The life and work of 8 female entrepreneurs who operate in emerging market economies.
Women entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia and Latin America and the Middle East are entering business but they create a new business environment for their region. The founders create high-impact businesses which can grow despite facing funding shortages and the difficulties created by existing business systems.
The year 2026 will feature eight exceptional women entrepreneurs who are driving this important change:
TemieGiwa-Tubosun (Nigeria)
LifeBank was established by her as its founder.
Temie Giwa-Tubosun establishes a new way for African countries to organize their healthcare supply chain. The organization delivers blood and oxygen and medical supplies to hospitals through its LifeBank service.
Her business model combines technology with social good by creating an expandable healthtech enterprise which uses data to save lives.
SolapeAkinpelu (Nigeria)
HerVest digital platform was created by Solape Akinpelu who serves as its founder.
Solape Akinpelu develops financial solutions which enable women business owners and women farmers to access financial services. The platform provides savings and credit and investment possibilities which specifically meet the needs of underserved women.
Her work demonstrates that financial services which include all customers can generate positive social outcomes while delivering financial profits.
Shreya Prakash (India)
FlexiBees was established by Shreya Prakash as its founder.
The FlexiBees platform enables women to return to work through its flexible, project-based job opportunities which connect them with professional employment options. Shreya Prakash tackles India’s largest workforce challenge, which involves the decline of women in professional roles.
Her model creates new methods for emerging economies to develop their workforce resources.
Carla Mendoza (Brazil)
ReFarm Foods was established by Carla Mendoza as its founder.
Carla Mendoza creates a new approach to urban farming for Latin American cities. The AI-enabled modular farming systems of her company enable cities to grow sustainable local food while decreasing their ecological footprint.
She leads a new generation of entrepreneurs who operate their businesses with climate awareness.
Ayesha Farooq (Pakistan)
SheScale was established by Ayesha Farooq as its founder.
Ayesha Farooq empowers women through her digital education program. The platform provides training for women in remote areas to learn coding and digital marketing and financial management skills.
She unlocks economic independence for thousands by helping people acquire necessary skills.
Amara Khoury (UAE)
Susteva Tech was established by Amara Khoury as its founder.
Amara Khoury develops AI-based technologies which help cities lower their carbon emissions. The Middle East women who work with her on sustainable innovation demonstrate how they drive their regions towards environmentally friendly practices.
She creates a company which establishes conversations about climate and technology.
Winifred Selby (Ghana)
Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative was established by Winifred Selby as its founder.
Winifred Selby produces sustainable bicycles while creating job opportunities for rural women through her environmentally friendly business model.
Sustainability and community empowerment can function together according to her business model.
Laura Velásquez Herrera (Colombia)
Arkangel AI was established by Laura Velásquez Herrera as its founder.
Laura Velásquez Herrera uses artificial intelligence to enhance disease detection methods and healthcare access in Latin America.
The area beyond standard startup locations shows thriving deep tech development according to her research.
Conclusion: Women entrepreneurs create new business standards because their innovations emerge from developing markets. Leadership by bold, strong leaders who tackle challenging problems enables progress through development. The future of global entrepreneurship, which inspires their stories, will emerge from these two fields.
