Everywhere you turn, you’ll find women quietly raising the bar for what African innovation can look like. They’re fixing problems others overlook, creating opportunities where none existed, and showing the world what vision backed by courage can do. Their stories deserve to be told, and here are some of the women leading that charge today.
1. Blessing Abeng (Nigeria)
Blessing Abeng, is a Nigerian entrepreneur and co-founder of Ingressive for Good, a nonprofit that provides tech training, scholarships, mentorship, and talent placement to African youths. Before I4G, she co-founded a platform called Disha, later acquired by a larger fintech company, showcasing her early engagement in tech entrepreneurship.
Her work with I4G and previous ventures has earned her continental recognition. Notably, she was listed among Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 in 2023.
Building opportunities for youth is building Africa’s future.
2. Betelhem Dessie (Ethiopia)
At just 19, Betelhem Dessie founded iCog Labs, one of Ethiopia’s first AI labs, quickly earning the title “Ethiopia’s tech prodigy.” By her early twenties, she had developed several innovative web and mobile projects addressing education and social challenges, gaining recognition across Africa.
Beyond her technical achievements, Betelhem has become a role model for young women in tech, showing that age and limited resources are no barriers to shaping the continent’s future.
Age and resources are no limits to innovation.
3. Thato Kgatlhanye (South Africa)
At 21, Thato Kgatlhanye co-founded Rethaka, a social enterprise that turns recycled plastic into eco-friendly schoolbags with built-in solar panels. As children walk to school, the panels charge, later providing light for studying at home.
Her innovation addresses both environmental and educational challenges, helping thousands of students while promoting sustainability, positioning her as a leading young African innovator.
Sustainability and education can walk hand in hand.
4. Rachel Sibande (Malawi)
Rachel Sibande is a trailblazing tech entrepreneur and social innovator from Malawi. She is the founder of mHub, Malawi’s first technology and innovation hub, created to support young innovators, software developers, and entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and digital resources. Through mHub, she has opened doors for thousands of young people, especially women, to access opportunities in technology and entrepreneurship.
By equipping the next generation with skills, mentorship, and access to technology, Rachel demonstrates that true empowerment begins with lifting others, showing how one visionary can transform a community and inspire a continent.
Empowerment starts by lifting others.
5. Caroline Mukuhi Mwangi (Kenya)
Caroline Mukuhi Mwangi is reshaping agriculture in Kenya through innovation and sustainability. She is the founder and CEO of Kimplanter Seedlings and Nurseries, a social enterprise that supplies climate-resilient seedlings, modern farming inputs, and training to smallholder farmers. Through this work, she helps farmers increase their yields, boost their income, and build resilience in the face of changing climates.
By combining practical solutions with community support, Carolyn is turning challenges into opportunities, showing that African innovation can thrive not just in cities, but in the fields where it impacts everyday lives.
Innovation grows where the community thrives.
6. Ivy Barley (Ghana)
Ivy Barley is a Ghanaian entrepreneur and advocate for women in technology. She co-founded Developers in Vogue, an initiative that provides training, mentorship, and job placement assistance for African women seeking careers in tech.
Over the years, Ivy has been recognized as among Ghana’s most influential young people, appearing on top-50 lists and being acknowledged for her efforts to boost women’s participation in STEM and tech across Africa.
Opening pathways for women in tech changes the narrative.
7. Temie Giwa-Tubosun (Nigeria)
Temie Giwa-Tubosun is the founder and CEO of LifeBank, a healthcare-tech venture launched in 2016 to address critical shortages of blood, oxygen, and essential medical supplies in Nigeria via data-driven logistics. Under her leadership, LifeBank has saved many lives by streamlining the supply and delivery chain for blood and medical essentials across hospitals.
Her work has earned international recognition. She was named among influential African women entrepreneurs and won awards such as the Improving Lives category at the Cartier Women’s Initiative Impact Awards.
Data-driven healthcare can save thousands of lives.
8. Rapelang Rabana (South Africa)
Rapelang Rabana is a South African tech entrepreneur, educator, and thought leader known for her work in mobile communications and digital innovation. She co-founded Yeigo Communications, one of the first mobile VoIP companies in South Africa, which transformed how people access affordable communication services.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Rapelang has been an advocate for education and innovation, delivering talks at global platforms like TEDx and the World Economic Forum, inspiring young Africans to explore technology as a tool for social and economic impact.
Technology can transform lives locally and globally.
9. Odunayo Eweniyi (Nigeria)
Odunayo Eweniyi is co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of PiggyVest, Nigeria’s largest digital savings and microinvestment platform. She also co-founded FirstCheck Africa, an early-stage fund that invests in African tech startups with at least one female co-founder, helping to address the gender gap in African tech entrepreneurship.
Before PiggyVest she co-founded job-search startup PushCV. She graduated with a first-class degree in Computer Engineering from Covenant University in 2013. Over the years, she has earned many recognitions including being listed among Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 (Technology) in 2019, featured on the Bloomberg 50 list in 2020, and honored in the 2021 TIME100 Next.
Financial inclusion empowers a generation.
10. Ife Durosinmi-Etti (Nigeria)
Ife Durosinmi-Etti is a Nigerian business executive and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Herconomy, formerly AGSTribe, a platform that supports women entrepreneurs with grants, training, networking, and business growth tools.
Through Herconomy, Ife aims to address structural barriers women face in entrepreneurship and business growth, offering them a support framework tailored for the African context.
Women-led ventures shape economies and communities.
