Deadline: Ongoing
Applications for the Future is Female Mentorship Program 2023 are now open. This is a complementary Public Relations (PR) and communications program dedicated exclusively to the business development needs of African female tech founders. African female tech founders are often unsupported and overlooked in the male-dominated tech world, and the program organisers wanted to empower and support this group.
The Future is Female Mentorship Program provides early-stage African female tech founders with insights into PR and communications fundamentals, including creating a communications plan, business storytelling, media relations, and more. The ultimate goal is for PR and communications to support these women in raising the visibility of their startups with multiple stakeholders leading to increased customers, audiences, media coverage, partners, and, of course, direct investment.
The 2022 edition received applications from 36 African countries, an increase of 91% compared to the 2021 edition. The program continues to gain international recognition and receives a lot of press coverage every year. It has been featured in Forbes, TechCabal, Disrupt Africa, Tech Trends Kenya and more. The selected mentees participate in three months of mentorship sessions tailored to their unique startup needs.
Benefits
- Customized online masterclasses with Claudine Moore, Allison+Partners Managing Director, Africa and Adjunct Professor, New York University and TechCabal Editor, with contributions from AfricaCommsWeek’s founders.
- Customized virtual sessions with Allison+partners team members and leading experts from the tech ecosystem specific to your business and sector.
- Insights into the fundamentals of PR and communications for Africa-focused startups.
- Practical examples of how to incorporate storytelling into your communication.
- A topline review of The Three T’s: Theme, Tone, and Timing of communications and content creation.
- Information on how to create an actionable communication campaign.
- An overview of media relations with an outline of the differences between the hyper-local, regional and global press.
- Tips on business relationship development with a cross-section of stakeholders.
Eligibility
- The business is less than two years old.
- You are female-founded or have at least one woman who is part of the co-founder team.
- Your company is Africa-focused serving African markets or Africans in the Diaspora.
- The company is an early-stage startup (pre-series A investment).
- You have a business plan in place.
- You have a minimum viable product (MVP).
- You should have a functional website.
- You have launched your startup and have initial traction (i.e., money, users, etc.)
While they welcome applications from a vast cross-section of businesses and sectors, startups that focus on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability will be given special consideration. They will also pay special attention to businesses that address the needs/service African women and girls in African markets or the Diaspora.
Application
For more information, visit Future is Female Mentorship Program.
