The Future is Female Mentorship Program is the first and only PR and communications program dedicated exclusively to African women in tech. Applications to the program have grown by over 160% in recent years, with applications received from 36 African countries in 2022.
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of Africa Day, C. Moore Media and Allison+Partners have announced the launch of the fourth edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Program, the first and only PR and communications program dedicated exclusively to African female tech founders and their business development needs. For the first time, Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program and Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund will collaborate with the program, highlighting both organisations’ support in developing tech across Africa.
In line with the goals and objectives of the Future is Female Mentorship Program, the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program aims to empower and support female founders on the continent by providing resources and opportunities to scale their startups and address African problems.
Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund is actively interested in Africa and continues to assess opportunities across the continent. The Fund has invested in some of the region’s top tech startups, including Flutterwave and Andela. As part of their support for the program, they will host a session on VC funding for the selected female founders from across Africa.
Launched on Africa Day in 2020 by Africa tech-focused PR agency C. Moore Media International PR, recently acquired by global agency Allison+Partners, The Future is Female Mentorship Program is the first and only PR and communications program dedicated exclusively to African women in tech. Applications to the program have grown by over 160% in recent years, with applications received from 36 African countries in 2022.
“African female tech founders are often unsupported in the male-dominated world of tech, which is why The Future is Female Mentorship Program was established. We are excited to launch the fourth edition of the initiative with Allison+Partners, who acquired C. Moore Media, International Public Relations,” said Claudine Moore, The Future Is Female mentorship program founder and managing director of Africa at Allison+Partners. “We are also delighted to collaborate with Google Africa and their Women Founders Africa Program, and Salesforce, who will be hosting a session on VC funding with the selected finalists of the program,” she continued.
Selected alumni from the Google for Startups Accelerator initiative will be invited to take part in the program, which will provide African female founders with PR and communications expertise, insights, knowledge, and skills needed to gain visibility and grow their businesses.
Applicants selected for the initiative will learn storytelling best practices, strategic business communications with multiple stakeholders, how to position their startups for investment opportunities, and more. The program will also provide mentees with insights customised for the unique needs of their business and sector.
“We are excited to be collaborating with The Future is Female Mentorship Program as it aligns with the mission of the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program to support and empower women founders building great tech startups in Africa or for Africa,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, head of Startup Ecosystem, Sub Saharan Africa. “By increasing the representation of women in the startup ecosystem, we can help bridge the gap between the number of women-led startups and the amount and quality of support they receive, ultimately leading to more diversity and innovation.”
Leading pan-African tech publication TechCabal, and Africa Communications Week, a global platform that builds bridges between communications professionals focused on Africa’s transformation, return for their third consecutive year as official partners of the program.
What the 2023 program offers
The fourth edition of the Future is Female mentorship program promises to reach even more African female founders across the continent, while introducing additional partners in more diverse sectors, expanding the resources, network, expertise, and knowledge available to mentees.
Mirroring previous editions, this edition of the Future is Female Mentorship Program will provide African female tech founders of early-stage startups with the PR and communications insights, knowledge, and skills needed to gain visibility and grow their businesses. It is aimed at African women based on the continent or in the diaspora and is launching or growing a tech business for African markets or serving Africans in the diaspora.
The program is delivered virtually, and the mentees are invited to participate in masterclasses and sessions customised to the specific needs of their sector and business. During the mentorship program, female founders will learn insights into the fundamentals of PR and communications for tech startups, including creating a communications plan, incorporating storytelling into their business communications with multiple stakeholders, and more. During the selection process, special consideration will be given to startups that focus on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability. In addition, startups that provide solutions and/or address African women’s and girls’ needs will also receive special consideration.
How to apply
The application portal for the Future is Female Mentorship Program is now open and closes Monday, June 26, 2023. The successful female founders will be announced on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
We encourage all women building great tech startups in or for Africa to apply to the program and take advantage of this opportunity.
Follow #CMMtheFutureIsFemale on social media for program updates. Follow @Allisonpr @CMooreMedia and @ClaudineMoore on Twitter and Instagram for announcements.
Please visit www.thefutureisfemalementorshipprogram.com for regular news and updates.
Press Contacts: David Idagu, Africa Regional Consultant, Allison+Partners David.idagu@allisonpr.com
About Allison+Partners
Allison+Partners is a global marketing and communications agency driven by a collaborative approach to innovation and creativity. It was named by PRovoke Media as one of its Global Agencies of the Decade, 2023 North American Agency of the Year and Best Agencies to Work For. In July 2022, Allison+ Partners acquired C. Moore Media International Public Relations expanding its presence in Africa and named Claudine Moore the Managing Director of Africa. Allison+Partners operates in 50 markets worldwide and is organized around five practices: Consumer Brands, Corporate, Reputation Risk + Public Affairs, Health, and Technology. The agency’s Marketing Innovation Team, which combines brand strategy, integrated marketing, creative, research and measurement expertise into one offering, works across these practices to deliver integrated storytelling for clients. For more information, visit www.allisonpr.com.
About the Future Is Female Mentorship Program
The Future is Female mentorship program is the first PR and communications mentorship program dedicated exclusively to African female tech founders. The Program is complimentary to ensure that there are no entry barriers for any female founder who wants to apply. The Program continues to gain pan-African and global recognition and has been featured in Forbes, TechCabal, Business Insider, Disrupt Africa, PC Tech and many more tech and business publications.
About Google for Startups Accelerator Africa
Google for Startups Accelerator Africa: Women Founders Program is a 12-week virtual/hybrid accelerator program for Seed to Series A technology startups in Africa. The accelerator is designed to bring the best of Google’s products, people and technology to women-led Startups across the continent. In addition to mentorship and technical project support, the accelerator also includes deep dives and workshops focused on product design, customer acquisition, fundraising, and leadership development for founders.
Although the women founders program officially concluded on 19th May, applications to the regular accelerator will be announced soon.
