank, women account for only 26 per cent of entrepreneurs in Africa yet receive less than 3 per cent of venture capital funding. This disparity translates into a gender finance gap of $42bn, a shortfall that, if closed, could unlock an estimated $316bn in GDP growth.
By spotlighting high-potential ventures, the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge aims to shift this trajectory. The programme will be delivered in partnership with Lionesses of Africa, a leading network representing more than 1.8 million women entrepreneurs across the continent. This collaboration ensures that the initiative not only provides funding but also builds long-term ecosystems of support for women founders.
“For women founders to succeed, access, capability and visibility must come together,” said Prajna Khanna, Chief Sustainability Officer at Naspers and Prosus. “This challenge is designed to give proven women-led startups the platform, connections, and confidence to scale sustainably. After a successful launch in India, we are thrilled to bring it to Africa and unlock the extraordinary innovation and talent the continent has to offer.”
What the Challenge Offers
The six shortlisted founders will pitch their solutions at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 19 November 2025, aligning with Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. Of these, three winners will secure the $100,000 equity-free grants and gain tailored mentorship from senior leaders within the Naspers–Prosus ecosystem.
Additional benefits include curated networking opportunities with investors and corporates, exposure to potential partners, and media visibility designed to strengthen their brand positioning in local and international markets.
Africa’s Entrepreneurs at the Forefront
The launch arrives amid Naspers’ strong financial performance in 2025, with reported revenues of $7.2bn and an 18-fold surge in e-commerce EBIT, driven by growth in food delivery, fintech and retail. Yet the company’s long-term bet on Africa is not only financial it is rooted in the recognition that the continent’s entrepreneurs, particularly women, represent one of the most underleveraged engines of innovation globally.
The Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge positions itself as more than a competition. It is, in essence, a signal: that the future of Africa’s digital economy will depend not only on capital inflows and infrastructure but also on who gets to lead and shape the next generation of businesses.
Applications are now open until midnight CAT on 30 September 2025. Women founders across Africa are invited to apply at lionessesofafrica.typeform.com.
