Arian Simone
Fearless Fund, the world’s first venture capital fund created by women of colour for women of colour, has officially launched its operations in Ghana to support female entrepreneurs.
The fund, founded by renowned venture capitalist and philanthropist, the Queen of Dawa Grand-Béréby in Côte d’Ivoire, Arian Simone, aims to close the continent’s gender financing gap, estimated at $42 billion, by providing innovative financial services, mentorship, and investor-ready training.
According to her, Africa leads globally in female entrepreneurship, with one in three women running or planning to start businesses. In Ghana, nearly half of all businesses are women-owned, yet women earn on average 34% less profit than men due to systemic barriers.
The Fearless Fund, she said, seeks to correct this imbalance by offering small, high-impact loans, education, and network support to help women formalize, scale, and adopt new technologies.
”Already backed by global institutions including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, PayPal, and Costco, the fund has trained over a thousand women through its “Get Venture Ready” programme. Investing in African women is a high-return opportunity, highlighting their central role in agriculture, markets, and community development,” Arian Simone emphasised.
She mentioned that the launch also comes at a critical moment for Ghana’s economy, as women continue to drive innovation and social progress across sectors.
“By equipping women with capital, mentorship, and global networks, the fund hopes to empower a new generation of female leaders who will shape the future of business, communities, and Africa’s economic growth,” she said.
“Women have always been the architects of Africa’s survival and growth. Now is the time to scale, grow, and build wealth that transforms families, communities, and this continent,” she said.
In addition, she underscored that, the launch marks the beginning of a movement to unlock the economic power of Africa’s women and reshape the continent’s future
Delivering a speech on behalf of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Director of Research and Innovation at the Presidency, Juliana Ama Kplorfia, said according to the African Union, SMEs make up 90% of businesses and over 60% of employment in Africa, with women at the center of this ecosystem.
“In Ghana, women own nearly 46.4% of businesses, yet many operate in the informal sector and face barriers accessing finance, receiving less than 5% of venture capital funding.
“Citing the goal of the initiative, she said, Fearless Fund aims to bridge this gap by offering microloans from GH¢10,000 to GH¢30,000, alongside a GH¢100,000 pitch initiative for high-potential businesses. Beyond financing, the fund provides mentorship, training, and support to help women formalise, scale, and integrate into high-value markets,” she said.
By combining capital, education, and partnerships with investors and local institutions, she emphasised that, Fearless Fund seeks to unlock the economic potential of women-led businesses, create jobs, and strengthen Ghana’s economy.
Ghanaian Business Mogul, Hawa Mahama Agyemang, said women are the backbone of the economy, and this initiative provides vital finance, mentorship, and support.
”Despite their strength and entrepreneurial drive, many women often face obstacles that limit their ability to grow their businesses. Access to finance remains one of the biggest challenges.
”Thus, the importance of the Fearless Fund; Initiatives providing the necessary support to unlock the full potential of women entrepreneurs across Ghana and Africa,” she added.
By Janet Odei Amponsah