The Future is Female Mentorship Program – Sixth Edition

About

A virtual PR and communications mentorship initiative for early-stage African female tech founders, returning for a sixth edition in 2026 with masterclasses, tailored mentorship and an expanded partner network.

Benefits

• 🎓Mentorship and masterclasses — For selected participants, the program provides customized virtual masterclasses and tailored mentorship sessions focused on PR, communications and business growth for early-stage founders.
• 📣Communications guidance — Selected participants receive guidance on communications and visibility strategies, founder storytelling and brand positioning, media relations and thought leadership, digital marketing and audience engagement, personal branding, stakeholder communications and investor visibility.
• 🤝Expanded partner access — The sixth edition will provide selected finalists with access to an expanded partner ecosystem spanning technology, media, venture capital, business development and innovation sectors; specific new partners were not yet announced.
• 🏆Finalist visibility — The Top 25 finalists will be announced at the Africa Fintech Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, on 19 November 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: female-founded startup or at least one woman on the co-founder team; African women based on the African continent or in the diaspora; the company must be Africa-focused, serving African markets or Africans in the diaspora; registered/incorporated business with proof of registration; business less than two years old; early-stage startup (pre-Series A); business plan and minimum viable product (MVP); functional website; startup launched with initial traction (e.g., money, users). Having raised significant funding is not required.
• Preferred: startups focused on health, education, finance, agriculture or sustainability, and startups providing solutions for African women and girls receive special consideration.

Participation Commitments

• No application/program fee — the program is described as complimentary.
• Selected mentees participate in virtual masterclasses and three customized mentorship sessions in October, November and December.

Target Region

African women based on the African continent or in the diaspora; the startup must be Africa-focused and serve African markets or Africans in the diaspora.

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other