Gender diversity in Africa’s startup scene is slowly improving, according to the latest “Diversity Dividend” report that tracks female participation across the continent’s tech ecosystem.
Progress measured in numbers
The third edition of the study, compiled by Disrupt Africa with partner organizations, examined 3,331 startups. It found that 641 of them – 19.2% – listed at least one woman on the founding team, while 402 – 12.1% – were led by a female chief executive. Those percentages represent modest gains over the three‑year span since the first report.
In 2023, only 350 of 2,395 startups – 14.6% – had a female co‑founder, and 230 – 9.6% – were headed by a woman. By 2024 the figures rose to 483 of 2,786 startups – 17.3% – and 310 CEOs – 11.1%. The most recent data therefore add roughly five percentage points for co‑founders and three points for CEOs.
Country‑by‑country shifts
National performance varies, but no market exceeds a 29% share of startups with a woman co‑founder or CEO. Smaller economies such as Zambia, Uganda, Senegal and Rwanda tend to lead, while the “big four” – South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya – have narrowed the gap in recent years.
In Nigeria, female co‑founder representation climbed to 22% from 20.7% in 2024 and 16.5% in 2023. Female CEOs rose to 13.1%, up from 12.1% and 10.8% respectively. South Africa saw its co‑founder rate reach 19.1%, with women CEOs at 12.3%. Kenya posted the highest figures, with 23.6% of startups having a female co‑founder and 16.7% led by women.
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Egypt’s numbers improved modestly, with female co‑founders at 15% and female CEOs at 7.6%. Conversely, Tunisia and Cameroon reported declines in both metrics, while Senegal, Rwanda and Tanzania made gains in co‑founder representation but slipped on CEO counts. Ethiopia showed a lower co‑founder share but a higher proportion of women CEOs.
These uneven trends underline that growth is not uniform across the continent, and that local policies and cultural factors likely play a role in shaping outcomes.
For readers unfamiliar with the broader context, the gradual rise in female leadership reflects both targeted initiatives and a shifting investor mindset that increasingly values inclusive teams.
While the numbers remain low, the upward trajectory suggests that efforts to attract and retain women in tech are beginning to bear fruit.
The report is freely available for download, offering detailed case studies and qualitative insights from founders and investors alike. It serves as a baseline for future monitoring of gender equity in Africa’s technology sector.