Across Africa, women are increasingly taking ownership of their financial futures, building businesses, investing in opportunities, and creating wealth that can transform families and communities.
Among the leaders driving this shift is Solape Akinpelu, a Nigerian entrepreneur, gender-finance advocate, and ecosystem builder whose work is helping more women gain access to financial tools, opportunities, and resources designed for long-term prosperity.
As the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of HerVest, Solape has dedicated her career to advancing financial inclusion for women, particularly those who have historically been underserved by traditional financial systems.
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Through technology, innovation, and advocacy, she has emerged as one of the leading voices championing inclusive wealth creation in Africa.
Originally from Ijebu Ode, Nigeria, Solape built a strong academic foundation with a bachelor’s degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University and a master’s degree in Communications from the University of Lagos.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, she built a career in advertising and marketing, experiences that would later shape her approach to building products and platforms designed around the needs of women.
Recognising the barriers many women encounter in accessing savings opportunities, investments, and credit facilities, Solape co-founded HerVest, a fintech platform focused on providing inclusive financial services to African women.
The platform enables women to access savings products, impact investment opportunities, and credit options, while also supporting female smallholder farmers and women-led enterprises.
HerVest has become part of a growing movement aimed at narrowing the gender finance gap across Africa by creating solutions tailored to women’s realities and aspirations.
Through financial education, access to capital, and technology-enabled services, the company seeks to expand economic participation and encourage more women to build sustainable wealth.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Solape has established herself as an advocate for women’s economic empowerment and technology-driven inclusion. She serves as the Technology Chair of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, contributing to conversations around technology, innovation, and trade.
She is also a member of the Presidential High-Level Advisory Committee on Women and Girls’ Economic Empowerment, supporting efforts aimed at expanding opportunities for women in Nigeria.
Her influence extends into financial policy discussions as she serves on the Gender Committee Desk of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Framework for Advancing Women’s Financial Inclusion, reinforcing her commitment to promoting systems that improve access to financial services for women.
Her contributions have continued to earn recognition within Africa’s innovation ecosystem. Solape received the Women in Tech Award at the Art of Technology Lagos Conference in 2024, recognising her efforts in advancing technology and financial inclusion.
She was also selected among the finalists for the 2025 Aurora Tech Award, an international initiative celebrating female founders building transformative ventures around the world.
Beyond titles and recognitions, Solape’s work represents a broader vision, one where more African women have the knowledge, confidence, and access required to participate fully in economic growth and wealth creation.
Through entrepreneurship, advocacy, and ecosystem leadership, she continues to inspire conversations around inclusion, financial literacy, and opportunity.
As Africa’s digital and financial landscapes evolve, leaders like Solape Akinpelu remind us that meaningful innovation is not only measured by technological advancement but by the number of lives empowered through access, opportunity, and sustainable growth.
Solape Akinpelu represents a new generation of African women redefining finance, leadership, and prosperity. Through her work, she is helping ensure that more women are equipped to save, invest, build, and thrive, contributing to a more inclusive future for Africa.
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