FemNest Lab, the women‑focused tech incubator launched by Nigerian EdTech organisation [Heels & Tech](https://heelsandtech.com), has just presented the achievements of its first cohort and revealed plans for a six‑week incubator that will support a new group of founders. The initiative aims to turn personal and societal challenges faced by African women into market‑ready digital products, especially in the FemTech and FamilyTech spaces.
Four female founders emerged from the pilot cohort, each converting an overlooked problem into a viable technology solution. One founder introduced **Helen Health**, an AI‑powered algorithm designed for early breast‑cancer detection after losing her mother to the disease. The other three built platforms that improve reproductive‑health access in underserved rural areas and deliver digital health education to school‑aged girls.
**What sectors does FemNest Lab target?**
The incubator concentrates on two high‑impact domains: *FemTech*, which covers innovations for women’s health and wellness, and *FamilyTech*, which addresses caregiving, household management and overall family well‑being. By focusing on these areas, the programme seeks to fill a gap where women are often users of technology rather than creators.
**How does the incubator support non‑technical founders?**
According to founder **Bisola Alabi**, the core philosophy of [FemNest Lab](https://heelsandtech.com/femnest-lab/) is to eliminate technical obstacles that keep non‑technical entrepreneurs from materialising their ideas. The programme leverages no‑code tools and accessible artificial‑intelligence platforms, enabling participants to prototype, validate and launch products without a traditional software‑engineering background. Emphasis is placed on problem validation, customer discovery, revenue strategy and long‑term business sustainability.
**Who are the mentors and partners guiding the next cohort?**
The upcoming six‑week incubator will feature workshops and masterclasses led by seasoned African business leaders and health innovators. Strategic Growth Leader **Seun Babajide Durosola** will run sessions on customer discovery and product‑market fit, while financial strategist **Iyinoluwa Adigun** will cover business models and unit economics. Corporate governance will be addressed by **Titilola Osinowo**, Group Head of Treasury & Investment at [Ardova Plc](https://ardova.com), and commercial partnerships will be overseen by **Hannatu Kasim Adegboyega**, Commercial Director at Zipline Nigeria.
Domain‑specific masterclasses will see experts such as Dr Rama Akachuku of Raelia Health, Mobolaji Ajayi of Purelife Health and Kemi Sope‑Agbebi of BOLDVIVING Inc. discussing product design and tech adoption in healthcare. Additional insights will be provided by **Adeola Ayoola**, CEO of Famasi Africa, on building trust in digital health platforms, and by **Adenike Sheriff** of Future Africa together with **Femi Oladele** of MORE by Meristem on investor readiness and venture‑capital acquisition.
The incubator’s ecosystem is bolstered by corporate supporters including Zedcrest, Iwosan Hospital, Purelife Pharmacy, MORE by Meristem, Wennovate, NitHub UNILAG, Sko Foundation and Ingressive Capital, with Technext acting as the official media partner. By showcasing these successes and expanding its mentorship network, FemNest Lab aims to reposition African women from passive consumers of global software to active decision‑makers and builders shaping the continent’s tech‑driven future.