The GITEX Startup Festival 2025 in Nigeria will support African Black women entrepreneurs through the introduction of The LaunchPad. The initiative is a collaboration between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Alami Capital, and Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission. Designed to support women-led startups, The LaunchPad provides visibility, funding, and strategic mentorship during the festival, scheduled for Sept. 3–4 in Lagos.
The platform includes a Funding Pavilion to showcase technology ventures, Fireside for Scale talks featuring African CEOs and global investors, and Capital Readiness Clinics to help startups refine their funding pitches. A bell-ringing ceremony called To the Stars will celebrate women’s growing influence in Africa’s markets. Following the event, $250,000 will be awarded to five selected startups, along with access to mentorship, regulatory support, and investor networks.
NITDA Director Gen. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi highlighted the importance of inclusive financing, stating that who gets funded shapes Africa’s economic future. Alami Capital CEO Olu Olufemi-White emphasized building a vetted pipeline of women-led ventures to shift capital flows and unlock Africa’s innovation potential.
Across Africa, women own nearly 27% of businesses and contribute about 13% of GDP, yet they receive only 7% of venture capital funding. The LaunchPad aims to transform the Startup Festival from a showcase into a growth platform, providing women founders with the resources, networks, and visibility needed to expand their ventures.
