Episode 60: The Struggles of Women in African Tech

In this episode of the BIG5D Podcast, host Charles Laughlin sits down with Jill Kerr, co-founder of Misfit Ventures, and Laura Thomas, founder of The Aligned Woman, to talk about the struggles female founders face in Africa. Recorded live at the 2026 BigFive Summit in Cape Town, this conversation tackles the stark reality that female-led startups in Africa receive just 2% of venture capital funding, despite often outperforming their male peers. Jill shares how her debt fund backs high-performing, real-economy female-led SMEs, while Laura discusses her expert-led educational platform and plans for an AI-driven women's ecosystem. The two explore navigating unconscious bias, pitching to male-dominated investors, and the gritty realities of entrepreneurship. This episode of the BIG5D Podcast is supported by Telkom. At Telkom, possible begins here. Learn more at Telkom.co.za.