Africa’s High-Growth Women Entrepreneurs: Inside the New Wave of Founders in 2026
Vitaly Gariev (@silverkblack)
Summary. Black women from Africa and the Diaspora are increasingly pioneering business across industries such as health care, information technology, venture capital, and media. Their work is shaping innovation and setting new standards for leadership, entrepreneurship and inclusion in the global business landscape.
Temie Giwa-Tubosun (Nigeria)
Temie Giwa-Tubosun is the founder of LifeBank, a platform that facilitates the delivery of blood, oxygen, and other medical supplies to hospitals across Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya. By addressing gaps in emergency medical logistics, LifeBank has improved healthcare access and outcomes in multiple cities (OnePulse, 2025).Bozoma Saint John (Ghana & USA)
Bozoma Saint John has held senior marketing roles at Netflix, Uber and Apple Music. Her work has been recognised for integrating cultural insights into brand strategy and promoting inclusivity in global marketing campaigns. Her leadership has influenced broader trends in corporate branding and marketing management (Eleanya, 2024).Damilola Odufuwa (Nigeria)
Damilola Odufuwa is a co-founder of the Feminist Coalition, a platform focused on advocacy, finance, and technology innovation. Her work emphasises the economic empowerment of women through digital inclusion and access to financial tools, contributing to the development of gender-inclusive economies in emerging markets (BBC News Pidgin, 2021).Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa (South Africa)
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa is the executive director and CEO of Napers South Africa, a leading technology and media company on the continent. In her role, she oversees strategic and operational growth, while also promoting inclusion and contributing to the development of Africa's digital economy (IFC, 2019). Maya Horgan Famodu (Nigeria & USA)
Maya Horgan Famodu is the founder of Ingressive Capital, a venture fund that invests in early-stage tech startups in Africa. Her work connects African innovators with global investment opportunities, particularly in areas such as digital infrastructure, payments and technology access (Ed Zimmerman, 2020).References
BBC News Pidgin. (2021, February 17). TIME Next 100: Davido, Feminist Co founders, Boafo enta TIME100 Next 2021 list, as Africa shine big. https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-56102907 Ed Zimmerman. (2020, August 2). How To Start A VC: Interview With Maya Horgan Famodu, Founder, Ingressive Capital. https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardzimmerman/2020/08/02/interview-on-launching-a-venture-capital-firm-in-nigeria-maya-horgan-famodu-founder-of-ingressive-capital/ Eleanya, F. (2024). Record funding in women-led healthtech startups sets agenda for founders. https://disruptafrica.com/2024/08/02/steady-growth-in-female-leadership-of-african-tech-startups-report/ IFC. (2019, July 3). Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa. South Africa CEO and Executive Director, Naspers LTD. https://www.ifc.org/en/contact/profile/phuthi-mahanyele-dabengwa OrePulse. (2025, November 21). How Temie Giwa-Tubosun Built LifeBank Into Africa’s Leading Lifesaving Logistics Network. https://www.orepulse.com/news/How-Temie-Giwa-Tubosun-Built-LifeBank-Into-Africas-Leading-Lifesaving-Logistics-Network Share This Article
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