--- title: "Women in Africa Launches the 4th Edition of the WIA 54 Program" url: https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/women-africa-launches-4th-edition-wia-54-program/ --- 1. [HOME](/) 2. [RESOURCES](/content-hub/) 3. [NEWSROOM](/content-hub/newsroom/) 4. WOMEN IN AFRICA LAUNCHES THE 4TH EDITION OF THE WIA 54 PROGRAM ![Women in Africa Launches the 4th Edition of the WIA 54 Program](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/4th_Edition_of_the_WIA_54_Program.max-1500x500.jpg) AFRICA • WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ## Women in Africa Launches the 4th Edition of the WIA 54 Program Seedstars Global FEB. 3, 2020 For the 4th consecutive year, African women entrepreneurs can apply to the WIA 54 program. #### WRITTEN BY ![None](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/seedstars-black.max-376x376.png) Seedstars Global [CONTACT US](/contact-us/) Launched by the Women in Africa initiative, through its WIA Philanthropy endowment fund and thanks to the support of its patrons Société Générale, Roland Berger, Honoris United Universities, Gfi Informatique, Stop Hunger, DS Avocats and the Total Foundation. WIA 54 is the must-attend pan-African program to support and promote women entrepreneurship on the African continent. With the world's highest rate of women entrepreneurs (24%), Africa has made entrepreneurship the leading factor in emancipation. Launched in 2017, the WIA 54 programme aims to encourage women entrepreneurship in Africa to support this dynamic. > "The support provided to African women entrepreneurs is crucial and, more than ever, meaningful. Women are the future of Africa and can contribute to the economic and societal stabilization of the continent. I encourage every woman who wants to change the world through entrepreneurship to express her full potential for innovation through the WIA 54 Programme." > > AUDE DE THUIN, FOUNDER AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF WOMEN IN AFRICA The selection campaign started on the 9th of January 2020 and **will close on the 9th of February 2020**. For one month, all African women who are disrupting the future of the continent through technological innovations are invited to submit their draft pan-African business plan to the Initiative, through [the WIA website.](https://wia-2020.selecteev.io/apply) Upon reception of the applications, **54 start-ups** will be pre-selected on the basis of their dossiers in 54 African countries by the teams of Roland Berger, who for the past 4 years has identified more than 850 sources across the continent (incubators, innovation centres, institutions...) in order to carry out the selection of WIA 54. Each proposal submitted will be examined according to precise criteria such as the social impact rate of the technologies, products and services proposed, the scalability of the business model and their growth potential, female patronage or the teams' ability to execute. In April 2020, a renowned international jury will meet to select the 54 prize-winners from among the shortlisted entrepreneurs. The winning start-ups will be invited to **the WIA Annual Summit** to be held **in Marrakech in June 2020**. They will integrate the WIA Link digital platform to access the network of more than 2000 members developed worldwide. Encouraged and supported by the WIA initiative, they will benefit from a continental and international outreach, networking among leaders and investors, training in one of the Honoris group's training institutions, business promotion budgets offered by Facebook and visibility on Youtube. The winners will be invited by WIA to a 2-day bootcamp dedicated to entrepreneurship that will allow them to strengthen their projects. ### **About WIA Initiative** Launched in 2017, and chaired by Hafsat Abiola (Nigerian) Women In Africa (WIA) Initiative is the first international platform for economic development and support for African women leaders and high-potential women. Through its programs, summits and its digital platform WIA Link, WIA contributes to the promotion of a new generation of African women who are inventing inspiring leadership to positively change the future of the continent. Its WIA Philanthropy Foundation, whose mission is to support women in the economy, develops various programs dedicated to education, entrepreneurship, mentoring and agriculture. WIA Philanthropy launched with Working Ladies a first Hub dedicated to women entrepreneurs in Kinshasa in March 2019. NEWS / BLOGPOST AFRICA MOROCCO EDUCATION & CONSULTING ACCELERATORS & INCUBATORS GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ## More like this [ ![Entrepreneurs in Africa](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Entrepreneurs_in_Africa.max-320x550.jpg) AFRICA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER #### Designing Virtual Learning Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Africa [Q&A] If we say that COVID-19 has changed the world, it would be an understatement. 