Why We're Still Having This Conversation in 2025 👀
Are women-only founder events still relevant in 2025? Let’s talk facts, not feelings.
- Founder's Notes: Why Women-Focused Founder Events Still Matter
- Our one of a kind upcoming fireside chat (Meet the Speakers!)
- Members Only Events
- We have a new podcast episode: He started off as a vet!
- Ecosystem Updates
- International events relevant to African Founders
📮 Founder's Notes
Why Women-Focused Founder Events Still Matter
In 2025, it’s valid to question whether we still need women-focused founder events.
However, the data is clear. In 2024, female-only founding teams secured just 2.3 percent of the total $289 billion invested globally—that translates to only $6.7 billion in VC funding (Source: Founders Focus Group).
Clearly, these gatherings remain crucial.
The purpose of women-focused events isn't to create isolated silos, but rather to foster solidarity and build meaningful allyship. Discussions in these spaces delve deeply into vital topics—from securing seed funding to negotiating board seats—topics that often get overlooked or minimized in broader, mixed-gender settings.
Visibility also matters significantly. When investors, journalists, and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem see women founders occupying center stage—sharing bold visions, securing high-profile partnerships, and celebrating significant milestones—it challenges entrenched perceptions about leadership and scaling innovative ventures. By spotlighting these successes, these events actively dismantle biases and accelerate progress toward genuine equity.
Community
Updates from The Beta Collective Community by Priscilla
Events Open to All 👩🏾💼
🔔 Event Reminder: A Fireside Chat with Women Shaping Africa’s Startup Future
Join us next Thursday, June 26th, 2025, at 5:30 PM WAT | 11:30 AM CDT for a live fireside chat with two powerhouse African women founders who are rewriting the startup playbook—on their own terms.
From product to people to raising capital, you’ll hear real, unfiltered insights from women building with purpose across the continent.
👩🏽💻 MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Chineye Ochem
Cofounder & COO, Tyms
A Chartered Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner, Chineye brings over 10 years of finance experience, including time at PwC Nigeria and BDO US. Today, she’s helping CFOs and business owners work smarter with AI-powered accounting software through Tyms.
Leslie Onyesoh
Cofounder & COO, Mstudio
In 2016, Leslie raised $1M and co-founded BuuPass in East Africa. She’s since led expansion efforts for unicorns like Wave and Bolt across 10+ African countries. Now at Mstudio in Ivory Coast, she’s backing tech startups transforming the informal sector—with a special focus on women and youth.
💬 What to Expect
🔹 Building Products with Purpose
🔹 The First 10 Hires & Building Culture
🔹 Funding While Female
🔹 Gendered Barriers & Breakthroughs
🔹 Live Q&A + Practical Tools to Take Home
Whether you’re a founder, future entrepreneur, or ecosystem builder—you don’t want to miss this.
📍EVENT DETAILS
- Date: Thursday, June 26th, 2025
- Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM WAT | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM CDT
- Location: Online
- Cost: Free
👉🏾 Reserve your spot now
Members Only Event 🔐
Pitch Tuesdays
Every Tuesday, members of our community get the spotlight to pitch their startups, side projects, or bold ideas. It’s a safe, supportive space to practice your pitch, get feedback, and connect with potential collaborators or mentors. Whether you’re refining your concept or ready to launch, this is your time to shine.
Members only. 🎤
Weekly WhatsApp Discussions
Join our WhatsApp group every week for a focused, real-time conversation around the topic of discussion. It’s a chance to share your take, ask questions, and learn from the lived experiences of others in the community.
Don’t miss out on our members-only event — it’s your chance to connect, pitch, and grow with a community that truly gets it.
🎙️ Beta Mode Speaker Spotlight
His Story:
Olarinde’s entrepreneurial journey is a testament to the power of purpose-driven innovation. Originally trained as a veterinary doctor, he took an unconventional path into tech—co-founding Vinsight, a startup that built assistive technology for the visually impaired. That experience ignited a deeper drive to build solutions that create real impact. Today, as COO of Reeple, he’s tackling one of the biggest challenges African freelancers face: getting paid globally, reliably, and affordably.
Current Projects:
At Reeple, Olarinde is leading efforts to simplify cross-border payments for African freelancers. The platform enables users to open foreign currency accounts, receive international payments, and convert funds into local currency—all through a seamless, mobile-first experience. With recent backing and mentorship from Techstars Toronto, the team is now focused on scaling across Africa, deepening banking partnerships, and continuing to refine the user experience through empathy and feedback.
Lessons Learned:
Build With Empathy: Olarinde believes that the most effective products come from deeply understanding the problems people face.
Regulations Are Real: Operating in fintech has shown him the importance of staying ahead of compliance while remaining user-centric.
Community Matters: His time in Techstars reinforced the power of mentorship, network effects, and surrounding yourself with bold thinkers.
Ecosystem
News, Events, and Updates by Jesse
News
🌍 Tesla Launches First African Subsidiary in Casablanca
Tesla has opened its first African office in Casablanca, Morocco, launching a full EV and clean energy ecosystem—sales, service, charging, solar, and storage.
With plans for a future factory near Kenitra, Morocco becomes Tesla’s strategic gateway for continent-wide expansion.
PointAI
Funding and Resources
UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme
Eligibility: Young changemakers (18–35) in Africa, especially those from underserved communities, with initiatives promoting peacebuilding, dialogue, and sustainable development. Entrepreneurs, creatives, tech innovators, and community builders are welcome to apply.
Support: Participants receive leadership training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and up to $10,000 in seed funding to implement a community-based project.
Deadline: June 22, 2025
Events
Lagos Startup Week 2025 – July 8–13, Lagos
July 8–13, Lagos – A week-long festival of innovation, networking, and bold ideas showcasing Nigeria's tech ecosystem and positioning Africa in a new light.
For: Founders, investors, ecosystem builders & tech enthusiasts.
Agritech4Kenya Demo Day – June 20, Nairobi
June 20, Nairobi – Explore cutting-edge agricultural innovations, network with agri-entrepreneurs, and discover scalable solutions shaping Kenya’s food systems.
For: Agritech founders, investors, ecosystem enablers & policy stakeholders.
Seamless East Africa – September 2–4, Nairobi
September 2–4, Nairobi – Join industry leaders driving the future of fintech, banking, retail, and e-commerce across East Africa at this premier innovation summit.
For: Fintech founders, digital commerce innovators, banks, investors & policy leaders.
Did we provide value?
We would appreciate feedback on our newsletter, what information did you find useful? How can we improve so that we continue to provide value to people like you? Please use the icons at the bottom of this newsletter to like and send a comment. 🙏🏽
Connect with us
🎧 Podcast
