In farms, markets, workshops and digital platforms across Sub-Saharan Africa, women entrepreneurs are quietly solving some of the region’s biggest problems. They are protecting harvests from waste, turning plastic and textile waste into new products, building fair finance systems and helping small businesses grow. The SANAD ElevateHer Sub-Saharan Africa cohort brings 24 of these companies into one focused program designed to help them scale their impact.
Backed by SANAD and delivered by Seedstars, ElevateHer is more than a training program. It is a structured accelerator that equips early and growth-stage women founders with the skills, tools, networks and visibility they need to strengthen investment readiness and expand their businesses. The goal is clear: unlock financial access for women entrepreneurs and support businesses that create measurable social and economic change.
This year’s cohort reflects the depth and diversity of women-led innovation in Africa.
In agriculture and food systems, AGRO KOOM is helping farmers grow healthier crops through hydroponics and a mobile monitoring system that boosts yields sustainably. Hydroponics Gardens Masaka is making affordable hydroponic garden kits from locally sourced plastics, allowing urban households to grow food in small spaces. Essymart Africa combines online and offline services to provide farmers with quality inputs, training and access to markets. Sackan Farms is using data-driven poultry farming to supply fresh, locally raised broiler chickens and strengthen Ghana’s food security.
Post-harvest loss, a major challenge across the continent, is being addressed by Biowax Ghana Limited, which produces natural edible coatings that extend the shelf life of fresh produce. Freza Nanotech Limited applies nanotechnology-based preservation solutions to keep produce fresh for longer. Repel transforms pineapple waste into affordable and chemical-free mosquito repellents, while Riziki Nature Based Solutions converts invasive mesquite into clean fuel and biochar, restoring rangelands and creating new income streams.
Clean energy and climate action also feature strongly. Brisfa produces agricultural-waste briquettes from maize cobs and husks, providing affordable clean fuel and reducing deforestation in Kenya. EcoGreen Solutions Ltd, a women-owned company in Rwanda, manufactures biomass pellets and efficient cookstoves that cut fuel use and emissions. SmartWatt Company converts fossil-fuel vehicles to electric and trains young engineers, especially women, in EV technology.
Technology-driven platforms are expanding access and efficiency across sectors. FlezPay offers an AI-powered retail operating system that reduces theft, cuts costs and improves margins for retailers. Nyamula Logistics connects businesses directly with reliable transporters through a digital platform, making deliveries faster and cheaper. WAVU digitizes aquaculture using AI-powered WhatsApp tools that support fish farmers. Gardpath Technologies provides rapid multi-disease test kits for livestock, enabling early and accurate diagnosis.
Financial inclusion remains central. Rafiki Mpya Limited delivers asset-based microfinance that helps women and smallholder farmers build climate-resilient livelihoods. Success for People Microfinance is digitizing savings groups to provide inclusive agricultural loans for women and youth. VunaPay enables instant payments and financial services for farmers through cooperatives. Ziya offers zero-interest group-based finance that allows women-led MSMEs to access fair capital through community lending. Ndovu Inc provides a wealth-building platform offering savings, investments, crypto and tokenized real-world assets to African users.
Women’s economic empowerment also runs through businesses such as Madame Taxi, a women-first mobility and fintech platform that promotes safe transport, income generation and financial inclusion. Soko Kijiji connects women traders in open-air markets directly to suppliers and consumers through a digital marketplace. KABEHO DESIGNS LTD operates a circular fashion enterprise that transforms textile waste into eco-friendly products while empowering women and youth. Capapo Solutions upcycles marine plastic waste into high-quality products while educating communities and building brand partnerships.
Together, these 24 companies represent solutions that are practical, scalable and rooted in local realities.
Structured Support to Unlock Growth
The SANAD ElevateHer Program is designed to move women-led businesses from potential to performance. Through tailored capacity building and mentorship, founders receive workshops and one-on-one guidance to refine their business models and strengthen operations. Sector-specific expertise ensures that support matches each company’s context.
Access to investors and partners is another key pillar. Participants are connected to a curated network of more than 500 investors, financial institutions and ecosystem partners across the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. This network increases the chances of securing capital and forming strategic partnerships.
The program also provides access to Seedstars’ SIGMA platform and SMART methodology. These tools allow founders to track growth, test business models and measure impact using data. Impact measurement and gender-lens integration are embedded into the program, helping entrepreneurs design inclusive products and integrate gender-focused performance indicators as they scale.
Visibility is part of the growth strategy. Selected startups are featured in case studies, media showcases and Seedstars communication channels. Participants also gain opportunities to pitch at regional competitions, expand their networks and access onsite tech ecosystem engagements. Strategic partnerships with development agencies, investors and corporates further strengthen long-term growth.
Driving Gender-Inclusive Innovation
By focusing on women entrepreneurs in both MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa, SANAD ElevateHer addresses a critical financing and support gap. Many women-led businesses struggle to access capital and structured mentorship, even when their solutions directly address food security, climate resilience, health and financial inclusion.
This cohort shows what becomes possible when that gap begins to close. From hydroponic farms and digital marketplaces to EV conversion and community lending platforms, these businesses are not only generating revenue but also creating jobs, reducing waste, cutting emissions and strengthening local economies.
As these 24 companies move forward with stronger investment readiness and wider networks, their growth will ripple beyond their balance sheets. It will reach farmers seeking fair markets, traders needing reliable logistics, families looking for clean cooking solutions and young women searching for opportunity.
SANAD ElevateHer is not simply accelerating businesses. It is accelerating change, led by women who are building Africa’s next chapter through enterprise.
