Social enterprise, She Leads Africa, a dedicated programme aimed at fostering the spread of business growth and ideas in Africa, is hosting its inaugural Entrepreneur Showcase. This showcase will be held in September 20th this year at Terra Kulture in Victoria Island, Lagos. This event will give a chance to female entrepreneurs to pitch their business projects to a panel of potential mentors and investors and compete for cash and prizes. She Leads, which was founded this year by Yasmin Belo-Osagie and Afua Osei, is looking to empower female entrepreneurs in the continent. Winners in this competition will be financial prizes of $10,000 and $5,000 to the winner and runner-up, respectively, as well as non-financial prizes such as phones and tablets, brand consultation, free office space, access to prominent venture capitalists and angel investors, and additional tools needed in order to expand their existing start-ups and achieve their business dreams. “We are incredibly excited about the finalists for the inaugural She Leads Africa competition,” said Yasmin Belo-Osagie, the co-founder of She Leads Africa.“These finalists represent some of the best and the brightest entrepreneurial talent in Africa, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of the competition.” Afua Osei, the Co-Founder of She Leads Africa said: “Access to education, financing, and useful networks are limited, and cultural stereotypes can curtail a woman’s ambition. She Leads Africa’s vision is to provide entrepreneur development, networks and funding for promising female entrepreneurs who have the ambition and drive to be the business leaders of tomorrow, building companies that will become pan-African and global leaders.” She Leads Africa’s 10 finalists will have a month long period of business consultancy with key figures in the private equity, management consulting, and financial industries. This year’s adjudication panel will include;
Hakeem Belo-Osagie: Serial entrepreneur and Africa’s 34th wealthiest man Belo-Osagie currently sits on the global advisory board for the Council of Foreign Relations and the Brookings Institute Ngozi Edozien: Founder of InVivo partners and non-executive director at Barloworld, PZ Cussons, and Vlisco. Ms Edozien is also the former head of West Africa for emerging market focused PE fund Actis. Bola Adesola, CEO of Standard Chartered Nigeria and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
This year’s showcase features female entrepreneurs across a broad range of sectors: retail, manufacturing, e-commerce, information technology, and transportation. Finalists come from across the continent and diaspora, including Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, United Kingdom and the USA.
