FSDH Merchant Bank, in partnership with Africa Guarantee Fund (AGF) and WEAV Capital, has announced the launch of the second edition of its Female Founders Growth Programme (FFGP), a structured investment readiness initiative designed to support ambitious Nigerian women building and leading tech and tech-enabled businesses.
The programme is designed to address the persistent funding gap faced by women-led businesses by equipping participants with the tools, expertise, and investor readiness support required to scale sustainably and access capital.
Through a combination of expert-led masterclasses, hands-on advisory support, and structured investment preparation, the programme will prepare selected participants for both debt and equity financing opportunities.
Selected participants will receive practical support designed to strengthen their businesses and improve investment readiness. Through the programme, participants will learn how to:
- Strengthen business and financial structures
- Improve debt and equity readiness
- Understand investor and lender expectations
- Build investor-grade materials
- Position their businesses for sustainable growth
- Prepare for meaningful capital opportunities
Participants will also stand to gain:
- Practical investment readiness training
- Guidance from industry experts
- Exposure to investors and financial institutions
- Networking opportunities with fellow founders
- Improved investor and lender positioning
- Access to strategic ecosystem networks
- Opportunities to access up to $1 million in debt financing from FSDH Merchant Bank and up to $750,000 in equity investment from WEAV Capital
The programme is open to female-founded and female-led businesses operating in Nigeria within the tech and tech-enabled sectors. Eligible applicants should:
- Have an existing and viable revenue-generating business
- Have managed the business for at least two years
- Run businesses that are either at least 50% female-owned or have a female in a C-suite role (CEO, COO, or CTO)
- Demonstrate strong growth potential
- Be seeking debt or equity funding
- Require funding of at least $200,000
- Be willing to commit to the full duration of the programme, including physical sessions
Through this programme, FSDH Merchant Bank reaffirms its commitment to supporting enterprise growth and expanding access to capital for women-led businesses as part of its broader mandate to drive inclusive economic development.
The programme will culminate in a Demo Day, where selected businesses will pitch to investors and financial institutions, creating opportunities for funding, strategic partnerships, and increased visibility within the investment ecosystem.
Applications for the Female Founders Growth Programme 2.0 are now open and will close on 11 June 2026.
Interested applicants can apply via: businessbanking.fsdhgroup.com/ffgp/
About FSDH Merchant Bank
FSDH Merchant Bank is Nigeria’s premier merchant bank specialized in providing financial services through Corporate Banking, Business Banking, Investment Banking, Prestige Banking, Custody Banking, Treasury, and International Banking services.
With a rich history spanning over 30 years, FSDH Merchant Bank has become a trusted and expert provider of financial services, delivering financial services within Nigeria, empowering businesses and enabling economic growth, partnering with individuals and organizations on their journey to success.
Through the FSDH Women-in-Business Initiative, FSDH is committed to investing in, and supporting female-led companies and their founders across Nigeria. As part of FSDH Group, our co-subsidiaries include: FSDH Asset Management and FSDH Capital. For more information, visit our website: www.fsdhmerchantbank.com.
About Africa Guarantee Fund (AGF)
Africa Guarantee Fund is a development finance institution focused on unlocking access to finance for SMEs across Africa by de-risking lending and supporting financial institutions.
To learn more, visit: www.agf.africa.
About WEAV Capital
WEAV Capital is a pre-seed and seed stage accelerator and venture capital fund dedicated to funding and supporting category leading female-led startups across Africa. Visit www.weavcapital to learn more.
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