Two Ugandan techpreneurs Mercy Angela Nantongo, founder of Simbi Mall, and Tugume Agnes Brenda, founder of Esoptron Salon are among the 25 African female tech founders selected for the 3rd edition of the “The Future is Female Mentorship Program”, a PR mentorship program run by a New York-based public relations agency; C.Moore Media (CMM) International.
C.Moore Media in July this year called upon female tech founders across Africa to apply for an opportunity to be part of the public relation (PR) mentorship program.
“African female tech founders continue to go unsupported in the male-dominated tech space and therefore we want to provide them with expertise in public relations and communications to help them gain visibility for their startups, grow their business, and ultimately attract the right investors,” C.Moore Media, founder Claudine Moore told the press at the time of the launch.
After the call, 343 applications were received from 36 African countries — translating to a 91% increase compared to the applications received in the 2021 edition. Enterprises offering solutions in health, education, finance, agriculture, gender equity, and sustainability issues received special consideration during the selection process.
Out of the applications received, only 25 have been selected to be part of the PR mentorship program. The female tech founders are from; Botswana (1), Burkina Faso (1), Cameroon (1), Democratic Republic of Congo (2), Kenya (3), Lesotho (2), Liberia (1), Malawi (1), Nigeria (7), Uganda (2), Zambia (3), and Zimbabwe (1).
PC Tech Magazine reached out to Nantongo and Tugume for comment but have yet to hear back
During the mentorship program, the selected African female tech founders will be provided with the public relations and communications insights, knowledge, and skills needed to gain visibility and grow their businesses. They will learn how to create a communications plan, storytelling best practices, strategic business communications with multiple stakeholders, and how to secure premium partnerships.
Many of the program’s alumnae have featured in top-tier global media and secured global and regional investments that have enabled them to further the development of their startups. Uganda’s Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, Founder of Chil AI Lab and an alumna of the program, was selected to be part of the inaugural Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts class an initiative that highlights the world’s brightest innovators at the leading edge of technology, solving problems in emerging economies. Shamim was also recently sworn in as the African Representative on the Commonwealth Youth Council Executive Committee.
The 2022 cohort includes:
- Folake Soetan Owodunni (Nigeria), CEO and co-founder of Emergency Response Africa.
- Linda Ekweogu (Nigeria), co-founder of Agrolinka.
- Vanessa Christian (Nigeria), co-founder of Propslot.
- Jennifer Esiaba (Nigeria), CEO of 8mg Health.
- Fatoye Omowunmi (Nigeria), co-founder of I-Healthify.
- Chikere Onyinyechi (Nigeria), CEO of Clozetsales.
- Precious Eniayekan (Nigeria), co-founder of Propfunds.
- Wambui Karingithi (Kenya), co-founder of Chiza Health.
- Radhika Bhachu (Kenya), co-founder of Ndovu.
- Linet Kinyua (Kenya), co-founder of Pensoft System Limited.
- Mercy Angela Nantongo (Uganda), founder of Simbi Mall.
- Tugume Agnes Brenda (Uganda), founder of Esoptron Salon.
- Melissa Gondai (Zimbabwe), founder of Jotter.
- Setsoto Hlohlomi (Lesotho), president of BasaliTech.
- Tlaleng Mokoma (Lesotho), founder of Mphalane.
- Susan Mwandila (Zambia), general manager of Larn Innovation Hub.
- Amandra Musuumba (Zambia), co-founder of Edge Express.
- Retiana Phiri (Zambia), CEO and founder of Invenker Technologies.
- Birba Delwende (Burkina Faso), founder of AI-King Group.
- Massa Weeks (Liberia), founder and CEO of Girl in Tech Liberia.
- Gloria Tshiashi (Democratic Republic of Congo), founder of PreventPain.
- Vanessa Buhendwa (Democratic Republic of Congo), founder of Malisho.
- Rethabile Konopo (Botswana), founder of Legaltech Botswana Academy.
- Kalitsiro Mwale (Malawi), founder of TechPearl.
- Monica Mesame Ewang (Cameroon), founder of Ekose-Rx.
