10 women-led tech startups have won N1 million each at the Transitioning to Tech for Women Demo Day, a landmark event organised by Africa Startup Factory (ASF). The event, held on Wednesday, January 15, at Alliance Français, Ikoyi in Lagos featured over 2,025 participants in a rigorous pitch session.
The winners—Resavation, DeeclutMart, Buildersync, Edcast, Pocketlawyers, Joo9ja, MyBeautyAfrica, Ecogas, Auditpal, and The Nut Place—are providing tech-driven solutions across various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
The prize money was sponsored by SARA by Wema Bank as part of the bank’s mission to empower women across various societal levels.
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Upskilling women for impact and promoting gender equity in tech
Before the Demo Day, the women founders underwent a transformative journey through ASF’s Business of Tech course, where they gained technical proficiency and business acumen. They also received training in Backend Development, Frontend Development, DevOps, and Data Science, equipping them to develop innovative solutions and scale their ventures.
Peter Dingba, CEO of Africa Startup Factory, commended the outstanding pitches and emphasised the critical role of women in addressing Nigeria and Africa’s technological challenges.
“When you look at the gender balance in the tech space you realise that there are still more men in tech today right, [but] if you want to multiply a thing just give it to a woman. [Some of] these ladies are able to stay at home, take care of their kids and are building different solutions,” Dingba said.
Keynote speaker Adaorie Udechukwu, Gender and Economic Inclusion Advisor at the IFC, World Bank, stressed the importance of inclusive technological advancement.
“We always advocate that prioritizing inclusion at all levels of tech leadership employment, tech entrepreneurs, tech consumer as at all levels of tech is important because while we ensure that our local talents are upskilled we also want to be deliberate to ensure that women and girls are not left behind,” Udechukwu said.
A bold statement for women in tech
In her address, Rachael Adesina, Chief Technology Officer at First Bank Nigeria, hailed ASF’s initiative, describing it as a bold challenge to the status quo.
“This is not just an event, it is a bold statement that challenges the status quo. It is one that says that women are no longer waiting for a seat at the table. We are designing the table, we are shaping the future and building the table ourselves,” Adesina said.
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Building a supportive ecosystem
During the Demo Day, the Outstanding Women in Tech Awards (OWITA) were presented to visionary women driving technological advancement in Africa, recognising their significant contributions to the continent’s tech development.
Partners supporting the event included the United Nations, European Union, GIZ, IFC, U.S. Consulate, Dutch Consulate, Mastercard Foundation, MainOne, Aruwa Capital Management, Jobberman, AWS, and the Lagos State Government.
According to Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics 2023 report, fewer than 30 percent of women in Nigeria express interest in tech careers due to traditional gender norms. Events like this provide a platform for trailblazing women to drive change, inspire others, and challenge industry norms.