Her Startup Opened Applications for Second Cohort
The initiative targets 10 early-stage women founders in Africa to help close a significant startup funding gap.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Startups
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Her Startup has launched applications for its second cohort of 10 early-stage women founders. The program provides training, mentorship, and revenue-based financing to support entrepreneurs who have historically faced limited access to capital.
Why it matters
The program aims to address a systemic disparity where African women founders secured less than one percent of the more than $2 billion raised by startups in 2025. It seeks to empower a demographic that represents 58 percent of Africa's self-employed population.
Applicants must be women founders aged 18 to 35 with businesses generating at least $500 in monthly gross revenue. The cohort selection targets 10 participants for a 12-week training program.
The players
Her Startup
This organization operates an accelerator initiative focused on supporting early-stage African women founders through training and financing.
The details
Participants receive a 12-week training program, monthly stipends, and access to mentorship. Selected founders pitch their ventures to an investment committee to qualify for the initiative's convertible, revenue-based financing model.
Timeline
The Her Startup pilot programme began in 2024.
African startups raised over $2 billion in 2025.
Three ventures secured funding at a Pitch Day in Lagos in April 2025.
Applications for the second cohort close on October 26, 2026.
Market Landscape
This initiative attempts to disrupt the prevailing investment trend where women-led firms capture a negligible fraction of venture capital. By utilizing revenue-based financing, the program competes with traditional equity-heavy models that often overlook early-stage female-led enterprises.
Eligible women founders can access specialized training and essential startup capital that has historically been difficult to secure. Candidates must ensure their businesses meet the $500 minimum monthly revenue requirement to qualify for the funding committee pitch.
The takeaway
Women seeking to scale their ventures should prepare their financial documentation to meet the revenue requirements before the application deadline. Leveraging alternative financing models can provide a viable path to growth when traditional venture capital remains inaccessible.
What happens next
Applications for the second cohort of 10 founders must be submitted by October 26, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Startups.
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