Fearless Fund offers major capital boost for women-led businesses

Founder and CEO of the Fearless Fund, Her Majesty Queen of Dawa Grand-Béréby, Arian Simone, has announced the microfinance firm’s readiness to provide strategic loans to female-led enterprises.

The fund aims to support a broad spectrum of businesses, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large-scale corporations managed by women.

Speaking at the launch of Fearless Fund Africa at the Accra Marriott Hotel on March 21, 2026, Arian Simone delivered a powerful mandate for the continent’s growth.

She asserted that Africa’s economic emergence is fundamentally incomplete without the active participation and leadership of its women.

“You may be hearing America in my voice today, but Africa lives in my soul, Africa cannot and will not reach its destiny without the full power of its women," she said.

Addressing the evident contribution of women across markets, farms, and informal sectors as depicted in the bustling stalls of Makola in Accra to trading hubs in Kumasi, she painted a vivid picture of women as the backbone of Africa’s economic survival.

She argued that despite the dominance of women in business, nearly half of all enterprises in Ghana women remain significantly underfunded.

Simone highlighted a staggering $42 billion financing gap across Africa, noting that only a fraction of venture capital reaches women entrepreneurs.

“Instead of seeing our women as high-risk, we see our African women as high-return,” she declared.

She indicated that the Fearless Fund’s entry into Ghana is underpinned by a commitment to the proven resilience of women in business.

According to Simone, this philosophy drives the organisation’s mission to provide critical capital to female-led ventures that have historically demonstrated high endurance in competitive markets.

This initiative introduces a new microfinance fund specifically designed for women, who have long been excluded from traditional financial systems.

The fund will offer small, high-impact loans to African women, many of whom lack collateral or face systemic barriers to accessing credit.

Beyond financing, the initiative also aims to equip women with the training and tools for their businesses to scale.

Through its “Get Venture Ready” programme, the fund has already trained over a thousand women globally, providing mentorship, networks, and business development support.

Simone, who also serves as Queen of Dawa Grand-Béréby in Côte d’Ivoire, stated that the launch does not just target business expansion alone, but it’s a movement that seeks to redefine who gets to participate in Africa’s economic future.

“You are no longer invisible. You are indispensable,” she charged the audience.

The launch comes at a time when global institutions, including the World Economic Forum, estimate that closing the gender financing gap could add over $300 billion to Africa’s GDP.

Here are the number of businesses operating in Ghana

For Simone, the solution is clearly an intentional investment in women.

“Africa doesn’t lack innovators, Africa lacks investors who are willing to see women as the economic force they already are,” she said.

As Ghana positions itself as a hub for female entrepreneurship, the arrival of Fearless Fund signals a potential turning point; one that could unlock not just individual success stories, but broader economic transformation driven by women.

NA/VPO

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