WEAV (Women's Enterprise Acceleration Vehicle)

Have you ever wondered why you don't always get a reach back after applying for funding or you hardly get to the next stage? Well, sometimes the answer lies in what it is you’re telling investors about your business. We always advise that founders break down the various factors involved to them feel confident in their preparation. Here are three best practices that can help you effectively pitch your business to potential investors. 1. Lead with Brand Identity, Mission Statement, and the Problem you’re Solving Clearly define your brand's values, personality, and tone to establish a strong foundation. Your mission statement should concisely outline your company's purpose, goals, and values. Additionally, identify the specific problems your business solves and explain how your solutions address those problems. 2. Provide detailed information about your Business Model and Traction Describe your revenue streams, cost structure, and key partnerships to demonstrate a solid business model. Provide evidence of your business's progress, such as user acquisition and retention rates, revenue growth, and key partnerships. 3. Talk about your Scaling Strategy, Long-Term Vision, and Growth Plans Explain how you plan to scale your business, including hiring and team expansion, technology and infrastructure upgrades, and market expansion. Share your long-term vision for the company, including market leadership, innovation, and social impact goals. Outline specific growth plans, including geographic expansion, product or service line expansion, and strategic partnerships. If you're an entrepreneur seeking funding opportunities, we invite you to submit your pitch by clicking the link below: https://tally.so/r/w5vyDP #pitchdeck #investorspitch #venturecapital #angelinvestors #femalefounder #startupfounder

I'm proud to share that we've raised $1.1m in pre-seed funding and rebranded to Lingawa (Formerly TopSet)!! 🚀 As Nigerians growing up in the UK, my sister Yvonne W and I always felt a deep connection to our heritage—but also an uncomfortable distance. We struggled to speak our native tongue, Yoruba, fluently, and with that came a sense of loss and even shame. There’s an unspoken belief that understanding your language is tied to understanding yourself, your culture, and your place in the world. It was a feeling we carried with us for years. As we grew older, we realised that this experience wasn’t unique to us. Millions of Africans, Asians, and others in the diaspora feel this same disconnect—wanting to embrace their roots but facing the very real challenge of language barriers. We knew we had to do something to help others like us reconnect with their languages and cultures. This shared experience became the foundation for Lingawa, our edtech platform leveraging AI to make learning African and global languages accessible and engaging for adults and kids everywhere. I’m thrilled to share that we’ve raised $1.1M in pre-seed funding to expand this vision. We’ve also embarked on an exciting new chapter: we’ve rebranded from TopSet to Lingawa to reflect our renewed focus on language learning as a bridge to culture, connection, and identity. Please check out the video below for more context on this transformation. This journey has been possible thanks to so many incredible people. My wife, Simi Williams, has been my rock—thank you for your constant support and encouragement. My co-founders, Yvonne W and Uche Azinge have been tireless in bringing this vision to life. To the Lingawa team, you inspire me every day with your talent and dedication. I’m also deeply grateful to our investors and financial backers: Zrosk Investment Management, WEAV (Women's Enterprise Acceleration Vehicle), Kaleo Ventures, Voltron Capital, Phoenix Fund, Metis Capital Partners, Techstars, Google for Startups, Mastercard Foundation, Dara Treseder and our other incredible angel investors. Your belief in Lingawa’s mission has been transformational. Lingawa is more than a platform—it’s a movement to preserve and celebrate the languages that shape who we are. If you’ve ever struggled to connect with your culture or language, know that you’re not alone. It’s never too late to learn, reconnect, and take pride in your heritage. Here’s to building a future where our languages and cultures thrive. 🌍 #Lingawa #LanguageLearning #AfricanDiaspora #AfricanLanguages #EdTech #AI

Com imensa honra e sentido de dever representei a Associação Angolana de Startups e Empreendedorismo Digital - AASED no Web Summit Lisboa 2024, entre 11 e 14 de Novembro, em Lisboa, Portugal. A delegação angolana teve como missão representar Angola 🇦🇴 e fez-se presente no evento sob a liderança do Administrador Executivo do inapem, Bráulio Augusto, onde integrava também membros da Corporação Financeira Internacional (IFC), e 7 startups angolanas pré-selecionadas pelo programa de incubação da WEAV (Women's Enterprise Acceleration Vehicle) que tiveram a oportunidade de expor a sua startup: AROTEC ECO-Selecta Kubinga SOCIA CYTO Anda AKI 👏 Parabéns pela representação do potencial de Angola. Para além destas 7 startups, tivemos também em exposição durante o websummit duas startups angolanas a destacar e parabenizar: a Jila.ai do fundador Dionisio Nunes e a Lombongo do fundador Mauro Benedito. Foi uma agradável surpresa conhecer-vos e as vossas Startups que trazem soluções adequadas para solucionar problemas específicos da nossa sociedade angolana. Força e que continuem a implementar os vossos sonhos. 🙌 A representação da AASED teve como missão acompanhar e apoiar as Startups selecionadas e também estabelecer parcerias estratégicas com entidades locais, participar de debates, palestras, formações Masterclass, networking com potenciais investidores e parcerias com comunidades como a Women in Tech da Websummit e também a comunidade Afropreneurs que esteve em peso nesta edição. Em nome da AASED gostaria de agradecer todo o apoio da nossa entidade governamental o inapem á nossa associação, assim como também o convite feito pelo IFC - International Finance Corporation, Linda Taimo e Manuel Paulo para juntarmo-nos a delegação angolana. Gratidão. #aased #angolastartup #angolaecosystem #angolapotential #websummit2024 #africastartup #lisavideira #andastartup #akistartup #kubingastartup #sociastartup #cytostartup #ecoselectastartup #arotecstartup

