The education technology and technology sectors are making seismic shifts, with innovative solutions emerging from every corner of Africa. As we celebrate Women's History Month, let's take a peek at some incredible women transforming the landscape across the continent. These tech and EdTech entrepreneurs are not only building groundbreaking companies but also paving the way for future generations of African women to pursue their dreams. From coding boot camps and cybersecurity training to venture capital and enterprise solutions, these women are leaving an indelible mark and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. Here are five exceptional African women celebrated for their innovative and entrepreneurial prowess.
Judith Owigar (Kenya) – Founder, Akirachix
Judith believes in using exposure, education, and technology to transform lives. It's this philosophy that led her to create Akirachix. She is a social entrepreneur whose work is at the intersection of women, youth, tech, and entrepreneurship. She is the recipient of several awards, including CNN's 10 African Voices to Follow and the East African Acumen Fellow.
Her work at Akirachix aims to "Provide the most promising young women in Africa with technology skills to compete economically and bridge the gender gap in tech" (Akirachix, 2023). The company leads with what they call the theory of change: she builds, serves, and leads.
Nyari Samushonga (South Africa) - CEO, WeThinkCode
An accountant by training, Nyari has scaled the impact of WeThinkCode by doubling recruitment capacity and creating a localized curriculum for the South African market.
She aims to close the skill gap in the digital sector and facilitate youth participation in the economy.
Their primary product is the free coding boot camp, enabling individuals to gain technical skills. Their numerous partnerships allow their students and graduates to gain industry experience through internships and full-time employment.
Chikodili Udeh (Nigeria) - Co-Founder, Hacktales
Hacktales is focused on empowering Africans with world-class cybersecurity skills as a tool to bridge the global talent gap. Chikodili is also a senior security engineer with Exclusive Networks. Hacktales empowers individuals to break into cybersecurity and become professionals in the field within a year(Hacktales, 2024).
Companies like Hacktales are crucial with the rise of AI, quantum computing, and other emerging technologies, as security will become a more prominent challenge. It's critical to equip the upcoming generations with the necessary tools for them to innovate further.
Maya Horgan Famodu (Nigeria) - Founder, Ingressive Capital
With a focus on early-stage startups, Ingressive Capital funds companies across various industries and geographies across Africa. The 10 million dollar firm has funded companies like Mono, which is led by Y Combinator and Tiger alumni, as well as Pay Stack, which was sold to Stripe for 200M.
She is also the co-founder of Ingressive for Good, a non-profit focused on cultivating technical talent and resources for the African start-up ecosystem. Maya is a Minnesota native who graduated from Pomona and Cornell. She was named Forbes 30 under 30. (Ingressivecapital, 2024)
Rebecca Enonchong (Cameroon) - CEO, AppsTech
Rebecca, originally from Cameroon, founded AppsTech in 1999 as a Maryland-based global provider of enterprise applications. Since its founding, AppsTech has opened several offices in several countries, with Cameroon being one of them.
She is the recipient of many distinct awards, including Forbes 10 Female Tech Founders to Watch in Africa and a Global Leader for Tomorrow. AppsTech is a leader in enterprise application solutions, offering a full spectrum of products, including architecting solutions, license sales, implementation, application management, and more (AppsTech, 2023).
References
Enterprise Applications - Oracle Platinum Partner. (2014, March 18). AppsTech. https://appstech.com/company/appstech/
Forbes. (2024). Maya Horgan Famodu. https://www.forbes.com/profile/maya-horgan-famodu/?sh=6646f5e946ac
Judith Owigar. https://www.judithowigar.com/
IITPSA. (2022, October 20). 2022 - nyari samushonga. IITPSA Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa . https://www.iitpsa.org.za/2022-nyari-samushonga/
Jackson, T. (2023, October 20). Meet the investor: Maya Horgan Famodu, Ingressive Capital. Disrupt Africa. https://disruptafrica.com/2023/10/20/meet-the-investor-maya-horgan-famodu-ingressive-capital-2/
Udeh, C. (2022, June 27). Highlights: Nigeria’s first career village. Hacktales. https://hacktales.com.ng/2022/06/27/career-village-highlights/
Commentaires