WB Funding, awards to break barriers for women start-ups
By Simon Echewofun Sunday
As the global recognition widens for women in business and entrepreneurship, more organisations are providing means of funding and awards to encourage more women to venture into business.
This week, Daily Trust brings some of these opportunities for the Nigerian female entrepreneur to tap into.
2018 AWIEF Awards
With a nominations deadline slated for July 2, 2018, the 2018 Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Awards is poised to recognise, honour, and celebrate women entrepreneurs and business owners in Africa for their economic performance and contribution to Africa’s growth and social development.
AWIEF salutes these women for their passion and determination in making a difference in their countries and on the continent.
The AWIEF Awards cover emerging and established entrepreneurship in the private and not-forprofit sectors.
AWIEF Awards candidates are women who have demonstrated outstanding vision and inspiration, and have overcome challenges to make a significant social impact.
The award categories include, the Young Entrepreneur Award for women under the age of 35, who have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and skills to build and grow a successful business, and is an inspiration to other young entrepreneurs.
There are also the Tech Entrepreneur Award, Social Entrepreneur Award (focusing on community impacts), Global Brand Award (world-class product or service) that is easily recognisable as a global brand, and the Agri Entrepreneur Award (for food security),
Others are Empowerment Award, Creative Industry Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The nominees can be nominated or selfnominated. Three nominees will be shortlisted for each category and will be invited to the AWIEF Awards and Gala Dinner on Friday, 9 November 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. Interested female entrepreneurs could log on to http:// www.awieforum. org/2018-awief-awards/ to initiate the process.
Women Startup Challenge Podcast
The Women Startup Challenge Podcast seeks to fund women-led start-ups as its survey showed only 1.9 per cent of Venture Capital (VC) funding went to women-led start-ups in 2017.
The challenge according to their website, is co-hosted by Google, Microsoft, and LinkedIn. It targets breaking down barriers and getting more women start-ups funded.
Six finalists will be selected to pitch their tech venture virtually on their podcast before prominent investors. It said the grand prize winner will receive $5,000 as cash grant for start-up.
The deadline is April 16, 2018 and Nigerian female entrepreneurs can apply if they are tech start-ups with a product at the protoype stage or have already launched.
The business must also be a woman-led start-up (defined as at least having one woman co-founder on the team). The woman co-founder must be the person to pitch.
More details can be gotten via, https:// www.womenwhotech. com/womenstartup-challenge/ podcast#application