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October 2026 Africa
Following a successful application campaign, Her Startup is entering the selection phase for its second cohort, with Founder Institute Morocco as its accelerator training partner for this edition.
Tomorrow Foundation, together with KSH Foundation and EHA Impact Ventures, is pleased to announce that Her Startup’s second edition has received 468 applications. With applications now closed, the programme’s reviewers will begin assessing candidates to identify the next cohort of women building technology-enabled businesses across Africa.
The response reflects the breadth of entrepreneurial ambition across the continent. Nigeria led with 201 applications, followed by Kenya and Malawi with 44 each, South Africa with 36, Rwanda with 28, Ghana with 23 and Uganda with 16. The campaign also reached founders in Francophone and Arabophone Africa, supporting Her Startup’s ambition to make its opportunities accessible across linguistic and geographical boundaries.
Applicants represent a wide range of industries. Agritech attracted 108 applications, alongside strong interest from businesses in e-commerce, education, healthcare, energy and climate, and the creative industries. Together, these ventures demonstrate how women entrepreneurs are applying technology to practical challenges in their communities.
From applications to the next cohort
With applications now closed, Her Startup will begin reviewing candidates to select its second cohort. Applications will be assessed against common criteria covering innovation, business traction, growth potential, the strength of the team and readiness to benefit from the programme. Additional reviews will help ensure a fair and consistent assessment.
Shortlisted founders will then undergo Founder Institute Morocco’s entrepreneurial aptitude assessment and a further review of their readiness for the accelerator. Her Startup’s founding partners will make the final selection of 10 founders, drawing on these assessments and the programme’s commitment to supporting talent across Africa, including Francophone countries.
This next stage will bring Her Startup closer to selecting the founders who will benefit from a combination of entrepreneurial training, mentoring, networks and opportunities to pitch for investment.
Partnering with Founder Institute Morocco
For this second edition, Founder Institute Morocco will deliver the accelerator training, bringing the resources and methodology of Founder Institute’s international network to the selected entrepreneurs.
The partnership will help founders strengthen their business models, refine their growth strategies and prepare for discussions with investors. Her Startup will cover accelerator participation fees and provide a monthly stipend to help selected founders dedicate time to the programme.
Training forms part of a broader support pathway: founders will receive mentoring and practical guidance, with the opportunity to pitch to Her Startup’s Investment Committee for convertible, revenue-based financing. This approach links repayments to business revenue, allowing financing to adapt to the company’s development.
Building on the first edition
The second cohort follows a pilot that attracted more than 200 applications from 18 African countries. Ten founders joined the training programme, culminating in a Pitch Day in Lagos in April 2025.
The first cohort included businesses developing affordable prosthetics, improving access to legal services and supporting financial inclusion. Their experiences have helped shape this edition, with greater emphasis on preparation, guidance and continued support throughout the founders’ journey.
For Tomorrow Foundation, Her Startup reflects a wider commitment to education, digital inclusion and entrepreneurship. As digital technologies and AI create new possibilities, women must have access to the skills, resources and networks needed to shape those opportunities and lead the next generation of innovation.
We thank every founder who applied, as well as the partners and supporters who helped share the call. We look forward to discovering the businesses behind these applications and introducing Her Startup’s second cohort.
Follow the next stages at her-startup.com and on Instagram @herstartup_africa.
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