Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Insights from EEP Africa Knowledge Week 2025

During the EEP Africa Knowledge Week 2025, an inspiring session titled "Journey as a Woman Entrepreneur: Navigating Challenges and Accessing Finance" brought together remarkable women leaders to share their experiences and insights. Moderated by Chiedza Mazaiwana, Portfolio Manager at EEP Africa, the session featured panelists including Jedidah Ndubi, Investment Manager at Acumen, Shantha Bloemen, CEO of Mobility for Africa, Virginia Sibanda, CEO of VIRL Finance, and Maya Stewart, Co-founder of Yellow.

The session underscored the resilience and vision that women entrepreneurs bring to the clean energy sector. Each panelist shared their unique journey, highlighting the courage and determination required to overcome personal and professional challenges.

Balancing Business and Family: The Ongoing Challenge of Accessing Finance

A significant theme was the challenge of navigating patriarchal systems and gender bias. Shantha Bloemen discussed the difficulties of being taken seriously in a male-dominated sector and the importance of having women in decision-making roles. She emphasised the need for more women on investment committees and in leadership positions to drive meaningful change, as there is typically a strong positive correlation between the diversity of investment committee teams and the diversification of their portfolio companies.

Access to finance remains a critical barrier for women entrepreneurs. Globally, women-led startups secure significantly less investment, a trend mirrored in Sub-Saharan Africa, where less than 2% of startup funding between 2019 and 2023 went to women-led businesses. The panelists shared their experiences of securing funding in environments where access to hard currency is limited, and traditional banks are reluctant to lend without substantial collateral. Virginia Sibanda highlighted the importance of persistence and the need to align business models with the expectations of potential funders. Maya Stewart shared her journey of expanding the business beyond Malawi and securing funding through diverse vehicles: angel investors, grants, and innovative crowdfunding platforms like Trine – all while simultaneously raising a family.

The Role of Mentorship and Networks

Mentorship and strong networks were identified as crucial for success. The panelists stressed the value of finding mentors who can provide guidance and support, as well as the importance of building robust networks within the industry. The value of finding mentors with hands-on experience in building businesses, rather than solely focusing on thematic or sector-specific expertise was also highlighted. Programmes that offer mentorship and technical assistance can help women entrepreneurs refine their pitches and scale their businesses. Some examples are PUM (Dutch initiative), GWNET, and EEP Africa Alumni network.

Jedidah Ndubi provided insights from the investor's perspective, emphasising the need for more pitch decks from women-led ventures. She highlighted the importance of gender lens investing and the necessity of achieving gender equity within organizations. Acumen's approach includes internal gender policies, unconscious bias training, and supporting companies in developing gender action plans.

Advice for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs

The session concluded with valuable advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs. The panelists encouraged women to be bold, resilient, and persistent. They emphasised the importance of understanding the right type of funding for their business stage, leveraging strengths, seeking financial literacy, and embracing technology. Beyond the type of funding, businesses should also conduct due diligence on potential funders to ensure they are the right fit as investors. Building strong networks and sharing information within the community were also highlighted as key strategies for success.

The "Journey as a Woman Entrepreneur: Navigating Challenges and Accessing Finance" session at EEP Africa Knowledge Week 2025 provided a platform for powerful stories and practical insights. By focusing on resilience, mentorship, and strategic funding, women entrepreneurs can overcome barriers and drive significant impact in the clean energy sector. The session was a call to action for more inclusive and supportive ecosystems that empower women to lead and innovate.