Nigeria’s startup ecosystem remains one of the most influential on the continent, consistently ranking among Africa’s “Big Four” startup markets alongside Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa.
These markets attracted more than 80% of venture capital flowing into the market in 2025.
Despite Nigeria’s strong position in Africa’s startup economy, the industry remains largely dominated by male founders and executives, with women founders receiving a much smaller share of venture capital, a funding gap that persists across global startup ecosystems.
According to compiled deal data, 98 Nigerian startups raised a total of $442.8 million in 2025.
Of this amount, female-led startups collectively raised $3.3 million during the same period.
Even so, a number of Nigerian female-led ventures are steadily carving out space for themselves, breaking barriers and also setting the pace for a more inclusive startup ecosystem.
They may have received a fraction of the total investment, but the impact of their work extends far beyond funding alone. These companies continue to foster economic growth, encouraging innovation and developing solutions that address gaps in healthtech, agritech, renewable energy, and other critical sectors.
In commemoration of International Women’s Day, here are the women-led Nigerian startups ranked by funds raised in 2025.
Skilladder, an AI‑powered skills assessment and workforce intelligence platform founded by Kehinde Banasko in 2024.
The company raised $500,000 in pre‑seed funding in 2025 from a group of investors including LoftyInc Capital and other early‑stage backers to scale its technology and expand its reach across Africa.
Skilladder tackles persistent gaps in Africa’s talent and hiring landscape, using AI to deliver skills verification, benchmarking, and workforce insights designed for local market realities.
The platform helps employers and recruiters go beyond traditional resumes by providing objective assessments that reveal real capability, reducing bias in hiring and improving job‑matching outcomes.
