Alitheia IDF — gender-lens growth equity for women-led SMEs

About this opportunity

₦100M private equity fund investing in women-owned, women-led or women-serving SMEs across six African countries. You need a scalable business, gender-diverse management, and presence in a target sector.

Who can apply

• SME at growth stage with proven revenue and operational track record
• Women-owned, women-led, or women-serving business model
• Gender-diversified management team (not single-gender leadership)
• Operating in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Lesotho
• Operating in agribusiness, consumer goods, health, education, creative industries, or financial and business services
• Positioned to scale regionally across African markets

Not eligible

• Early-stage or idea-stage businesses without established revenue
• Businesses without gender diversity in management
• Companies in sectors not listed (manufacturing outside the sectors named, real estate, extractives, etc.)

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Documents you will need

• Business summary (provided on contact form or expanded into a pitch deck)
• Financial statements for last 2–3 years (audited or reviewed)
• Management team profiles and evidence of gender diversity
• Market analysis showing regional scaling potential
• Details of investment need (amount and use of funds)
• Legal registration documents for the business

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How to apply, step by step

1. Go to the Alitheia IDF website (alitheiaidf.com) and find the 'Request Funding' section or contact form
2. Complete the contact form with a summary of your business, current stage, and investment needs
3. Submit your initial summary via email to info@alitheiaidf.com or through the online form
4. Wait for outreach from the Alitheia team; if they show interest, prepare fuller documentation (financials, team details, pitch deck)
5. Engage in a due diligence process including meetings with the investment team in Lagos or Johannesburg

How applications are selected

What reviewers look for

• Show how women are central to your business success, not peripheral—whether as founders, operators, investors, or your primary customer base
• Demonstrate concrete revenue and customer numbers; Alitheia backs businesses with traction, not concepts
• Emphasize your management team's gender balance and complementary skills; single-founder businesses or all-male teams will not fit
• Make the case for regional expansion: which other countries could you enter, and what is your timeline
• Show how your sector engages women economically (as producers, employees, distributors, or consumers); consumer goods, agro-processing, and health are well-represented in their portfolio

Frequently asked questions

Guide written from the official programme page on 15 October 2026. Funders change their rules, so confirm the details on the official page before you apply.

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