FemNest Lab plans six-week incubator for women building FemTech and FamilyTech startups

FemNest Lab, an initiative launched by the Nigerian EdTech organisation Heels & Tech, has officially unveiled the achievements of its inaugural cohort alongside plans for its upcoming venture incubator

African women have long been an integral part of the continent’s digital transformation, upskilling and securing roles across the global technology ecosystem. However, a crucial gap remains in how many of these professionals are empowered to transition from tech workforce participants to founders who build solutions grounded in their own lived experiences. 

Founded by Bisola Alabi, Heels & Tech initially built its reputation by equipping thousands of women with market-relevant digital skills. Yet, as its community grew, so did the realisation that women must also lead in creating technology tailored to their unique realities.

FemNest Lab was designed specifically to bridge this gap, focusing on two critical sectors: FemTech, which encompasses solutions for women’s health and wellness, and FamilyTech, which targets caregiving, household management, and family well-being.

The impact of this approach was demonstrated during the incubator’s first cohort, where four female founders turned overlooked personal and societal challenges into viable technology solutions.

One of the founders launched Helen Health, developing an AI-driven algorithm for early breast cancer detection following the personal loss of her mother to the disease. The remaining cohort members created platforms aimed at delivering reproductive healthcare access to underserved rural communities and providing digital health education to school-aged girls.

How FemNest Lab is approaching FemTech

According to Bisola Alabi, the core philosophy behind FemNest Lab is removing technical barriers that often prevent non-technical founders from bringing their insights to life. By leveraging accessible artificial intelligence and no-code development tools, the programme enables participants to rapidly prototype, validate, and launch products without needing traditional software engineering backgrounds.

The incubator focuses heavily on problem validation, customer discovery, revenue strategy, and overall business sustainability. To prepare its next cohort of founders for market entry and scaling, FemNest Lab is rolling out a structured six-week incubator featuring workshops and masterclasses led by seasoned African business leaders, tech executives, and health entrepreneurs.

The workshop series will cover critical startup fundamentals. Strategic Growth Leader Seun Babajide Durosola will facilitate sessions on customer discovery and product-market fit, while financial strategy professional Iyinoluwa Adigun will lead training on business models and unit economics. Corporate governance and leadership will be handled by Titilola Osinowo, Group Head of Treasury & Investment at Ardova Plc, while Hannatu Kasim Adegboyega, Commercial Director at Zipline Nigeria, will focus on commercial partnerships and go-to-market strategies.

In addition, founders will participate in expert masterclasses focused on domain execution. Dr Rama Akachuku of Raelia Health, Mobolaji Ajayi of Purelife Health, and Kemi Sope-Agbebi of BOLDVIVING Inc. will address product design and tech adoption in healthcare.

Adeola Ayoola, CEO of Famasi Africa, will speak on building trust in digital health platforms, while Adenike Sheriff of Future Africa and Femi Oladele of MORE by Meristem will guide participants on investor readiness and securing venture capital.

The incubator’s mission is reinforced by a broad network of ecosystem supporters and corporate partners, including Zedcrest, Iwosan Hospital, Purelife Pharmacy, MORE by Meristem, Wennovate, NitHub UNILAG, Sko Foundation, and Ingressive Capital, with Technext serving as the official media partner to highlight the journeys of these African innovators.

Ultimately, FemNest Lab aims to shift the narrative around technology in Africa by ensuring women are not merely passive consumers of global software, but key decision-makers and builders shaping the continent’s tech-driven future.

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