By Shadrack Nyakoe
Kenya has successfully hosted the Womenpreneur Tour Africa, a groundbreaking collaboration between Womenpreneur and SANAD’s Entrepreneurship Academy, which is designed to empower female-led startups in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the fintech and agritech sectors.
Kenya, recognized as a leading fintech hub in Africa, has provided the perfect backdrop for this transformative tour where women entrepreneurs who are making strides in financial inclusion and agricultural innovation showcased their cutting-edge solutions.
Speaking during the event, Sana Afouaiz, Founder and Chief Executive said women in agritech and fintech play a key role in the growth of a country’s economy.
“We have been travelling around the country in Kenya meet entrepreneurs inspiring moment entrepreneurs as we aspire to showcase their success stories of Kenya,” she said.
Afouaiz noted creating a space for women where they can do more is key in order for them to achieve their goals as they realize their careers.
“We are showcasing the solutions which women can offer. This project which began in 2019 has expanded across several countries Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Ghana and now in Kenya,” she added.
In Kenya, between between 60% to 80 per cent of women work in agriculture and 23 per cent of them are in fintech startups showing a clear interest in the sector.
This calls for access to funding and mentorship programs to fully support the startups.
Some of the key objectives of the tour include championing local innovation hence highlighting Kenya’s pioneering fintech and agritech solutions developed by female entrepreneurs. In addition, empowering women entrepreneurs while sharing success stories, challenges, and providing visibility to women founders to inspire the next generation of female leaders was also featured.
Moreover, facilitating cross-border mentorship while connecting women entrepreneurs from Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region to foster collaboration and mutual growth was a key focal point.
The tour, traversing the region in its signature orange van, is not just a platform for recognition, but also a space for connection, mentorship, and knowledge exchange. Kenya’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape is expected to benefit greatly from this initiative, further solidifying its position as a leader in African fintech and agritech innovation.
Womenpreneur Initiative and SANAD’s Entrepreneurship Academy are dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources, support, and opportunities needed to succeed.
Through research, advocacy, and capacity-building programs, Womenpreneur Initiative aims to bridge the gender gap in entrepreneurship and foster an inclusive environment where women can thrive in various sectors, including technology, finance, and agriculture, with a focus on creating sustainable and impactful change for women entrepreneurs globally.
Womenpreneur has supported over 20, 000 women in 25 countries including MENA region and Sub-Saharan Africa in Ghana and Kenya.