ShEquity accelerator invites applications from female entrepreneurs in ECOWAS region

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has encouraged female entrepreneurs from its 15 member nations to apply for the second edition of the ShEquity accelerator programme.

The ShEquity Business Accelerator (SHEBA) is a 16-week programme that provides venture development and technical assistance to African female entrepreneurs in the ECOWAS area who want to grow their firms and become investment-ready.

SHEBA was founded in March 2021 by ShEquity, an investment vehicle that makes smart investments in impactful, innovative, and scalable female-led and owned businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, in collaboration with its implementation partner MBC Africa, to address the existing gender funding gap by de-risking African female-led businesses, getting them investment ready, and equipping the founders with the skills they need to succeed.

SHEBA provides ShEquity and other ShEquity network investors with access to investment-ready prospects in female-led and owned enterprises, in addition to a strong program development emphasis. Qualifying enterprises are suggested to the ShEquity team for investment consideration after completing the accelerated program. The average ShEquity initial investment is between $50,000 and $250,000, with further post-investment support available.

SHEBA focuses on enterprises in agribusiness, healthcare, technology-enabled solutions, renewable energy, mobility, and fast-moving consumer products that are influential, inventive, and scalable (FMCGs). 16 founders from Benin, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo graduated from the first cohort.

“We are thrilled to be launching this new edition and are extremely confident that this new cohort group will experience the same game-changing impact on their businesses as the first cohort group,” said Pauline Koelbl, founder of ShEquity.

“Participants in SHEBA’s inaugural programme experienced an increase in the number of customers and overall sales, the evolution of business models, increased managerial confidence, and an overall mindset shift to one of focus. Such impressive outcomes represent the foundations of the SHEBA programme that drives accelerator participants towards investment readiness.”

Applications will be accepted through May 6th. This application call is solely for English speakers; a separate call for French speakers will be released next month.