F-LANE
FLANE is a five-week virtual acceleration programme for early-stage entrepreneurs with ambitious outcomes to drive change by empowering women. It is put into practice by the Vodafone Institute in cooperation with our partners Yunus Social Business. Yunus Social Business was founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus and has successfully implemented just shy of 20 accelerator programmes. These programmes tap into their global community of over 300 experienced and renowned mentors to help entrepreneurs deliver consistent impact and their professional dreams.
New Report: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs
Gender remains one of the most fundamental sources of inequality and exclusion. Although there are trends towards a more inclusive economy and society, progress on gender equality and women’s empowerment is still slow.
Digital know-how for rural Uganda
Zoora Centre For Empowerment is a digital education platform that empowers rural women and unemployed youth in Uganda. It was founded by Sarah Atuhaire Baryaija.
Because everybody should feel safe travelling
She'Kab was founded in 2015 by Hira Batool Rizvi. It is a subscription-based monthly carpooling service for working women in Pakistan to travel safely and freely.
Hybrid healthcare and the future of women’s health
Nabta Health was co-founded by Sophie Smith and Saba Alzabin in 2017. It is a purpose-built technology platform for women’s health in the MENA region.
First to fight violence against women in Brazil
Mete a Colher was founded in 2016 by Renata Albertim - a venture that helps women who are victims of domestic abuse.
Paving the way for Rwandan women
Hiveonline was co-founded by Sofie Blakstad and Matthew Mims in 2016. It is based in Sweden, Denmark and Rwanda.
To the doorsteps of rural Kenya
Bidhaa Sasa's - founded in 2015 - mission is to increase the quality of life of rural families in Kenya by making accessible and affordable a range of technology goods.
Learning by playing
Inas Ismail co-founded Autsera - a start-up developing interactive games to empower autistic children - with her husband Omar Massoud.
The e-commerce platform bringing unique African designs to the world
Akojo Market, F-LANE alumni of 2020, was co-founded by Annie Rudnick and Natasha Buchler. It is a platform for sustainable fashion providing its artisans with a dignified income.
Corporate volunteering in times of a pandemic
Insights into the virtual accelerator F-LANE by the Vodafone Institute and its mentor programme pilot
Accelerating Female Empowerment in times of COVID-19
Nine start-ups graduated from the first virtual edition of the Vodafone Institute's F-LANE accelerator programme for Female Empowerment in 2020.
Meet Tina, the web service tackling domestic violence
CEO Renata Albertim explains how she is changing the conversation around domestic violence in Brazil with her inspirational start-up “Mete a Colher” – part of the F-LANE programme 2020.
F-LANE 2020: Empowering women worldwide with technology
The F-LANE social ventures accelerator kicks-off its 2020 programme with 10 high-potential teams with services for women’s finances, their health, secure mobility, and much more.
F-LANE goes virtual: Launching the next round
The Vodafone Institute launches the next round of its global social impact accelerator programme for female empowerment virtually. Applications are now open until July 31.
Avegen – Tackling Maternal Mortality in India using Technology
India has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world - Together for Her wants to change this with a new databased platform.
BOOST Thyroid has set off to create a healthy life for patients of Hashimoto using modern technology
In her endeavor to create a better life for Hashimoto’s patients, Vedrana created BOOST Thyroid, a solution that continuously gives patients insights about Hashimoto and their thyroid health.
Rubi Health – Telehealth and Tele-Psychiatry for (expectant) Mothers in Nigeria
Rubi Health offers psychotherapeutic care in rural hospitals in Nigeria. Their primary target group are (expectant) mothers who are confronted with anxieties during or after pregnancy and suffer from depression.
Safe & the City transforming the spaces we walk
Safe & the City is an app that creates personalized journeys to appreciate the different perceptions of safety and risks of different types of groups during their daily commutes.
Developers in Vogue – Tech-Bootcamps for Women in Africa
Developers in Vogue, a community of female developers who are passionate about using technology to revolutionize Africa.
F-LANE Demo Day in Berlin
Recap of the Demo Day of F-LANE, the Vodafone Institute Accelerator for Female Empowerment
F-LANE Demo Day 2019 – Livestream – 21/11/2019
Watch the Demo Day of F-LANE, the Vodafone Institute Accelerator for Female Empowerment - run together with Impact Hub Berlin and Social Entrepreneurship Akademie.
Gender lens investing still has a long way to go
Around 45 investors, entrepreneurs, and intermediates in the field of impact investing engaged in lively discussions at this month’s Impact Investing Roundtable focussed on gender lens investing, co-hosted by the Vodafone Institute and the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA).
Impact investing roundtable on gender lens investing
The IIST Berlin Team together with the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) and the Vodafone Institute host a new edition of the Impact Investing Roundtable Berlin.
