Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge 2025

The Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge 2025, powered by Naspers and Prosus and delivered in partnership with Lionesses of Africa.

MEET THE 5 WINNERS

Five female founders win over $100,000 in TechFoundHER Africa Challenge 2025.

L-R: Esther Kimani, Folayemi Agusto, Margaret Wanjiku, Jenny Ambukiyenyi Onya, Leonora Tima

Core Category — First Place

Esther Kimani, Farmer Lifeline Technologies, Kenya – Farmer Lifeline builds solar-powered, AI-enabled devices and services that detect crop pests and diseases early, helping smallholder farmers reduce yield and post-harvest losses.

Core Category — Second Place

Folayemi Agusto, Tix Africa, Nigeria – Tix Africa provides a self-service event ticketing and event-tech platform that helps organizers manage listings, ticket sales and payments for live and virtual events across Nigeria.

Core Category — Joint Third Place Winners

Margaret Wanjiku, Pollen Patrollers, Kenya – Pollen Patrollers develops IoT-enabled smart hive solutions and data services to monitor hive health, support beekeepers and improve pollination outcomes for farms.

Jenny Ambukiyenyi Onya, Neotex, Democratic Republic of Congo – Neotex builds AI tools for agriculture and livestock, including the Halisi Livestock product that helps smallholder livestock keepers digitize herds, access services and improve productivity.

AI for Good Category — Winner

Leonora Tima, Gender Rights in Tech (GRIT), South Africa – Gender Rights in Tech builds technology solutions, survivor support systems and data-informed tools to help survivors of gender-based violence access support, reporting and justice pathways.

 

MEET THE 10 FINALISTS

Core Category

 

Farm to Feed — Claire van Enk

Farmer Lifeline Technologies — Esther Kimani

HubPharma Africa — Temitope Kareem

LifeBank Technology — Temie Giwa-Tubosun

 
 

Pollen Patrollers — Margaret Wanjiku

Pullus Africa — Opeoluwa Fayomi

Tix Africa — Folayemi Agusto

Neotex — Jenny Ambukiyenyi Onya

 
 

AI for Good Category

 

FriendnPal — Chinenye Eruchie

Gender Rights in Tech — Leonora Tima

 
 

About the Tech FoundHER Challenge

Earlier in 2025, Prosus launched the first Tech FoundHER Challenge in India. Women tech founders secured equity-free grants, mentorship from seasoned operators, and visibility with investors and customers to scale their businesses. The results confirmed the value of backing women-led tech innovation.

Now the challenge expands to Africa.

The Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge, powered by Naspers & Prosus and delivered in partnership with Lionesses of Africa, is accepting applications until midnight CAT on 30 September 2025. It will support women founders scaling technology and tech-enabled businesses across the continent.

The offer includes up to $100,000 in:

  • Equity-free grants

  • Mentorship from experienced operators

  • Access to investor networks

Join the movement shaping Africa’s next wave of women-led tech leadership.

 
 
 

The search is on for women founders or co-founders scaling technology and tech-enabled businesses across Africa in one of these sectors?

Financial Services & Business Tools

  • Fintech – Financial services innovation (payments, lending, banking, etc.)

  • Insurtech – Insurance technology (underwriting, claims, risk).

  • Legaltech – Technology for legal services, compliance, and contracts.

  • Regtech – Regulatory technology for compliance and reporting.

  • Martech – Marketing technology (campaigns, analytics, engagement).

  • Adtech – Advertising technology (digital campaigns, targeting).

  • HR Tech / Future of Work – Workforce, productivity, recruitment, collaboration.

Health, Life Sciences & Social Impact

  • Healthtech / Medtech – Digital health, devices, telemedicine, health data.

  • Biotech – Genetics, pharmaceuticals, bioengineering.

  • Foodtech – Food production, processing, and alternative food sources.

  • CharityTech / Social Impact Tech – Tech designed for social good or community impact.

Climate, Environment & Sustainability

  • Cleantech / Greentech – Renewable energy, sustainable production, carbon reduction.

  • Agritech – Agriculture and farming innovations.

  • Smart City Tech – Urban infrastructure, connected services, smart living.

Consumer, Lifestyle & Creative Industries

  • ConsumerTech – Consumer products, lifestyle apps, digital platforms.

  • FashionTech – Apparel, design, retail, sustainability in fashion.

  • EntertainmentTech – Film, music, streaming, creative content.

  • Gaming / eSports Tech – Interactive gaming, immersive experiences, eSports.

  • MediaTech – Content creation, publishing, and distribution.

  • RetailTech – E-commerce, in-store shopping, and customer experience.

Infrastructure, Mobility & Industry Solutions

  • IT Infrastructure & Systems – Hardware, software, data systems, networking.

  • Cybersecurity – Tools and services for digital safety.

  • Govtech – Technology to improve public services and civic engagement.

  • Proptech – Real estate technology for property management and smart buildings.

  • MobilityTech (Mobitech) – Mobile apps, transportation, ride-hailing, mobility.

  • Logistics & Supply Chain Tech – Transport, delivery, and global trade.

Emerging Technologies

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning – Automation, analytics, decision-making.