Questions, answered.

Everything founders ask most often about eligibility, funding and the application process. Can't find your answer? Reach out and we'll help.

Eligibility

Who can apply

Who is eligible to apply to SOW?

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Businesses that are founded and led by women, operating in fintech, wellness, green, ethical consumer/retail, or social enterprise, and active in or serving an African market. Take the 10-minute eligibility check to confirm.

What does "female-founded and led" mean?

It means women hold the founding ownership of the business and also hold senior leadership and day-to-day decision-making. Both conditions must be met.

Do I need to be revenue-generating to apply?

Not necessarily. We fund across stages, from early impact-first ventures (often via grants) to revenue-generating businesses ready to scale (via equity).

My business is only partly in one of your sectors. Can I still apply?

Yes, apply anyway. If your business sits at the edge of our focus sectors, the eligibility check and screening will help us understand the fit.

Does my business need to be registered?

You should be a registered business, or able to register before funding is deployed. If you're early, apply and we'll guide you.

Funding

About the capital

What funding types does SOW offer?

Two: equity (growth capital for a minority stake) and grants (catalytic, non-dilutive funding). We match the instrument to your stage and goals.

How do I know which funding type is right for me?

You don't have to decide upfront. Tell us about your business in the application and our team will recommend the best fit during screening.

How much funding can I receive?

Funding amounts depend on your stage, sector and the instrument. We'll discuss specifics during the screening and due-diligence stages.

Does SOW take a board seat or control my company?

Our aim is partnership, not control. For equity investments we take a minority stake; any governance arrangements are agreed transparently and set out in the offer.

Process

Applying & what happens next

How do I apply?

Start with the 10-minute eligibility check on this site. If you qualify, you'll move straight into the full application. Everything up to the screening call happens online.

How long does the process take?

The on-site steps take under an hour of your time. From submission, expect screening, due diligence and an investment-committee decision over the following weeks. See the timeline for indicative dates.

What happens after I submit my full application?

Shortlisted founders are invited to a 20-minute screening call, followed by due diligence, an investment-committee decision, an offer, and onboarding.

Is there a cost to apply?

No. Applying to SOW is free.

Do funded founders get more than money?

Yes. Every SOW founder receives 1:1 mentorship, access to our network, and workshops on fundraising, governance and scaling. See the mentorship page for details.

Take the eligibility check →