🚀 #FundingAlert — Lingawa (Formerly TopSet), a Nigerian #EdTech startup, has raised $1.1 million from investors including Voltron Capital, Zrosk Investment Management, WEAV (Women's Enterprise Acceleration Vehicle), Kaleo Ventures, and Mastercard Foundation. The company champions the preservation of African languages amid the threats of globalization and cultural assimilation. Founded in 2022 by Frank Akinwande Williams, #Lingawa connects learners worldwide with 100+ native-speaking tutors to foster fluency and cultural pride 📢 This investment aims to enhance the platform while also addressing a gap in teaching skills by training native speakers to deliver engaging, world-class lessons. For more information, check out the news: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gVmBBj3r ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ #AfricanLanguages #LanguagePreservation #Culture #VoltronCapital #MasterCardFoundation #CulturalHeritage #Globalization #UNESCO #StartupInnovation

Dear founders, embrace the journey of progress instead of chasing perfection! ✨💫 As founders, it's natural to aim for the highest standards in our products, operations, and overall success. However, it’s worth considering how striving for perfection can sometimes be a barrier to our growth and progress. Perfectionism can lead to fear of failure, missed opportunities, and even stagnation. Instead of focusing solely on perfection, embracing a mindset of progress can open up new possibilities. Happy New Week 💫✨ #foundersmindset #growthmindset #progressoverperfection #startuplife #entrepreneurship #leadership #productivity #innovation #mondaymotivation #growthmindset #progress #foundersmotivation

Today, we spotlight Olajumoke Oduwole CEO KJK and Alajo app! Olajumoke Oduwole is a two-time tech founder of KJK Africa and Alajo App, a Technical Product Developer, digital transformation expert, and Forbes 30 under 30 award recipient. She is the founder of KJK Africa, one of Nigeria's leading Software Design and Development Companies, delivering end-to-end software product engineering services to improve productivity and scale revenue for corporates, organizations, and government agencies. Olajumoke also co-founded the Alajo | Top 200 TechCrunch Battlefield '23 | Google for Startups '23 | GITEX Global Winner '23 App, a FinTech startup based on Africa's traditional banking methods. Alajo is an Escrowed Digital Savings Platform for the underbanked in Africa, enabling users to save an average of $2.13 daily via GSM cellular mobile phones and money agents in their communities. Her experiences are globally recognized, demonstrating her dedication to excellence and innovation. Recently, Alajo was selected as one of the Top 200 Startups globally at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield in San Francisco and AIM High, Amazon's AI BootCamp for Female Founders across Europe, Middle East, and Africa. #founderspotlight #womenintech #innovation #techentrepreneur

Are you a visionary seed-stage founder looking to take your business to the next level? Then we are looking for you. We are on the lookout for seed-stage startups based in Africa who are building innovative and capital-efficient businesses. This is an opportunity to share your pitch deck with us. Here’s what we’re looking for: - Seed-stage startups - Bold and resilient founders - ⁠Scalable solutions Submit your pitch now at: https://tally.so/r/w5vyDP

As leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, we often focus on our individual strengths and talents as the driving force behind our success. However, the truth is that no one achieves greatness alone. Behind every visionary is a tribe of loyal hearts, minds, and hands that work tirelessly to bring their vision to life. A trusted and loyal team is the backbone of any successful organization. But loyalty goes beyond just showing up to work; it's about being invested in the mission, the values, and the people. Are you working with a trusted and loyal team? Let them know in the comments💫✨ #mondaymotivation #femalefounders #teamwork #weav

Meet Jehiel Oliver, founder of Hello Tractor! Jehiel Oliver is an active player in the agritech industry dedicated to providing rural farmers with access to modern farm equipment. He began his career in the U.S. investment banking and private equity. His passion emerged when he recognized the urgent need for low-income earners, especially women, to access affordable farm machinery. Through Hello Tractor, farmers connect with affordable tractor services through a shared economy model, significantly boosting food production and income for rural farmers. #Founderspotlight #Uberfortractor #Agrictech #Malefounder #Weavcapital

Thank you, WEAV Capital, IFC, and INAPEM, for this incredible opportunity! 🛞🩵 We’re honored to be part of this investment readiness program, representing Angola’s innovative spirit and our vision for accessible and safe mobility. At Anda, we’re driven to create financial solutions that empower local entrepreneurs and expand opportunities for underserved communities. Excited to share our journey with everyone at the virtual demo day and beyond. Let’s drive transformative change in Angola and across Africa together!