Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Rising Stars in Africa's Startup Ecosystem

Discover How Female Innovators Are Shaping the Future of Africa's Business Landscape

Welcome to this edition of our newsletter, where we celebrate the innovation, resilience, and success of women entrepreneurs driving change in Africa's vibrant startup ecosystem. As we shine a spotlight on remarkable female-led ventures, we invite you to reflect on a critical question: How can empowering women in entrepreneurship not only transform their communities but also redefine the future of commerce and innovation across the continent?

🚀 Startup of the Week: Earthbond

• Industry: Renewable Energy
• Founder: Co-founded by innovators passionate about sustainable solutions, Earthbond is spearheaded by female entrepreneurs dedicated to transforming Africa's energy landscape.
• Recent Achievement: Madica's recent investment in Earthbond showcases a commitment to promoting female entrepreneurship and renewable energy solutions, amid a challenging funding environment where only 2% of capital is directed toward female-led initiatives. This investment comes during a downturn in African startup funding, which reached its lowest in four years with $2.2 billion in 2024, emphasizing the need for resilient startups like Earthbond that support diverse sectors through innovative energy solutions.
• Location: Africa

🚀 Startup Highlights

Sabi

• Industry: E-commerce
• Founder: Launched by Anu Adedoyin Adasolum in 2021, bringing expertise in trade logistics and digital solutions.
• Recent Achievement: Surpassed $1 billion GMV with a community of over 250,000 users, showcasing effective trade enhancements through customized logistics and payment solutions.
• Location: Nigeria

Messenger

• Industry: Logistics
• Founder: Co-founded by Amanda Etuk, an experienced entrepreneur in connective technology.
• Recent Achievement: Developed a robust logistics app optimizing business-to-client interactions across the Nigerian market.
• Location: Nigeria

Product Hub Africa

• Industry: EdTech
• Founder: Founded by Victoria Oladosu in 2022, focusing on technological education and job placement.
• Recent Achievement: Supporting thousands of students with accessible tech training programs.
• Location: Nigeria

By spotlighting these remarkable startups, we celebrate their achievements and contributions to a vibrant future led by women in entrepreneurship. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories that showcase the incredible potential within female-led ventures!

🌟 Why It Matters

Earthbond is at the forefront of revolutionizing Africa's energy landscape through its innovative approach to renewable energy solutions. Co-founded by passionate female entrepreneurs, Earthbond's mission centers on providing affordable and sustainable energy alternatives that not only empower local communities but also enhance economic opportunities across various sectors, such as healthcare, education, and fintech. This aligns with the pressing need for resilience in the face of declining startup funding in Africa, which fell to $2.2 billion in 2024, highlighting the scarcity of investment directed towards female-led initiatives—only 2% of funding goes to women founders.

The significance of Earthbond's work lies not only in its commitment to renewable energy but also in its ability to challenge the traditional norms of the energy industry, which historically has seen low female representation in leadership roles. By placing female entrepreneurs at the helm, Earthbond not only sets a precedent for future startups but also demonstrates the potential for diverse leadership to drive transformative change within the sector.

Moreover, the company's holistic approach to energy solutions empowers small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in carbon credit markets, illustrating how female-led startups can bridge the gap between sustainable practices and economic empowerment. This aligns with insights from the APEC report highlighting the critical need to enhance support for women entrepreneurs to foster inclusive growth and innovation.

By spotlighting the achievements of Earthbond and similar initiatives, we not only celebrate their contributions but also inspire a new generation of female leaders to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, ultimately fostering a more equitable and innovative startup ecosystem.

🏆 Key Milestones

• Madica's Investment in Earthbond: In January 2025, Madica made a pivotal investment in Earthbond, a female-led renewable energy platform, reinforcing its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs in Africa's declining funding landscape. This investment highlights the importance of supporting resilient startups that promote sustainable practices amidst a challenging economic environment where only 2% of funding is directed towards female founders.

• Sabi Hits Incredible GMV Milestone: Launched by Anu Adedoyin Adasolum in 2021, Sabi has achieved over $1 billion in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV), demonstrating its significant impact in the e-commerce sector. With a thriving community of more than 250,000 users and 15,000 monthly transactions, Sabi continues to enhance trade through its tailored logistics and payment solutions.

• Product Hub Africa's Impact on Education: Founded by Victoria Oladosu in 2022, Product Hub Africa is making strides by supporting thousands of students with accessible technology training and job placement services. This initiative is crucial in empowering a new generation of skilled professionals, aligning with the need for increased educational opportunities within the African startup ecosystem.

By recognizing these remarkable milestones, we not only celebrate their achievements but also underscore the transformative potential of female-led ventures that drive innovation and inclusivity across various sectors.

📈 Market Impact

Earthbond is strategically positioned within the renewable energy sector, uniquely distinguishing itself from competitors through its commitment to affordable and sustainable energy solutions tailored for the African market. In a landscape where only 2% of funding is allocated to female-led startups, Earthbond's innovative approach not only fills a significant gap but also empowers local communities by enabling access to essential renewable energy sources that drive economic growth across diverse sectors like healthcare and education.

One of the key features setting Earthbond apart is its incorporation of technology to facilitate engagement in carbon credit markets. This not only allows small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in sustainable practices but also enhances their economic viability, creating a holistic impact that reverberates throughout the community. By leveraging advanced analytics and process optimizations, Earthbond provides solutions that are not only effective but also scalable, ensuring adaptability in a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Targeting diverse audiences, including SMEs, local entrepreneurs, and women-led initiatives, Earthbond's offerings resonate on multiple levels. This alignment with broader socio-economic goals indicates a forward-thinking business model that addresses both energy challenges and gender disparities in funding, thereby promoting inclusive growth. As highlighted in a recent investment report by Madica, Earthbond exemplifies resilience amid a downturn in African startup funding (reflecting a drop to $2.2 billion in 2024), reinforcing the importance of supporting female-led ventures in driving transformative change.

In summary, Earthbond is set to not only revolutionize Africa's energy industry but also inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Its competitive edge lies in its dual focus on sustainability and empowerment, thereby expanding the possibilities for collaboration and innovative growth across various sectors.

🤝 How You Can Support

• Follow Earthbond: Stay updated on Earthbond's journey in revolutionizing Africa's energy landscape by following them on their social media platforms. Your engagement can help amplify their mission to provide affordable and sustainable energy solutions, empowering communities across Africa.

• Share Their Story: Help inspire other female founders by sharing Earthbond's achievements and the recent investment by Madica. Highlighting the significance of female-led initiatives can encourage more support and awareness for women entrepreneurs tackling challenges in traditionally male-dominated industries.

• Explore Other Female-Led Startups: Discover and support other remarkable startups like Sabi, which has surpassed $1 billion in gross merchandise volume, offering tailored logistics solutions, and Product Hub Africa, which is enhancing tech education for thousands of students. Sharing these successes can promote a collective effort to uplift female entrepreneurship across various sectors.

By taking these actions, you contribute to building a more inclusive startup ecosystem that celebrates and supports the incredible potential of female leaders and their innovations.