Building HerConnect was chaos disguised as hope. They coded between power cuts, pitched to investors who didn't take them seriously, and faced endless "mansplaining" from tech bros who said their idea was too "soft."
During one pitch event in Ikeja, an investor laughed.
"So your app is for women to talk to each other? That's cute. But what's your real business?"
Isioma's voice didn't waver. "Our business is the future. The future is female, and digital."
They didn't win that grant. But they won something else, attention. That moment went viral on social media, and soon, messages poured in from young women across Nigeria who wanted to join HerConnect.
Amara coded through the nights, fueled by indomie and faith.
Zainab repaired broken routers and designed circuits to keep their small server alive.
Tomi created an online campaign that reached 50,000 women in a week.
Isioma began legal registration for their startup, sleeping less but dreaming bigger.
When the Women in Africa Tech Challenge announced a ₦2 million innovation grant, they almost didn't apply. "We're not ready," Amara said.
Zainab placed a hand on her shoulder. "No woman ever feels 'ready' before she makes history."