The program is designed to provide personalized support for mentees, at the same time creating a community for women to provide support, create networks and to collaborate. The mentorship program will support mentees to grow their start-up, expand their professional networks, learn how to pitch, build on their already existing skills, build self-confidence and improve their communication and leadership skills.
Mentorship program OUR WHY
Africa carries the world’s largest burden of disease, despite facing the most severe shortage of healthcare workers.
The need for increasingly rapid and context-specific responses to diseases in Africa is growing and digital health provides many of the solutions that are needed. Digital healthcare start-ups, many led by women, are emerging across the continent. We support these start-ups and advocate for women’s involvement in digital health policy.
However, women face challenges accessing finance, receiving less than 7% of venture capital. Many lack financial guarantees and are excluded from key networks and associations.
Our mentorship program aims to address this by enhancing business skills and building a supportive community. It helps women grow their start-ups, expand networks, improve pitching, and develop leadership and communication skills, fostering their growth in the digital health space.
Our mentors have significant experience in investing, running or advising tech start-ups and African governments in this space. Mentors help our mentees to further their career and make informed business decisions.
How the Mentorship program works
Working to increase representation and leadership of African women is a pivotal part of creating opportunities for women working in digital health. Our mentorship program is designed to do just that – to support our mentees to strengthen their business knowledge and leadership skills. The program is designed to provide personalized support for our mentees, at the same time creating a community for women to provide support, create networks and to collaborate. The mentorship program will support mentees to grow their start-up, expand their professional networks, learn how to pitch, build on their already existing skills, build self-confidence and improve their communication and leadership skills.
Benefits
Learning how to grow a startup from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders
Expanding professional network
Developing pitching skills
Building self-confidence
Improving communication and leadership skills
The Silicon Savannah Retreat
Hosted from October 24-26, 2024, at the Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa, Kenya, the three-day retreat program fosters personal and professional growth by enhancing business acumen, leadership skills, and mental well-being.
During the retreat, mentees attend in-depth sessions on product development, pitch-building, skill-building for sustainability and leadership, including attracting investment, strengthening leadership and protecting intellectual property. The inclusion of sessions like personal branding and networking strengthens the mentees’ professional connections.
