Wetech and UK-Nigeria Tech Hub Launch PitchHer Program to Help Nigerian Women Founders Secure Investment Funding
The eight-week investment readiness programme will equip 25 female founders with fundraising skills, mentorship, and the opportunity to compete for an ₦8.5 million prize pool at Wetech 2026.
The Wetech Women Foundation (Wetech), in partnership with the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub through the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme (DAP), has announced the launch of the PitchHer Investment Readiness Program, an intensive eight-week initiative designed to prepare Nigerian women entrepreneurs to successfully raise investment capital.
The programme aims to bridge the persistent funding gap facing female founders across Africa by providing selected participants with practical fundraising knowledge, investor access, mentorship, and pitch training.
The announcement comes at a time when African startups continue to attract billions in investment, yet women-led ventures remain significantly underfunded.
New Initiative Targets Nigeria’s Female Founder Funding Gap
According to Wetech, the PitchHer Investment Readiness Program will support 25 early-stage women founders across Nigeria, helping them move from being interested in fundraising to becoming investment-ready businesses.
Participants will receive training focused on:
- Investment readiness and fundraising strategy
- Financial modelling and business metrics
- Investor communication and storytelling
- Pitch deck development
- Venture capital and angel investment processes
- Investor question-and-answer preparation
- Business growth and scaling strategies
The programme is being delivered in collaboration with the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, one of the UK government’s flagship initiatives supporting digital innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems across Africa.
Six Finalists to Compete for ₦8.5 Million at Wetech 2026
The eight-week programme will be divided into two phases.
After the first six weeks, participants will pitch their businesses before a mock investment panel. Based on their performance, six finalists will be selected to advance to the second phase of the programme.
The final phase will include:
- One-on-one pitch coaching
- Investor presentation refinement
- Pitch deck polishing
- Simulated investor Q&A sessions
- Intensive fundraising preparation
The six finalists will then present their startups live during the Wetech 2026 Flagship Conference: The Power Shift, scheduled to hold on September 26, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The live pitch competition is expected to attract more than 2,500 attendees, including investors, startup founders, venture capital firms, ecosystem builders, and technology industry leaders.
Competing founders will battle for a total prize pool of ₦8.5 million.
Wetech Highlights the Economic Cost of Gender Funding Inequality
Speaking on the initiative, Gabriella Uwadiegwu, President of Wetech, emphasized the urgent need to increase investment access for women-led startups.
According to her, African startups attracted approximately $3.2 billion in funding, but only 0.9% of that capital went to female-founded teams.
She noted that the consequences of these investment disparities extend beyond individual businesses, affecting broader economic growth and innovation outcomes across the continent.
“African startups raised $3.2 billion in funding, and only 0.9% went to female-founded teams. These gender gaps compound more than we realize, preventing an additional $229 billion in GDP in Nigeria alone. Our programme is designed to help women building companies gain access to capital and scale through our conference and networks,” Uwadiegwu said.
Who Can Apply for the PitchHer Investment Readiness Program?
The programme is open to women-founded or women co-founded startups operating in Nigeria that are currently at the pre-seed stage.
Applicants are expected to have:
- A product or service already in the market
- Early customer traction or a validated business problem
- Revenue generation, active users, or market testing activities
- Plans to raise external funding within the next 12 to 18 months
Wetech noted that the programme is sector-agnostic, meaning founders from various industries, including fintech, healthtech, agritech, commerce, artificial intelligence, education, and other sectors, are encouraged to apply.
PitchHer Investment Readiness Program at a Glance
| Programme Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme Name | PitchHer Investment Readiness Program |
| Organisers | Wetech Women Foundation and UK-Nigeria Tech Hub |
| Cohort Size | 25 female founders |
| Eligibility | Early-stage Nigeria-based women founders |
| Programme Duration | 8 weeks |
| Programme Start Date | August 3, 2026 |
| Application Deadline | July 10, 2026 |
| Final Pitch Event | September 26, 2026 |
| Venue | Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos |
| Prize Pool | ₦8.5 million |
| Funding Partner | UK Government Digital Access Programme |
Applications Open Until July 10
Applications for the PitchHer Investment Readiness Program are currently open, with only 25 positions available nationwide.
The initiative represents another effort to address the longstanding funding imbalance facing women entrepreneurs in Africa’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem while creating stronger pathways for female-led businesses to access capital, mentorship, and investor networks.
Selected founders will not only gain investment readiness training but also receive direct exposure to investors and ecosystem stakeholders during the Wetech 2026 conference in Lagos.