F-LANE selects five tech start-ups that improve the world
280 start-ups from 62 countries applied for a place in the F-LANE accelerator. The five most innovative business models came out on top.
Vodafone Institute launches the next round of F-LANE
F-LANE, the first accelerator empowering women in the tech sector, initiated by the Vodafone Institute, is entering its fourth round this year after great international feedback.
F-LANE ventures pitching live at the re:publica in front of investors’ and the wider public
The F-LANE teams presented their disrupting social tech ideas to investors and the greater public at the re:publica in Berlin
Free-D empowers women at risk through teaching them tech skills in 3D printing
Free-D's trainings focus on employment and are led by creativity - taking digital skills from non-existent to high-value and targeted for the digital manufacturing market.
Disrupting the Pakistani Healthcare System by building a Search Engine for Doctors
Doctory is building a search engine that uses machine learning and a review-based feedback mechanism to provide patients with reliable health care information in Pakistan.
Financial Products made by women for women
FinMarie is the first online investment platform in Germany, made by women for women. The venture offers customized investment portfolios for women, tailored on their unique needs, interests, personal goals and upcoming life decisions.
breastIT revolutionizes breast cancer screening with a glove
David Mwesigwa and Moris Atwine have developed a glove that produces ultrasound images of the insight of the breast and transmitts them via phone for analysis.
MamaBird saves lives by using drones for medical deliveries
With their start-up, Thomas Lauzon and Eugene Maseya facilitate the transportation and delivery of life-saving medical supplies to women and children living in remote African villages and communities.
These 5 amazing ventures are part of F-LANE III
More than 180 startups from 57 countries applied for the third round of F-Lane. These are the five startups which made the final cut.
Sou Sou: finding venture capital through an app
Female founder often struggle to find venture capital for their start-ups. Sou Sou offers an app that offers makes it much easier, combining technology and ancient African tradition.
Kaaro Health saves lives with containerized clinics
Kaaro Health, F-LANE finalist, wants to turn healthcare upside down in Uganda. The biggest issue is the high maternal mortality. Utilising smart technology, this could become a thing of the past very soon.
Gapsquare makes women and men get equal pay
Gapsquare, one of the F-LANE finalists, has a software that could close the gender pay gap within only a few years, and thereby solve an issue that is predicted to remain for centuries.
moWoza frees retailers from paperwork
When you give retailers digital tools, you unleash enormous potential and transform an entire country. That's what inspired the founder of F-LANE finalist moWoza to become an entrepreneur.
The Female Effect – Women-focused investing
In order to overcome gender-specific disparities between male and female entrepreneurs when acquiring funding, the Vodafone Institute hosted a gender lens investing roundtable titled “The Female Effect”.
“Start-ups are the global economy’s technology drivers”
Hannes Ametsreiter stressed the societal importance of start-ups at Capital's Young Elite Summit, and the F-LANE teams held their final pitches in front of renowned investors.
Good on You – fashionable & ethical shopping the smart way
F-LANE finalist Good on You allows users to shop fashion labels that are fair, eco-friendly and cruelty-free. Responsible shopping the smart way!
These 5 startups were born to make an impact
Our European Startup accelerator's second round of F-LANE has begun and we have received 177 applications from over 50 different countries. Let us introduce to you the top five startups that have made it into the Programme.
Brigitte Zypries calls for more support to women in digital industry
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Brigitte Zypries has called for more support to women working in the technology and digital sector in her statement at the “Women in Digital” roundtable.
Fast Track to Success for Female Founders
6 weeks, 5 female founders, 1 goal: To push their startups to the next level.
Lensational – Empowering Women through Photography
Lensational aims to empower marginalized women in developing countries through equipping them with digital training and photography skills. And of course, a camera that they can take photos with and make their voices heard through their photos.
Wazi Vision Brings Affordable Eyecare and Sustainable Glasses to Africa
Eye Exams in Uganda are expensive. And with a pair of glasses the treatment can cost up to 150 US-Dollar and is unaffordable for many children throughout Africa. With Wazi Vision, Brenda Katwesigye developed a smart and cheap way to make eye care affordable.
DigiSitter – Coordinating Childcare via App
Katharina Schiederig is a working mother of two and she knows the struggle families can run into when there is a sudden gap in the families’ calendar. Therefore, she is creating an app to ease the coordination between work and family.
Securella – When Security meets Cinderella
With Securella, Moroccan-born Samia Haimoura is building an eco-system where women can feel safe and get immediate help when they need it - and before they are actually harmed.
Ask Without Shame – Sexual Education in Africa via App
Ruth Namembezi, a 22 years old from Uganda, wanted to raise awareness for sexual diseases and founded an app for sexual education in Africa.
