Wetech Launches Investment Programme for Nigerian Women Startups

The Wetech Women Foundation (Wetech), in partnership with the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub under the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme (DAP), has launched PitchHer, an eight-week investment readiness programme for women-led startups in Nigeria.

The initiative will support 25 early-stage founders by helping them prepare to raise funding from angel investors, venture capital firms and other financiers. Participants will receive training in financial planning, investor engagement and pitching, with the goal of improving their readiness to secure external investment.

The programme forms part of the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub’s efforts to strengthen collaboration between the UK and Africa’s technology sectors while improving access to investment opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Top Founders Advance to Live Investor Pitch

At the end of the first six weeks, participants will present their businesses to a mock investment panel. Six founders will be selected to continue into the final phase of the programme, where they will receive individual coaching to refine their investor presentations, strengthen their pitch decks and prepare for question-and-answer sessions with potential investors.

The finalists will then present their businesses at the Wetech 2026 Flagship Conference: The Power Shift, scheduled for 26 September 2026, where they will compete for a ₦8.5 million prize pool before an audience of more than 2,500 investors, entrepreneurs and technology leaders.

Funding for Women Entrepreneurs

Wetech President Gabriella Uwadiegwu said the programme responds to the persistent funding imbalance facing women-led startups across Africa.

She noted that African startups raised US$3.2 billion in investment, but only 0.9% went to companies founded exclusively by women. According to Uwadiegwu, increasing access to capital for women entrepreneurs could unlock significant economic value, including an estimated US$229 billion contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.

PitchHer is open to Nigeria-based startups founded or co-founded by women that are at the pre-seed stage, already have a product or service in the market, demonstrate early customer traction or a validated business problem, and intend to raise investment within the next 12 to 18 months.

By combining investment training, mentorship and direct exposure to investors, the programme seeks to improve the investment readiness of women-led startups and increase their access to early-stage funding.