African Female Startup Founders Raise Over $45 Million in 2025 Despite Harsh Funding Climate

African female startup founders entered 2025 with the same determination that has shaped their role in the continent’s innovation landscape. Operating in environments where investor confidence remains inconsistent and capital is increasingly scarce, these women continue to push boundaries, quietly but steadily.

Despite the challenges, female-led startups secured $45.4 million between January and September 2025, according to Africa: The Big Deal. This is a modest share, only 2% of total Q1 2025 funding, equivalent to $10 million out of $460 million, but it underscores both the resilience of these founders and the persistent gender gap in Africa’s tech ecosystem.

Below are the female founders who raised $1 million and above by September 2025, and the startups they are building against the odds.

1. Dabchy (Tunisia) — $1 Million Pre-Series A

Founder: Ameni Mansouri (Co-founder)
Sector: Fashion Marketplace / E-commerce

Dabchy is a Tunisian peer-to-peer fashion marketplace enabling users to buy and sell new and pre-owned clothing, accessories, and beauty products. Co-founded by Ameni Mansouri, Ghazi Ketata, and Oussama Mahjoub, the platform aims to simplify online shopping while tackling logistics and accessibility challenges across North Africa.

In February 2025, Dabchy raised $1 million in a Pre-Series A round backed by Janngo Capital, Renew Capital, and angel investors. The funds will support expansion into new markets, broaden product offerings, and enhance the platform for its growing user base.

2. Salpha Energy (Nigeria) — $1.3 Million Debt Financing

Founder: Sandra Chukwudozie
Sector: Clean Energy / Solar Solutions

Salpha Energy, founded by Sandra Chukwudozie, delivers affordable solar power systems to underserved and off-grid communities across Nigeria. The company assembles and distributes solar solutions ranging from 150 Wp to 100 kWp, often bundled with storage and inverter technology.

The firm raised $1.3 million in debt financing from All On, a Shell-funded off-grid energy investor. The capital will enable Salpha Energy to scale solar deployments, strengthen operations, and expand services to more Nigerian communities.

3. Liquify (Ghana) — $1.5 Million Seed Round

Founders: Nadya Yaremenko (CEO), Alberta Asafo-Asamoah
Sector: Fintech / Export Invoice Financing

Liquify is a Ghanaian digital invoice-financing platform helping African exporters convert unpaid invoices into immediate working capital. The platform automates onboarding, KYC/AML checks, credit assessments, and settlements, allowing exporters to receive funds within hours.

Since its late-2024 beta launch, Liquify has processed 150+ transactions worth about $4 million. In 2025, it raised $1.5 million in an oversubscribed seed round led by Future Africa, with participation from Launch Africa, 54 Collective, Digital Africa, Equitable Ventures, and angel investors. The funding will support market expansion across Africa and enhance its AI-driven due diligence tools.

4. Farm to Feed (Kenya) — $1.6 Million Seed Funding

Founders: Claire van Enk, with co-founders Anouk Boertien and Zara Benosa
Sector: Agritech / Food Waste Reduction

Farm to Feed helps reduce food waste by sourcing surplus or cosmetically imperfect produce from farmers and distributing it to buyers such as restaurants, schools, processors, and institutional markets.

The company secured $1.6 million in seed funding from Delta40, Catalyst Fund, DEG, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, Holocene, 54 Collective, Marula Square, and several angel investors. The investment will help expand operations, onboard more farmers, improve logistics, and scale its semi-processed product line.

5. Altera Biosciences (South Africa) — $1.6 Million Pre-Seed

Founder: Alexandra Miszewski (CEO), with Prof. Michael Pepper
Sector: Biotech / Cell & Gene Therapy

Altera Biosciences is developing a “universal donor cell” platform that removes immune-compatibility barriers using advanced gene-silencing and cell-engineering technologies. This innovation could enable safe, off-the-shelf cell and tissue therapies for diverse patient populations worldwide.

In July 2025, the biotech startup raised $1.6 million in a pre-seed round led by OneBio Venture Studio and E Squared Investments. The funds will support R&D, talent recruitment, and early validation of its universal cell platform.

6. WeThinkCode (South Africa) — $2 Million Grant

Founder: Nyari Samushonga (Co-founder)
Sector: Edtech / Tech Skills Development

WeThinkCode is a pan-African tech-education academy offering tuition-free software development training to youth, including those from underserved backgrounds. Co-founded by Nyari Samushonga, the academy equips students with practical, industry-ready tech skills.

In June 2025, WeThinkCode received a $2 million grant from Google.org to expand its curriculum into AI. The funding aims to train up to 12,000 learners across South Africa and Kenya by 2026 through a free AI programme designed for both aspiring developers and non-tech professionals.

7. Neopenda (Uganda) — $2.6 Million Venture Round

Founder: Sona Shah (CEO), with co-founder Teresa Cauvel
Sector: Healthtech / Neonatal Care

Neopenda develops wearable devices that monitor vital signs in newborns, helping clinicians detect complications early, an essential solution for hospitals in low-resource environments.

The Ugandan healthtech startup raised $2.6 million in a Venture Round via WeFunder. The funding will support device production, market expansion, and distribution to more hospitals and clinics across East Africa.

A Quiet but Powerful Rise

While their fundraising numbers remain small compared to the continent’s largest rounds, these women-led startups represent resilience, innovation, and impact in a year marked by caution and limited capital. Their progress highlights both the enormous potential of African female founders and the persistent funding gaps that must be addressed for inclusive growth.

These founders are not just securing capital; they are reshaping industries, solving African problems, and pushing the continent’s tech ecosystem forward despite the odds.