The Female Founder Initiative Botswana is a Non Governmental Organization that aims at empowering women in business through voluntary business discussions and mentorship programs. Co-founded by Cindy Matlapeng (President), Nametso Manyepedza (Vice President), and Evita Tlhobogang (Vice President), the organization also aims to source funds for women who have the ideas but lack financial support to start up or expand their businesses. It’s first pilot program, Mosadi Khumo Entrepreneurship Program, launched in August.

Launched on 14 August 2021, the Mosadi Khumo Entrepreneurship Program is a 6 week voluntary discussion hosted on zoom, and gathering together mentors and mentees to unpack topics such as business leadership, business finance, investment and exports, to name a few, to enhance and improve the mentees’ business soft skills. What makes this initiative different is that at The Female Founder Initiative Botswana, the team believes in fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals as a way to envision 2030 building on leaving no one out of prosperity. The main SDGs that the organization aligns with are:

Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 17: Partnerships to develop the goal

The Female Founder Initiative Botswana aspires to see women led businesses succeed to alleviate poverty, gain prosperity and improve the economy of Botswana by the year 2039. It is based in Gaborone, but offers its programmes and services to the country at large.

Speaking about the launch of the Mosadi Khumo Entrepreneurship Program, co-founder and President of the Female Founder Initiative Botswana, Cindy Matlapeng says:

“When women support each other, incredible things happen. We, as the founders of Female Founder Initiative Botswana, believe that in order for us to win and gain prosperity, we have to hold each other’s hands instead of hating each other.”

To find out more, email: femalefounderinitiativebw@gmail.com or visit the organization’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/femalefoundersinitiativebw/