Are you an African female founder with an innovative, impactful and scalable business?
Apply now to join the fourth cohort of the ShEquity Business Accelerator (SHEBA) program. The success of your business starts here!
SHEBA IS THE BRIDGE TO CLOSING GENDER FUNDING GAP IN AFRICA
Read more in the Press Release.
WHAT MAKES SHEBA STAND OUT?
The SHEBA program is designed to address investors’ concerns including key investment risks. The 17 weeks program focuses on getting female-led and owned businesses fit for investment and increase their chances of getting access to seed funding. Unlike other accelerators not connected to investment vehicle, SHEBA is a deal funnel to ShEquity and other trusted investors.
The program is also designed to enhance leadership and soft skills needed to engage with key partners/customers as well as inspire teams to revamp and test their marketing strategy.
SHEBA equips founders with the skillset needed to develop new business models and mindsets for innovation while leveraging existing tools to be ahead of the competition. The following is the program structure:
We are de-risking impactful and scalable female-led and owned business, allowing investors to access a trusted and solid pipeline of female-led businesses.
Why ShEba
Launched in March 2021, ShEquity Business Accelerator (SHEBA), was created to address the existing gender funding gap by de-risking African female-led businesses, getting them fit for investment and equipping the founders with skills set needed to grow and scale their businesses.
The Accelerator provides venture building and technical support to African female entrepreneurs with impactful and scalable businesses in Agribusiness (agritech, production, processing, wholesale & retailing, 
any other agribusiness value chain aspects), Climate-smart businesses, Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs), Healthcare, Mobility/Logistics and Tech-enabled businesses(fintech, clean-tech, etc.).
SHEBA is the bridge for female founder to access capital: after the acceleration program, qualifying businesses are recommended to ShEquity team for investment consideration. The typical ShEquity seed investment range between US$50K to 250K. In addition, SHEBA demo days where other investors have opportunities to access impactful and scalable female-led businesses.
Testimonials from Previous Cohort Participants
Tale Alimi
Co-Founder and CEO, Owoafara
2021 Cohort, Nigeria
“SHEBA has been a detailed and eye-opening program. The systematic approach of the program which started with a market study helped us understand our customers needs better. After our market research, we decided to test a savings plan for the market traders. This helped us grow the adoption of our savings product by 50% from $80,000 to $120,000. We also fine tuned our loan products by re-designing our products for specific segments of our target market.”
Idowu Ejere
Co-Founder, Esteem Royale Cosmetics
2021 Cohort, Nigeria
“SHEBA taught me to think like a startup founder rather than a small business owner. There is a big difference and its key. As a small business, everyday we are searching for a business model that works down the line. But startups are focused on a business model that works from day one.”
Karima Grant
Co-Founder and CEO, Ker Imagination
SHEBA Alumni (Cohort 2)
“Successful accelerators focus on entrepreneur needs and not a one-size-fits fits-all approach. SHEBA focuses on the women behind the businesses as much as the businesses. From very early on in the program, SHEBA provided as close to a tailor-made approach as possible.”
Chigozie Bashua
Founder and CEO, The Nut Place
SHEBA Alumni (Cohort 2)
“Since joining SHEBA, the program has helped us improve our processes, clarify our business model and perform a market survey that has helped increase our sales.”
Partners
