You do not need to know how to code to build a health startup. That is the message behind FemNest 2.0, a five-week incubator from Heels and Tech built for Nigerian women who see a problem and want to fix it.
Top ventures may walk away with milestone-based funding, and everyone who completes the programme gets a stage in front of investors in Lagos.
About the Programme
FemNest Lab is run by Heels and Tech, a Nigerian tech training organisation whose website is heelsandtech.com, and this is its second cohort. It focuses on early-stage women innovators tackling challenges that affect women, children and families, with health at the centre.
The format is simple: four weeks of virtual learning with practical assignments and office hours, then a Demo Day and showcase in Lagos.
Benefits
Mentors come from healthcare, product leadership, investment and startup operations, so you get feedback from people who have actually shipped products. Training covers AI and no-code tools, which means you can build a first version of your idea without hiring a developer.
You also get help with customer discovery, market validation, go-to-market strategy, partnerships and investment readiness. At the Lagos Demo Day you pitch to investors and ecosystem partners, and top performers may qualify for milestone-based funding. No fixed amount has been announced.
Eligibility Criteria
- You are a woman innovator based in Nigeria.
- You have a healthcare or family-related challenge you want to solve.
- You are at any early stage: an idea, an existing concept to validate, a first prototype, or exploring how AI can speed up your solution.
- No software development or coding experience is required.
- Ideas outside health, such as caregiving, family finances or safety, can also be considered if they address a real challenge.
Documents Needed to Apply
The organiser has not published a document checklist. The application is an online form, so prepare these answers in advance:
- A clear description of the problem and who suffers from it
- Your idea or prototype and the stage it has reached
- Who your first customers or users would be
- Why you are the right person to solve it
Even at idea stage, writing your plan down helps you answer these sharply and prepares you for Demo Day investors. A readymade business plan can give you a structure to start from.
Key Details at a Glance
Programme: FemNest 2.0 (Heels and Tech) 2026
Organizer: Heels and Tech
Eligible location: Women innovators in Nigeria
Funding available: No fixed amount; milestone-based funding possible for top ventures
Application deadline: Check official portal (no date published)
How to Apply
- Review the programme details on the official FemNest 2.0 page.
- Click “Apply to Cohort 2.0” or go straight to the FemNest 2.0 application form and complete it.
- Check the page again after submitting for updates on selection and start dates.
No deadline is published, and cohorts like this tend to fill quickly. Apply this week instead of waiting for a date to appear.
Final Thoughts
Five weeks is a short commitment for mentors, training and an investor audience. If you have been sitting on an idea about women’s or family health, this is a low-risk way to test it.
For more programmes worth your time, see our list of latest opportunities for the month. And when your idea becomes a real business, our business registration service can get you incorporated properly.