Mastercard, Women Choice launch new programs for female entrepreneurs
TLDR
- Mastercard and Women Choice collaborate to empower women entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East
- Initiated ImpactHer and EmpowerHer programs to offer tools, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities
- Programs aim to foster women's personal/professional growth, create employment opportunities, and drive economic development in the region.
Mastercard and Women Choice are strengthening their collaboration to empower women entrepreneurs across Africa and the Middle East through two new initiatives. Building on their existing partnership, the organizations have introduced ImpactHer and EmpowerHer programs.
ImpactHer and EmpowerHer aim to provide women entrepreneurs with the necessary tools, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to grow their businesses and generate employment opportunities for other women in their respective industries.
With a focus on advancing women's personal and professional development, these programs are designed to support women entrepreneurs in creating a positive impact on their communities and driving economic growth in the region.
Key Takeaways
In Africa, female entrepreneurs are taking their place in the male-dominated tech world. However, gender bias still makes it harder for them to access finance and grow their businesses. Per Briter Bridges, only 3% of the total funding raised by startups in Africa since 2013 has gone to all-women co-founded teams. Efforts and initiatives like Mastercard's are crucial to increasing female representation in and contribution to the startup space, which remains minute against a faster-growing percentage of ventures run by men.
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