FSDH Merchant Bank, in partnership with Africa Guarantee Fund (AGF) and WEAV Capital, has announced the launch of the second edition of its Female Founders Growth Programme (FFGP), a structured investment readiness initiative designed to support ambitious Nigerian women building and leading tech and tech-enabled businesses.
The programme is designed to address the persistent funding gap faced by women-led businesses by equipping participants with the tools, expertise, and investor readiness support required to scale sustainably and access capital.
Through a combination of expert-led masterclasses, hands-on advisory support, and structured investment preparation, the programme will prepare selected participants for both debt and equity financing opportunities.
Selected participants will receive practical support designed to strengthen their businesses and improve investment readiness. Through the programme, participants will learn how to:
- Strengthen business and financial structures
- Improve debt and equity readiness
- Understand investor and lender expectations
- Build investor-grade materials
- Position their businesses for sustainable growth
- Prepare for meaningful capital opportunities
Participants will also stand to gain:
- Practical investment readiness training
- Guidance from industry experts
- Exposure to investors and financial institutions
- Networking opportunities with fellow founders
- Improved investor and lender positioning
- Access to strategic ecosystem networks
- Opportunities to access up to $1 million in debt financing from FSDH Merchant Bank and up to $750,000 in equity investment from WEAV Capital
The programme is open to female-founded and female-led businesses operating in Nigeria within the tech and tech-enabled sectors. Eligible applicants should:
- Have an existing and viable revenue-generating business
- Have managed the business for at least two years
- Run businesses that are either at least 50% female-owned or have a female in a C-suite role (CEO, COO, or CTO)
- Demonstrate strong growth potential
- Be seeking debt or equity funding
- Require funding of at least $200,000
- Be willing to commit to the full duration of the programme, including physical sessions
Through this programme, FSDH Merchant Bank reaffirms its commitment to supporting enterprise growth and expanding access to capital for women-led businesses as part of its broader mandate to drive inclusive economic development.
The programme will culminate in a Demo Day, where selected businesses will pitch to investors and financial institutions, creating opportunities for funding, strategic partnerships, and increased visibility within the investment ecosystem.
Applications for the Female Founders Growth Programme 2.0 are now open and will close on 11 June 2026.
Interested applicants can apply here
