The fourth edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Program has accepted applications through C. Moore Media and Allison+Partners. The initiative is the first and only PR and communications program for African female IT startups.
This year’s program is being run in collaboration with Google Africa. The cooperation will allow chosen Google for Startups Accelerator alumni to participate in the Future is Female Mentorship Program. The initiative equips African female founders with PR and communications expertise, insights, information, and skills to help their firms gain awareness and develop.
The Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund will assist the program by holding a session on VC funding for the selected female founders from across Africa in the fourth edition. Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund has an active interest in Africa and is evaluating possibilities around the continent. The Fund has made investments in some of the region’s most promising Africa-focused technology businesses, including Flutterwave and Andela.
“African female tech founders are often unsupported in the male-dominated world of tech, which is why The Future is Female Mentorship Program was established. We are excited to launch the fourth edition of the initiative with Allison + Partners, who acquired C. Moore Media, International Public Relations,” said Claudine Moore, The Future Is Female Mentorship Program Founder and managing director of Africa at Allison + Partners. “We are also delighted to collaborate with Google Africa and their Women Founders Africa Program, and Salesforce, who will be hosting a session on VC funding with the selected finalists of the program.
Launched by the Africa tech-focused PR agency C. Moore Media International PR, which was recently acquired by global agency Allison+Partners and originally launched on Africa Day in 2020. Applications to the program have grown by over 160% in recent years, with applications received from 36 African countries in 2022.
“We are excited to be collaborating with The Future is Female Mentorship Program as it aligns with the mission of the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program to support and empower women founders building great tech startups in Africa or for Africa.” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Sub Saharan Africa. “By increasing the representation of women in the startup ecosystem, we can help bridge the gap between the number of women-led startups and the amount and quality of support they receive, ultimately leading to more diversity and innovation.”
Techcabal alongside Africa Communications Week, a global platform that builds bridges between communications professionals focused on Africa’s transformation will return for the third consecutive year as official partners of the program. Tope Adubi and David Idagu will join founder Claudine Moore as the lead mentors.
The program is delivered virtually, and the mentees are invited to participate in masterclasses and sessions customized to the specific needs of their sector and business. African female founders will learn insights into VC funding, PR and communications, storytelling, media relations and more. During the selection process, special consideration is given to startups that focus on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability. In addition, startups that provide solutions and/or address African women’s and girls’ needs will also receive special consideration.
The applications are now open and close Monday, June 26, 2023. Interested female founders can apply here. The successful candidates will be announced on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