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Sep. 21, 2020 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/increasing-womens-participation-asian-economies/) [ ![Seedstars Growth Program Batch #6](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-The_Eight_Startups_That_Made_it_to_the_See.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • EDUCATION & CONSULTING #### The Eight Startups That Made it to the Seedstars Growth Program Batch #6 At Seedstars, we believe in the power of entrepreneurship to address the most critical global issues and help build a sustainable future, especially during such turbulent times the world today is currently experiencing. Sep. 14, 2020 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/eight-startups-made-it-seedstars-growth-program-batch-6/) [ ![Program for Colombian Startups](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-The_MinTIC_Apps.co_and_Seedstars_are_Launc.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER #### The MinTIC, Apps.co and Seedstars are Launching Digital Expansion Program for Colombian Startups The MinTIC, Apps.co and Seedstars are launching the Digital Expansion Program in Colombia. 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Aug. 20, 2019 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-launches-its-first-academy-program-asia/) [ ![First Hub in Morocco](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Casablanca_Seedstars_Announces_Its_First_H.max-320x550.png) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER #### Casablanca: Seedstars Announces Its First Hub in Morocco in Partnership with Kowork Seedstars and Kowork are happy to announce the opening of their new entrepreneurship hub, Seedspace Casablanca. May. 17, 2019 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/casablanca-seedstars-announces-its-first-hub-morocco-partnership-kowork/) [ ![Seedstars Summit 2019](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Seedstars_Summit_2019_How_It_Was.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • EDUCATION & CONSULTING #### Seedstars Summit 2019: How It Was “Who is Seedstars?” - with this question, Alisée de Tonnac, Co-Founder and CEO of Seedstars, opened the Seedstars Summit 2019. Who are we and what do we want to achieve? Where are we heading? Apr. 17, 2019 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-2019-how-it-was/) [ ![Seedstars CEE Summit](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Seedstars_CEE_Summit_2018_Where_Change_Has.max-320x550.png) CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER #### Seedstars CEE Summit 2018: Where Change Has Its Roots Big change never happens overnight. It’s always the long-term work of a bunch of crazy people, who believe that they can break a status quo, move mountains, and change the whole world. Jan. 04, 2019 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-cee-summit-2018-where-change-has-its-roots/) [ ![Asian Early-Stage Startups](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Meet_the_13_Asian_Early-Stage_Startups_Joi.max-320x550.png) ASIA • EDUCATION & CONSULTING #### Meet the 13 Asian Early-Stage Startups Joining Seedstars Asia Summit 2018 In 2018, the Seedstars team traveled to 14 Asian countries including Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, and Vietnam to uncover Asia’s untapped potential and spot the brightest early-stage companies in the region. Nov. 22, 2018 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/meet-13-asian-early-stage-startups-joining-seedstars-asia-summit-2018/) [ ![Finalist startups from the MENA](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_100.max-320x550.png) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER #### Meet the finalist startups from the Middle East and North Africa! Seedstars MENA is coming to Bahrain to organize the closing event of its the Middle East and North Africa tour with the MENA Summit on December 14th, 2017, where it will gather all the local winners of the region along with 350+ registered attendees Nov. 22, 2017 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/meet-finalist-startups-middle-east-and-north-africa/) [ ![Seedstars Asia](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_-_2020-11-05T090352.637.max-320x550.png) ASIA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER #### Meet the startups pitching at Seedstars Asia! After another year in which the Seedstars World teams travelled to over 80+ countries around the world and 15 on the Asian continent with the mission to find the best tech startups in emerging markets, we are now just days away of hosting our Asia Su Nov. 17, 2017 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/meet-startups-pitching-seedstars-asia/) --- ## Sitemap - [Sitemap](https://www.seedstars.com/sitemap.md): every public page on this site - [llms.txt](https://www.seedstars.com/llms.txt): what Seedstars does and where to start