LSETF and AfriGloCal Launch "Fund Her Future" for Female Tech Founders
The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and AfriGloCal Venture Capital have initiated the third cycle of the Female Founders & Funders (FFF) programme. This six-week masterclass aims to bridge the gender funding gap in Lagos by providing tech-enabled, female-led startups with AI training, investment readiness, and access to capital.
Key Takeaways
- The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and AfriGloCal Venture Capital have initiated the third cycle of the Female Founders & Funders (FFF) programme.
- This six-week masterclass aims to bridge the gender funding gap in Lagos by providing tech-enabled, female-led startups with AI training, investment readiness, and access to capital.
Mentioned
Key Intelligence
Key Facts
- 1The programme has supported over 33 female founders and 24 aspiring female investors since its inception.
- 2Participants compete for a share of over nine million naira in prize money and grants.
- 3The curriculum features a six-week intensive masterclass covering AI integration, ESG strategy, and startup finance.
- 4The initiative utilizes a dual-track model to strengthen both the founder and investor sides of the venture pipeline.
- 5The 'Fund Her Future' edition culminates in a Demo Day for pitching to a curated audience of global investors.
Who's Affected
Analysis
The launch of the third cycle of the Female Founders & Funders (FFF) programme by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and AfriGloCal Venture Capital represents a strategic intervention in West Africa’s most vibrant tech hub. By focusing on the theme "Fund Her Future," the initiative directly addresses one of the most persistent imbalances in the global venture capital landscape: the significant underfunding of female-led enterprises. Despite Nigeria's reputation as a leading destination for startup capital in Africa, female founders continue to receive a disproportionately small fraction of total investment. This programme aims to rectify that by not only preparing founders for the rigors of institutional funding but also by cultivating a new generation of female investors who can provide the necessary capital and mentorship.
The inclusion of advanced modules such as AI integration and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy within the six-week masterclass curriculum signals a shift toward future-proofing these startups. In an era where artificial intelligence is becoming a baseline requirement for scalability and ESG metrics are increasingly scrutinized by international limited partners, these founders are being equipped with more than just basic business modeling. They are being integrated into the global technological vanguard. This focus on high-growth, tech-enabled sectors ensures that the businesses emerging from the LSETF pipeline are not merely sustainable but are competitive on a global scale.
The launch of the third cycle of the Female Founders & Funders (FFF) programme by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and AfriGloCal Venture Capital represents a strategic intervention in West Africa’s most vibrant tech hub.
Furthermore, the dual-track model employed by the FFF programme is a sophisticated approach to ecosystem building. By simultaneously running an incubation pathway for founders and an acceleration pathway for aspiring female investors, LSETF and AfriGloCal are tackling the funding gap from both the supply and demand sides. Historically, the lack of female representation in venture capital firms has been cited as a primary reason for the funding disparity. By training over 24 female investors to date, the programme is creating a more empathetic and diverse capital pool that is better positioned to identify and support high-potential female-led ventures.
What to Watch
The impact of this initiative extends beyond individual startups to the broader Lagos workforce and economic landscape. With over 33 founders supported and nine million naira in prizes awarded in previous cycles, the programme has already demonstrated a tangible track record of success. As these startups scale, they become significant engines of job creation, particularly for other women in the tech sector. The involvement of Lagos Innovates, the tech-ecosystem arm of the LSETF, ensures that these founders have access to a wider network of hubs, workspaces, and regulatory support, further lowering the barriers to entry for women in technology.
Looking ahead, the success of the "Fund Her Future" edition will likely be measured by the conversion rate of participants at the upcoming Demo Day. The emphasis on investment readiness and structured engagement with financiers suggests that the organizers are prioritizing capital injection as the ultimate KPI. For HR and workforce leaders, this development highlights the importance of targeted skill-building and the role of public-private partnerships in fostering an inclusive talent pipeline. As Lagos continues to evolve as a global tech contender, initiatives like FFF provide a blueprint for how emerging markets can leverage diversity as a competitive advantage.
Timeline
Timeline
Program Inception
LSETF and AfriGloCal establish the Female Founders & Funders initiative to address gender funding gaps.
Cycle 3 Launch
Announcement of the third cohort under the theme 'Fund Her Future' with expanded AI and ESG modules.
Masterclass Completion
Conclusion of the six-week structured training period for founders and investors.
Demo Day
Founders pitch to a curated audience of local and international investors for funding and prizes.
Sources
Sources
Based on 2 source articles- Business News NigeriaLSETF, AfriGloCal launch masterclasses for female-led tech enabled startups - Business News NigeriaMar 8, 2026
- Ngozi Ekugo (ng)LSETF, AfriGloCal launch masterclasses for female-led tech enabled startupsMar 8, 2026
Cite This Page
"LSETF and AfriGloCal Launch "Fund Her Future" for Female Tech Founders." HR & Workforce Intelligence Brief, March 9, 2026. https://gethrbrief.com/story/lsetf-afriglocal-female-tech-masterclass-2026
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