The narrative of female entrepreneurship in Africa is shifting from a deficit focused lens to one centred on capability, performance and growth into one centred on capability, performance and growth. While the USD 42B funding gap is a well-documented hurdle, the recent closing ceremony of She Wins Africa program Phase 1, an initiative of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in partnership with the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), the focus shifted from what is missing to what is possible.The VC4A team was in attendance at the landmark event held in Lagos on February 5, 2026. We joined the IFC and ASR Africa to celebrate this milestone in the program.Evidence of impact: The phase 1 milestonesShe Wins Africa Phase 1 proved that with the right infrastructure, African women don’t just grow businesses, they transform communities. The pilot phase achieved remarkable results:100 founders selected from over 3,000 applicants across 23 African countries.18 founders collectively raised USD 4.5M during the program period.5 founders received direct grants from the IFC/World Bank to bridge immediate scaling gaps.Significant revenue increases reported across the cohort.Dahlia Khalifa, Division Director, Nigeria and Central Africa – IFC delivers opening address at the She Wins Africa, phase 1 closing event in Lagos. 5 February 2026.The success of phase 1 rests on the shift from generic support to investor-aligned preparation. As an implementation partner, VC4A utilized its proven support infrastructure to deliver a highly specialized curriculum that helped founders to look beyond their products and into their balance sheets.The founders themselves crediting the VC4A-led training as one of the turning points for their businesses while sharing testimonials on stage:“The most valuable element was the mentorship and investor readiness training delivered by VC4A. Strengthening our internal planning and performance tracking system changed how we made decisions as a company and as a founder.” — Aisha Langat, Founder – Sulma Whole Foods (Kenya).She Winner and grant beneficiary – Aisha Langat, Founder – Sulma Whole Foods (Kenya) gives testimony at the She Wins Africa Closing event in Lagos. 5 February 2026.“Through VC4A, the coursework, mentorship, and investor readiness support were delivered with excellence and intention. I thank the VC4A team for their outstanding job in equipping founders with clarity, confidence, and discipline.” — Mary Nyambura Njeri, Founder – Eco Charge Ltd (Kenya).A highlight of the event was a high-level panel discussion featuring an investor, donor, and tech founders. The conversation moved past the usual narrative and explored the realities of what it takes to get founders from participation to capital.Panel discussion: The Evolution of founder support programs. at the She Wins Africa Closing event in Lagos. 5 February 2026. (L-R) Moderator: Adaorie Udechukwu (IFC), Edidiong Idang (ASR Africa), Abimbola Adebakin (Advantage Health Africa, She Wins Africa alumna), Kemi Akinsete (Floats XR) and Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes (Aruwa Capital)Governance as the ultimate de-risker Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes, Managing Partner at Aruwa Capital Management shared a clear call to action: Governance must start early. For institutional investors, internal controls and board-level discipline are what separate the great from the good. The panel agreed that de-risking a business is not just about having a great product; it is about building a bankable structure that can withstand the scrutiny of a Series A raise.Solving program fatigue A recurring theme was the need for demand-driven support. Founders highlighted that they don’t need hand-holding all the time. Abimbola Adebakin, Director of Advantage Health Africa (She Winner) added that they need specialized intervention at critical inflection points, such as at the point of hiring senior management, entering new cross-border markets, or signing complex partnerships. The future of support must be agile enough to meet founders where they are.Technology with a human anchor Kemi Akinsete, Co-Founder and COO of Floats XR an AI tech innovator, together with the panel discussed the role of AI in scaling support. While AI can automate lower-level tasks, analyze data patterns, and manage data infrastructure, it cannot replace the deep trenched experience of human connection. The most valuable element remains the human connection, the vulnerability and peer-to-peer troubleshooting found in a trusted community of founders.Tailored matching across the cycle The discussion emphasized that capital flows when support is aligned with how investment decisions are made. This means providing a more granular marketplace of resources, connecting early-stage founders with angel networks while providing direct fund-matching for more mature, EBITDA-positive businesses.As the pilot phase concludes, the energy in the room was focused on one objective: taking these lessons and scaling them. While phase 1 successfully de-risked 100 founders, the ambition moving forward is to broaden this reach significantly across the continent as the She Wins Africa program prepares to scale up and reach more founders than ever before.Cross-section of She Wins Africa organizers and collaborators with She Winners at the phase 1 closing event held in Lagos. 5 February 2026.The closing ceremony reinforced that partnership is how ambition becomes growth. VC4A remains committed to building the infrastructure that ensures when a woman founder is ready to scale, the ecosystem is ready to catch her.“Investing in women is not charity. It is smart, sustainable, and investible.” — Mary Nyambura Njeri, Founder, Eco Charge Ltd (Kenya).Cross-section of program organizers, donors and partners with three grant recipients at the She Wins Africa Closing event in Lagos. 5 February 2026.Stay connected on VC4A.com for more insights from the ecosystem and updates on our upcoming initiatives for female entrepreneurs across emerging markets.More moments from the event: businessentrepreneurshipInvestment ReadinessTechnical Supportventure capitalwomen founders