FoundryforHER bootcamp empowers women entrepreneurs

More than 100 Nigerian female entrepreneurs have been equipped with the skills and networks needed to compete on the global stage following the successful completion of the FoundryforHER Bootcamp, an initiative aimed at accelerating women-led innovation across emerging economies.

Organised with the support of inDrive’s Aurora Tech Award and The Nest Innovation and Technology Park, the bootcamp brought together women founders from sectors including technology, fashion, agriculture, health, and education for intensive workshops, mentorship sessions, pitch training, and access to funding opportunities tailored to address the unique challenges faced by women in business.

The two-week programme focused on innovation, scalability, and social impact, key criteria that align with the Aurora Tech Award’s mission to recognise women founders developing solutions to real-world problems.

Founder of The Dotted Line Agency, Edwina Abah, said the experience reshaped how she thinks about business building and communication.

“From storytelling to structure, every session reshaped how I think about building and communicating as a founder,” she said. “It left me with a clear truth, as founders, our stories, systems, and structures must work together. That’s how we build ventures that inspire belief and attract opportunity.”

Similarly, Founder of FoundexAI, Zusi Inegbeniki, described the bootcamp as empowering and transformative.

“There was so much strength in community and so much real value gained, from learning how to pitch and communicate our message, to developing fundraising strategies, refining personal branding, and positioning ourselves for growth,” she said.

Following the bootcamp, participants will continue with a two-week post-programme mentorship led by accomplished entrepreneurs such as the Founder of Emergency Response Africa, Folake Owodunni, who once remarked, “I rarely focus on bias because I don’t have the time. I’m just trying to make things work.”

The FoundryforHER Bootcamp complements the broader goals of the Aurora Tech Award, a global prize established by inDrive in 2021 to support women tech founders from emerging markets.

The 2025 edition received more than 2,000 applications from 116 countries, underscoring its global reach and impact.

In a statement, organisers from The Nest Innovation and Technology Park said the initiative reflects their commitment to nurturing and empowering innovators and creatives across Africa, beginning with Nigeria.

Applications for the next cohort are open until 12 November 2025, offering more Nigerian women the opportunity to build globally competitive ventures.