Womens’ Month Tribute to African Tech-Enabled Change Makers

On August 9th, 1956, over 20,000 women of all races marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, in protest against legislation that required African women to carry passbooks. This brave act of defiance ignited a spark that would spread across the continent. Today, we celebrate this spirit of resilience and resistance during South Africa’s Women’s Month, a testament to the power of women.

In 2023, we mark Women’s Month by spotlighting the trailblazing women who are leveraging the power of technology to redefine boundaries in their respective sectors and communities across Africa. Their work exemplifies the meaningful influence of a technology-driven future for the continent.

According to a study, 58% of businesses in Africa are women-led. Their ventures are as diverse as they are impactful, from sustainable fashion in Kenya to the disruption of the insurance industry in Cameroon and innovation in Kenya’s logistics industry.

Earlier this year, we introduced the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders in Africa and Hustle Academy for women entrepreneurs programs. These initiatives provided mentorship, investor networking, technical workshops, and training to women-led SMEs, thus fostering an empowering ecosystem for women entrepreneurs.