Odunayo Eweniyi launched FirstCheck Africa to put early money behind women-led startups.

In January 2021, PiggyVest co-founder Odunayo Eweniyi partnered with Eloho Oname to launch First Check, a platform of female business angels focused on supporting women-led and women-focused startups in Africa.

Why a first cheque matters

The idea is that the first outside money, even a small amount, can help a young company get started and can attract others. By organising women who invest, the platform aims to widen who gets funded.

Community organising

Eweniyi is also a co-founder of the Feminist Coalition. During the End SARS protests of October 2020, against police brutality in Nigeria, she raised donations for medical care and legal support for victims. For this work she was listed on Bloomberg 50 in 2020 and on TIME’s Next 100 in 2021.

She was named a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst in 2022. Her path joins running a large fintech with building the networks that help other women succeed.