In a world grappling with food insecurity, fragile health systems, and climate disruption, women-led ventures are emerging as some of the most transformative forces in the global innovation landscape. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa, where five trailblazing women have been named among the winners of the 2025 Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award.
Organized in partnership with the Impact Hub Network, the award recognizes 15 outstanding women entrepreneurs from across Latin America, Africa & the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific, selected from a pool of 1,763 applicants. These changemakers are tackling some of the most urgent challenges of our time, particularly in health and food systems.
Each winner will receive a €25,000 cash prize and a spot in a six-month exclusive accelerator programme offering business support, mentorship, and global networking opportunities. Their journey will culminate in a high-profile award ceremony in Istanbul, where they’ll showcase their ventures to an international audience of investors, partners, and policymakers.
But while the award is global in reach, Africa’s five awardees are a compelling reminder that innovation doesn’t have to come from capital cities or boardrooms—it can grow from silos, mobile vans, and the sun-baked fields of rural communities.
Smart Storage for Smallholder Farmers — Faith Koki, Kenya
Poor storage is a crisis that costs livelihoods, food security, and resilience. Every year, over 40% of harvested grains in Africa are lost to weevils, mold, aflatoxins, rodents, and the intensifying effects of climate change. Across Kenya’s fertile plains, farmers account for a loss valued at $720 million each year. Faith Koki, founder of Silo Africa Networks, is rewriting that story with the SmartSilo a solar-powered, airtight, and chemical-free grain storage system.
Equipped with SiloSense, an IoT-based sensor suite that tracks moisture, temperature, and carbon dioxide levels, the system prevents spoilage and pest infestation. The solution is both low-tech and high-impact, helping farmers store grain longer, sell at better prices, and reduce reliance on chemical preservatives.
Digital Farming for Climate-Resilient Yields — Anaporka Adazabra, Ghana
In Ghana, where unpredictable weather and rising input costs threaten food production, Anaporka Adazabra is equipping farmers with tools to adapt and thrive. Her company, Farmio Limited, merges smart engineering with agricultural science to deliver durable, climate-resilient greenhouse systems—built to last over 15 years and tailored to diverse geographies.
But Farmio goes beyond infrastructure. With its Farmio SuperApp, farmers can make data-driven decisions from seed to sale. The platform offers real-time agronomic advice, season planning tools, financial management, and market access—all in one place. The result: lower labor costs, improved yields, and more sustainable incomes.
Flexible Coverage for Informal Workers — Deborah Oluwakemi, Nigeria
For millions working in Nigeria’s informal sector, health insurance has long been out of reach—too rigid, too costly, or too complex. Deborah Oluwakemi Olakunle is changing that through Health4Moni, a healthtech social enterprise making health coverage affordable, flexible, and inclusive.
With payment plans ranging from daily to yearly, Health4Moni allows users to contribute what they can, when they can. The platform goes beyond basic insurance, offering access to a Health Relief Fund for chronic conditions and tailoring coverage to the realities of low-income households.
Diagnostics for Low-Resource Clinics — Salma Tammam, Egypt
When COVID-19 struck, many regions lacked the diagnostic infrastructure to respond effectively. Imported test kits were often expensive, delayed, or didn’t arrive at all. And when they did, many were unusable due to complex storage needs or laboratory procedures ill-suited for smaller clinics and harsh climates.
Salma Tammam, a Cairo-based biotechnologist, founded Reme-D to fill that gap. From PCR tests for HIV and hepatitis to DNA extraction kits, Reme-D is tailored for low-resource settings, helping health workers test accurately and quickly, even in remote areas.
Healthcare on Wheels — Chiedza Mushawedu, Zimbabwe
ZimbosAbantu is redefining what frontline care can look like in most underserved communities. The social enterprise combines mobile health units with digital innovation to close critical gaps in access. In partnership with Econet Wireless, ZimbosAbantu supports frontline nurses through robust telemedicine services, dramatically improving doctor-to-patient ratios.
Equipped with tools like HealthCube—a portable diagnostic lab—nurses can conduct over a dozen lab tests, from blood sugar to hemoglobin, even in off-grid and remote settings. Test results are interpreted in real-time by remote doctors, enabling timely, life-saving interventions where brick-and-mortar clinics don’t exist.
Solar-Powered Food Resilience — Dr. Alaa Salih Hamadto, Sudan
In Sudan, where power shortages and rising temperatures frequently spoil food, Dr. Alaa Hamadto is building resilience through sun-powered innovation. Her startup, Solar Foods, uses industrial-grade solar dryers embedded with IoT sensors to preserve vegetables, fruits, and meats without the need for electricity or chemicals.
By blending traditional preservation methods with cutting-edge clean tech, Solar Foods helps communities extend food shelf life and reduce post-harvest losses, particularly vital in regions disrupted by climate change.
A Global Network, Rooted in Local Impact
While the 2025 Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs cohort spans four continents, the African winners stand out for how deeply embedded their solutions are in community needs. Whether through mobile healthcare units or smart grain storage, these ventures exemplify grassroots ingenuity scaled with modern tools.
As they join the Foundation’s accelerator programme and prepare for the official celebration in Istanbul, one thing is clear: the future of inclusive innovation is already here and in Africa, it’s led by women.
