Episode 6. Why Women Entrepreneurs Remain Underfunded | M-Kyala Capital

Why are so many women entrepreneurs still overlooked by investors? Across East Africa, women lead a significant share of small and growing businesses, shaping local economies, creating jobs and building companies with regional ambitions. Still, access to private capital remains one of the biggest barriers to growth. In this episode of Voices & Visions, Ivana Heijnen sits down with Carolyne Kirabo, Founder and Managing Partner of M-Kyala Capital, to explore how investment can better support the entrepreneurs driving much of the region's economic development. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in impact investing, venture capital and gender lens investing, Carolyne shares her perspective on the funding journey for women entrepreneurs, the importance of trust between founders and investors, and why long-term partnerships matter throughout the growth process. The conversation explores investment readiness, working capital, regional expansion across East Africa, gender lens investing, representation, and the systems that help businesses grow sustainably. Topics discussed: Why women entrepreneurs remain significantly underfunded Building trust between founders and investors Working capital as a driver of sustainable growth Supporting businesses beyond the investment itself Regional expansion across East Africa The role of gender lens investing Entrepreneurship, family and long-term business growth Representation and changing perceptions of women entrepreneurs The future of inclusive investing in Africa Produced by Tutto Passa Agency, in partnership with TechCabal. #VoicesAndVisions #GenderLensInvesting #WomenEntrepreneurs #PrivateCapital #ImpactInvesting #AfricaBusiness #EastAfrica #Entrepreneurship