Eight-week programme backed by the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation, UK-Nigeria Tech Hub will prepare 25 women founders to raise capital, culminating in a live pitch before 2,500+ investors and ecosystem leaders at Wetech 2026: The Power Shift
African women founders capture less than 1% of the venture capital raised across the continent each year. Wetech Women Foundation (“Wetech”) is moving to close that gap. The organisation is launching PitchHer, a structured investment-readiness programme delivered in partnership with the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation, UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, an initiative of the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme (DAP).
Applications are open for 25 places. The eight-week programme targets Africa-based startups that are women-founded or co-founded, at pre-seed stage, already generating revenue or traction, and preparing to raise within the next 12 to 18 months.
The application window now closes July 16 2026.
The Gap PitchHer is built to close
African startups raised $3.2 billion in the last funding cycle. Female-founded teams captured just 0.9% of it, a shortfall Wetech estimates costs Nigeria alone as much as $229 billion in forgone GDP.
“These gender gaps compound more than we realise,” said Gabriella Uwadiegwu, President of Wetech. “Our programme is designed to help the women already building get access to the capital to scale, starting with our conference and our networks.”
PitchHer is not designed as a general accelerator. It is built specifically for founders with a working product, real customers, or validated demand. These women already know funding is their next move but need the financial rigour, investor fluency, and pitch readiness to close it.
How it works
Over eight weeks, the 25-founder cohort will work through structured investment-readiness training before facing a live mock pitch panel in Week 6. Six finalists will advance to a two-week Phase 2 of one-to-one coaching, deck refinement, and simulated investor Q&A.
Those six will then pitch live on the main stage at Wetech 2026, with 3 winners emerging from the pitch to share a ₦8.5 million prize pool at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, in front of an audience of 2,500+ investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders.
Programme Snapshot
- Cohort: 25 women founders, early-stage, Nigeria-based, sector-agnostic
- Duration: 8 weeks, starting August 3, 2026
- Application deadline: Thursday, July 16th 2026
- Prize pool: ₦8.5 million
- Finale: Live pitch competition, September 26, 2026, Landmark Centre, Lagos
- Delivered with: The Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation and UK-Nigeria Tech Hub
Founders can apply at: https://event.wetech.africa/pitch-her
About the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation
The Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), under the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), supports startups, entrepreneurs, and innovation hubs by driving digital innovation, entrepreneurship, ecosystem development, and access to opportunities that strengthen Nigeria’s technology sector.
About the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub
The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, part of the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme, delivers the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) Digital Development Strategy by supporting inclusive, responsible, and sustainable digital transformation across Nigeria’s tech and digital innovation sectors.
About Wetech
Wetech is a Pan-African nonprofit dedicated to empowering women across Africa’s technology ecosystem. Through flagship conferences, targeted programmes, and community-building initiatives, Wetech builds the pathways for women to found, fund, and scale transformative ventures.
Media Contact
Wetech Team
we@wetechng.com | www.wetech.africa
