Africa’s Premier PR and Communications Mentorship Initiative for African Female Tech Founders returns with new strategic and exciting ecosystem partnerships to expand support for finalists

The Future is Female Mentorship Programme, the first and only PR and communications initiative dedicated exclusively to African female tech founders, today announced its return for a sixth edition following a strategic pause in 2025.

Since its launch on Africa Day in 2020, the programme has attracted applications from 37 countries across the continent — a 253 per cent increase from its inaugural year — and has been recognised in top-tier global and Africa-focused publications including Forbes, TechCabal, Business Insider, Disrupt Africa, PC Tech Magazine and more.

Now entering its sixth edition, the programme builds on that legacy and continues its mission of equipping African female founders with the communications tools, visibility and storytelling capabilities needed to grow and scale impactful technology businesses.

This edition will also provide expanded resources, a wider network, and new and exciting partners who will bring additional support directly to this year’s selected finalists.

Claudine Moore, the Managing Director, Africa, Allison Worldwide and Founder of The Future Is Female Mentorship Programme, said: “The relaunch of The Future Is Female Mentorship Programme marks an exciting new chapter for the incredible community of African female founders we have built over the years.

“The programme has always been about more than mentorship — it is about creating an ecosystem where female founders can truly thrive. As we return in 2026 with expanded partnerships, broader industry expertise and new collaborators, we are excited to provide even greater support, opportunities and impact for finalists across Africa and beyond.”

Mirroring the structure of previous editions, the 2026 edition of the programme will feature an expanded ecosystem of partners spanning technology, media, venture capital, business development and innovation sectors. These collaborations will provide finalists with greater access to mentorship, training, networking opportunities, strategic advisory support and industry insights tailored to the realities of building and scaling African startups.

The virtual mentorship programme will continue to deliver specialised masterclasses and tailored sessions focused on communications and business growth for early-stage founders.

Selected participants are expected to receive guidance on building effective communications and visibility strategies, Founder storytelling and brand positioning, Media relations and thought leadership, Digital marketing and audience engagement, Personal branding for founders and executives, Stakeholder communications and investor visibility, and Business growth communications for startups.

Special consideration will be given to startups focused on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability, as well as those that provide solutions addressing the needs of African women and girls. The programme is complimentary, ensuring no financial barrier stands between any female founder and the tools she needs to build a world-class tech business.

The sixth edition of The Future Is Female Mentorship Program will introduce new and exciting partners across diverse sectors, significantly expanding the resources, networks, and expertise available to mentees and selected finalists. Partner details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Organisations interested in partnering with the programme are encouraged to reach out directly. Previous partners and collaborators of the programme have included Africa-focused tech publication TechCabal, Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program, Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, Africa Communications Week and F6S, the world’s largest startup database.