Gender Diversity in African Tech Startups Sees Slow Progress, Funding Declines
A new report indicates small gains in gender diversity within African tech startups, but funding for female-founded ventures has significantly decreased.
African tech startups have made modest progress in gender diversity over the past two years, but achieving parity remains a distant goal due to persistent funding challenges for female-founded ventures. This is according to the latest "Diversity Dividend" report by Disrupt Africa, in partnership with Madica, Thinkroom, and Jumpstarter Crowdfunding.
The report reveals that 19.2 percent of sampled startups now have at least one female co-founder, an increase from previous years. The percentage of startups led by a female CEO also rose to 12.1 percent. While these figures show a positive trend in representation, the pace of change is slow, and the sector is far from its gender parity targets.
However, the landscape for funding female-led or co-founded startups has worsened. In 2024, the share of funded startups with a woman on the founding team dropped to 18.5 percent, and those led by a female CEO fell to 12.5 percent. This downward trend continued in 2025, with these figures further declining.
Gabriella Mulligan, co-founder of Disrupt Africa, highlighted concerns over the funding statistics, stating, "Diversity is not going to increase if diverse startups can’t access the funding they need to grow." Akinyi W. Ooko Ombaka from Madica emphasized the need for a holistic approach beyond just selection, calling for deliberate support, mentorship, and tactical assistance for founders.
The report underscores the critical need for greater access to capital and comprehensive support systems to ensure diversity fuels the growth and success of Africa's tech ecosystem. The partnerships involved aim to provide visibility and infrastructure to address these capital allocation gaps.