International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women across the world, including female business owners who are significantly impacting their communities. In Africa, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of female-owned businesses, with many women taking their side hustles and turning them mainstream. According to the World Bank, female-owned businesses in Africa contribute an estimated $30 billion to the continent’s GDP each year, as more women are now able to overcome the barriers they face and access the resources and support they need.
One solution that is helping these women grow their businesses is Flutterwave, a leading African fintech company, with payment solutions that empower female entrepreneurs across the continent.
With Flutterwave’s mission to simplify payments for endless possibilities, female entrepreneurs can accept payments from customers anywhere in the world, using a variety of payment methods such as cards, mobile money, bank transfers and more. This means that they can easily reach customers who may not have access to traditional payment methods, thus expanding their customer base and increasing their revenue.
Flutterwave Store is an e-commerce platform that allows anyone to create an online store to sell their products and services to customers across Africa and beyond. Women can showcase their products and services and reach a wider audience. This has helped to increase the visibility of these businesses and has enabled them to reach new markets. With features such as invoicing, payment tracking, and financial reporting, Flutterwave is helping women in Africa grow their businesses and turn their side hustles into successful ventures, manage their finances more efficiently, better manage their cash flow and make informed business decisions. One example of a female entrepreneur using Flutterwave to grow her business is Yinka Anidugbe-Olaniyan, a Flutterwave Store owner in Nigeria. Yinka had been running her baking business, Sweet Pod, as a side hustle for years; but with the help of Flutterwave, she was able to turn it into a full-time business. By accepting payments through Flutterwave, she has been able to expand her customer base beyond Nigeria and start selling her pancake mixes internationally. By increasing her customer base and generating more revenue, she has been able to grow her business.
Women in Africa have shown remarkable resilience and determination in the face of significant barriers to starting and growing businesses. With the help of Flutterwave, female entrepreneurs are able to turn their side hustles into mainstream sources of income, driving economic growth and development in their communities and beyond. Flutterwave’s commitment to empowering women in business is a powerful example of how fintech can be a force for positive change in Africa and around the world. By providing women with access to finance, ease of business and other resources, Flutterwave is helping to level the playing field and create new opportunities for economic empowerment and growth.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us continue to support and celebrate the incredible women who are driving change and progress in Africa and beyond. Together, we can #EmbraceEquity by creating a more inclusive and impartial world where all women have the opportunity to reach their full potential and succeed in business and beyond.
Happy International Women’s Day! 🥳