The Aurora Tech Award has unveiled a new initiative to strengthen early-stage, women-led tech ventures in Nigeria through dedicated mentorship, business development tools, and investor readiness training. The initiative, known as the Foundry for HER Bootcamp, is being launched in collaboration with The Nest Innovation Technology Park Ltd.
Set to run virtually from October 15 to 17, 2025, the three-day accelerator will support more than 120 female founders, equipping them with skills in fundraising, strategic pitching, product scaling, and market expansion beyond Nigeria’s borders. Organisers describe the programme as a response to structural gaps that continue to limit the growth potential of women entrepreneurs in the technology and startup space.
Despite Nigeria’s vibrant tech ecosystem, women-led startups remain underrepresented in funding and investment pipelines. Research indicates that nearly 46 per cent of small businesses in the country fail within their first three years, with female founders facing added obstacles, including limited access to capital, mentorship networks, and strategic visibility.
Through practical workshops, mentorship sessions, and investor-focused training, the Foundry for HER Bootcamp aims to bridge these divides and prepare participants for long-term sustainability and scale. The organisers said the programme is designed not only to help women-led startups survive, but to position them as globally competitive enterprises capable of attracting serious investment.
The initiative also comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s digital economy, where more women are venturing into technology, fintech, digital services, and e-commerce, yet still struggle to secure the backing required to grow. By offering structured guidance and exposure to industry leaders, the bootcamp intends to strengthen the pipeline of women innovators building solutions in fields such as health tech, edtech, and financial inclusion.
Beyond mentorship, organisers say the programme will foster peer-to-peer collaboration, enabling founders to build networks that can support partnerships, cross-market growth, and collective bargaining power within the ecosystem.
Stakeholders believe initiatives like this are essential to leveling the playing field and unlocking a stronger contribution from women within Africa’s entrepreneurial economy. The Aurora Tech Award, known globally for spotlighting women innovators, is using this platform to deepen its impact in Nigeria, a key hub for Africa’s female tech talent.
Applications for the bootcamp are expected to attract a wide range of founders at different stages of product development, with an emphasis on practical readiness for investment, scalability, and leadership in competitive markets.
