The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), in partnership with AfriGloCal Venture Capital, has announced the commencement of the third year of the Female Founders & Funders (FFF) programme, a flagship initiative dedicated to supporting women-led startups.
The programme will span six-weeks and will provide structured masterclasses covering business modelling, product-led growth, startup finance, legal frameworks, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy, AI integration, and investment readiness.
Under the theme, “Fund Her Future,” the edition will focus on bridging the gap between female-led startups and available capital, and thereafter culminate in a competitive Demo Day, where founders will pitch to a curated audience of investors.
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The LSETF’s tech-ecosystem arm is delivered through Lagos Innovates and is designed to increase access to capital, mentorship, and networking for early-stage, tech-enabled startups featuring at least one female founder.
Now in its third cycle, the FFF programme is set to broaden opportunities for female entrepreneurs, enabling them to scale innovative businesses and contribute to the evolution of the Lagos technology landscape.
Since its inception, the initiative has supported more than 33 female founders, trained over 24 aspiring female investors, and awarded upwards of nine million naira in prizes.
It has also engaged more than 30 industry mentors to provide expert guidance.
The programme has a dual-track model that strengthens both sides of the startup funding pipeline, which is an incubation pathway for female founders and an acceleration pathway for aspiring female investors.
The program will build on the success of previous cohorts, and will emphasise investment readiness, structured engagement with financiers, and enhanced visibility for founders before a global investor audience.
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According to Feyisayo Alayande, executive secretary of the LSETF,
“For over a decade, the LSETF has deployed targeted interventions to strengthen entrepreneurs and the innovation ecosystem. As we mark ten years of impact, expanding Female Founders & Funders reflects our steadfast commitment to inclusive economic growth and supporting female-led ventures as a strategic driver of the Lagos economy.”
Oyindamola Egbeyemi, the programme director equally noted that the initiative continues to address structural disparities in access to capital and mentorship for women building innovation-driven ventures.
Mope Abudu, managing partner at AfriGloCal VC, added, “Access to capital remains one of the most significant barriers facing female founders. Female Founders & Funders tackles this challenge from both sides, equipping women to build scalable ventures while simultaneously increasing the number of women participating in early-stage investment.”
How to apply
Women who are building or investing in tech-enabled, innovation-driven ventures within Lagos State are encouraged to apply via: lagosinnovates.ng/female-founders-funders.
Applications close on April 4, 2026.
