She Leads Africa has hosted its 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase, with food manufacturing and packaging company Omo Alata named winner of the pitching competition held at the event.
Disrupt Africa reported in August six female entrepreneurs were selected as finalists to pitch at the Entrepreneur Showcase; picked from among 400 applications for the competition.
She Leads Africa announced the first prize winner of the pitching competition would be awarded US$10,000, the entrepreneur taking second place would secure a US$5,000 cash prize, and US$1,000 would be given to the third prize winner.
The pitching competition was held over the weekend in Lagos, Nigeria.
Nigerian startup Omo Alata – which makes parboiled stew, spice and pepper mixes – was named winner and took home US$10,000.
Swimwear brand Kamokini took second place and the US$5,000 prize; while black hair extension startups Heat Free Hair ranked in third place, receiving US$1,000.
The three runners up were the tech-based companies; Beauty Rev NG – an e-commerce company focusing on beauty brands; mobile technology company InstaHealth that connects patients to doctors and healthcare information via their phones; and Heels In The Kitchen – a hosted cooking show with a fashion and style edge that teaches viewers how to create meals while providing interactive content.
“We started She Leads Africa because we were disappointed by the stereotypical image of African women as small-scale entrepreneurs building micro businesses. For the second year in a row we have proven that this is far from reality,” said She Leads Africa co-founder Afua Osei.
“We have proven to the world that African women can and are building innovative companies that have the potential to be multi-million dollar businesses.”
The Entrepreneur Showcase pitching event was attended by over 250 entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors, who She Leads Africa says were eager to get a glimpse of Africa’s leading female entrepreneurs.
