Africa’s agrifoodtech sector is growing, and nine female founders are leading the charge with scalable, climate-smart solutions across insurance, processing, and supply chains. From insect protein in Tunisia to solar cold chain in Nigeria, these ventures are digitising agriculture and reducing food loss. The future of food is female and it’s already in motion.

Despite receiving just 2.3% of global VC funding in 2024, female founders continue to outperform, delivering higher returns per dollar invested. While Africa has yet to see a woman-led unicorn, global trailblazers like Cristina Junqueira (Nubank), Melanie Perkins (Canva), and Ruchi Kalra (OfBusiness) are proving what’s possible when women are backed to scale. These founders are not just building billion-dollar companies, they’re reshaping industries and rewriting the rules.

Africa’s mobility sector is projected to nearly double by 2030, and female founders are leading the charge with scalable, tech-enabled solutions. Despite receiving a fraction of venture capital, these women are building high-volume platforms, expanding across borders, and pioneering inclusive, climate-conscious models. Their ventures are redefining how mobility works for underserved communities across the continent.

Africa’s fintech sector is projected to grow from $10 billion in 2023 to $47 billion by 2028, driven by mobile money adoption and rising demand for digital financial services. Female founders are leading this transformation, building scalable ventures that serve millions across underserved markets. Despite receiving just 2% of total investment, they continue to deliver strong traction, regional expansion, and strategic exits.

Unicorns are by no means reliable indicators of growth, but when ventures are valued at (or over) $1 billion, they can point to strong market potential, resilience, etc. More ventures worldwide have crossed this $1 billion threshold, but the African unicorns are struggling to attain and even maintain it.    Unicorns are by no means reliable indicators of growth, but when ventures are valued at (or over) $1 billion, they can point to strong market potential, resilience, etc. More ventures worldwide have crossed this $1 billion threshold, but the African unicorns are struggling to attain and even maintain it. Turn on screen reader supportTo enable screen reader support, press ⌘+Option+Z To learn about keyboard shortcuts, press ⌘slash

Africa has a peculiar story of resilience and growth trackers despite its glaring need to improve and at least match up with other ecosystems.

Following the emergence of Africa’s first unicorn, Jumia, in 2016, another- Interswitch, joined the ranks three years later in 2019, a milestone year when startup funding on the continent surpassed $1 billion, according to multiple sources.