(3 minute read)
Access Bank Cameroon has officially launched the country’s very first Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton, a historic program dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and strengthening the Cameroonian economic ecosystem. The launch event, held in Douala, marks a transformative moment as women-led businesses in Cameroon gain access to advanced training, expert mentorship, and financial grants – support on a scale never before offered in the country.
This initiative is part of Access Bank’s renowned W Initiative, a flagship women-focused program that has been transforming female entrepreneurship across Africa since 2019. Now introduced in Cameroon, the program equips participants with essential tools, networks, and growth opportunities to build sustainable businesses. This inaugural edition brings together 150 women entrepreneurs, selected to undergo targeted capacity-building sessions delivered by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), with support from the African Guarantee Fund (AGF).
The W Initiative and Pitch-A-Ton aim to bridge this gap by offering comprehensive training, mentorship, and direct funding to help women grow their ventures and contribute to national development. Participants will benefit from IFC’s hands-on Mini-MBA program, comprising six intensive modules on profitability, cash flow management, record-keeping, working capital optimization, credit management, and investor pitching. The program also provides direct startup funding, with prizes of 3 million FCFA for the winner, 2 million FCFA for the first runner-up, and 1 million FCFA for the second runner-up.
IFC’s commitment to strengthening Cameroonian businesses by helping women transition from informal trade operations to structured ones through financial management training and access to finance was highlighted. This enhances competitiveness and supports job creation and innovation. The impact of the W Initiative across Africa, citing thousands of women who have benefited from financial education, mentorship, and increased visibility. Extending this support to Cameroon will help build a pipeline of confident, investment-ready women entrepreneurs. The Pitch-A-Ton is more than a competition – it is a gateway to a larger ecosystem of investors, mentors, and business partners.
By providing training, funding, and visibility, the program tackles the persistent challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, including limited access to finance, weaker professional networks, and lower market exposure. Participants come from high-impact sectors such as technology, green innovation, beauty and fashion, and agriculture, with eligibility requiring an annual turnover or minimum capital of 3 million FCFA.
Access Bank Cameroon Plc is a subsidiary of Access Bank Group, a major full-service commercial bank present in 24 countries across three continents, serving over 52 million customers with additional representative offices in China, Lebanon, India, and Hong Kong.