Supporting women entrepreneurs
Women Empowerment Award
Our Women Empowerment Award aims to help female entrepreneurs and their social enterprises generate social impact in the low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Every year, fifteen entrepreneurs with solutions for health, nutrition and sustainable agriculture related challenges receive a cash prize along with participation in our tailored empowerment program including active investor feedback and access to our global alumni network.
Female entrepreneurs play a key role in
advancing the lives of their communities
![Female entrepreneurs play a key role in advancing the lives or their communities Female entrepreneurs play a key role in advancing the lives or their communities](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/WEA%20Profile%20Pics%20%281%29_0.png)
Why support female entrepreneurs?
Female entrepreneurs play a key role in the fight against poverty and in advancing the development of the regions in which they operate. However, the female social entrepreneurship journey is marked by major challenges: Lack of funding, discrimination and missing networking opportunities are only a few obstacles. We want to support the brightest minds who jointly pave the way for a fairer tomorrow with their health, nutrition, and agricultural solutions.
What’s in it for female entrepreneurs?
- €25,000 cash prize
- Tailored coaching to reach your business goals
- Access to Bayer Foundation & Bayer’s expert network
- Visibility through branded communication activities
- Final award ceremony
- Alumni Network
What are we looking for?
Female entrepreneurs
Regardless of their initiatives and ideas, female founders face great challenges that hinder their success. The Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Award aims to enable their ability to create social impact through groundbreaking innovation. We are looking for women-led, women-managed or owned enterprises that help drive social change and improve their communities.
Social Impact Focus
We want to empower female founders active in health, nutrition, and agriculture. Women who want to jointly advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing). Women who want to decrease inequalities create perspectives and lift each other.
Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)
Although female founders face obstacles all across the globe, this challenge focuses on entrepreneurs from the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) – Latin America, Africa & the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. This opportunity is a prime incentive to take centre stage and accelerate their innovations towards a healthier future.
Who are the previous winners?
Cohort 2024
![Blandine Umuziranenge Blandine Umuziranenge](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/WEA%20Profile%20Pics%20%281%29.png)
Blandine Umuziranenge
Kosmotive
![Deborah Kemi Adedigba Deborah Kemi Adedigba](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Kemi%20%281%29.png)
Deborah Kemi Adedigba
Health4Moni
![Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Ife%20%281%29.png)
Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson
Healthtracka
![Joan Nalubega Joan Nalubega](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Joan%20%281%29.png)
Joan Nalubega
Uganics Repellents Ltd
![Joyce Kamande Joyce Kamande](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Joyce%20%281%29.png)
Joyce Kamande
Safi Organics Ltd
![Astrid Paramita Astrid Paramita](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Astrid%20%281%29.png)
Astrid Paramita
FoodCycle Farm
![Athalia Mutiara Laksmi Athalia Mutiara Laksmi](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Athalia%20%281%29.png)
Athalia Mutiara Laksmi
Hear Me (PT Inovasi Disabilitas Indonesia)
![Aya Fernandez Aya Fernandez](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Aya%20%281%29.png)
Aya Fernandez
Eco-Uling by Project Lily Inc.
![Maria Wilvenna Anora Maria Wilvenna Anora](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Maria%20%281%29.png)
Maria Wilvenna Anora
AtoANI Agriventures Inc.
![Moh Suthasiny Moh Suthasiny](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Moh%20%281%29.png)
Moh Suthasiny
Happy Ground
![Gabriela Rojas Gabriela Rojas](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Gabriela%20%281%29.png)
Gabriela Rojas
SinReglas
![Johanna Cordovez Johanna Cordovez](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Johanna%20%281%29.png)
Johanna Cordovez
Tirando x Colombia
![Mayara Haddad Borges Mayara Haddad Borges](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Mayara%20%281%29.png)
Mayara Haddad Borges
Prorede3 Intermediação de Doações LTDA
![Sarah Sampaio Sarah Sampaio](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Sarah%20%281%29.png)
Sarah Sampaio
Amazônia Agroflorestal
![Valentina Rios Valentina Rios](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2024-07/Valentina%20%281%29.png)
Valentina Rios
Docokids
Cohort 2023
![Tiffany Tiffany](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Tiffany.png)
Tiffany Tong
Aloi
![Ayesha Ayesha](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Ayesha.png)
Ayesha Zulfiqar
Bioniks
![Akshita Akshita](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Picture41.png)
Akshita Sachdeva
Trestle Labs
![Fariel Fariel](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Fariel%20New.png)
Fariel Salahuddin
UpTrade- Goats for Water
![Divya Divya](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Divya.png)
Divya Munot
Bamboostan
![June June](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Muchuku.png)
June Muchuku
Plumbee Wholefoods Ltd
![Christina Mawuse Gyisun Christina Mawuse Gyisun](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Christina.png)
Christina Mawuse Gyisun
Sommalife
![Maryanne Gichanga Maryanne Gichanga](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Maryanne.png)
Maryanne Gichanga
AgriTech Analytics
![Madhvi Dalal Madhvi Dalal](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Dalal.png)
Madhvi Dalal
Padmad
![Jocelyne Agbo Jocelyne Agbo](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Jocelyne.png)
Jocelyne Agbo
Farm On Wheels
![Cristina Campero Peredo Cristina Campero Peredo](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Christina%20Camp.png)
Cristina Campero Peredo
PROSPERiA
![Daniella Castro Araújo Daniella Castro Araújo](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Daniella.png)
Daniella Castro Araújo
Huna Ltd.
![Ingrid Briggiler Ingrid Briggiler](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Ingrid.png)
Ingrid Briggiler
Nume
![Elisa Violeta Bertini Elisa Violeta Bertini](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Elisa.png)
Elisa Violeta Bertini
Puna Bio
![Elisa Violeta Bertini Elisa Violeta Bertini](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Savia%20new.png)
Sávia Gavazza
Pluvi - Soluções Ambientais Inteligentes
Cohort 2022
![Claire Van Enk Claire Van Enk](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/claire%20last.png)
Claire Van Enk
Farm to Feed
![Daisy Isaho Daisy Isaho](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-05/Daisy_Isaho.png)
Daisy Isaho
Zuri Health
![Diana Orembe Diana Orembe](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/NovFeed.png)
Diana Orembe
Novfeed
![Yvette Ishimwe Yvette Ishimwe](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-05/Yvette_Ishimwe.png)
Yvette Ishimwe
IRIBA Water Group
![Muzalema Mwanza Muzalema Mwanza](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-05/Muzalema_Mwanza.png)
Muzalema Mwanza
Safe Motherhood Alliance
Cohort 2021
![Caitlin Dolkart Caitlin Dolkart](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Flare.png)
Caitlin Dolkart
Flare
![Angella Kyomugisha Angella Kyomugisha](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Kaaro%20Health.png)
Angella Kyomugisha
Kaaro Health
![Cynthia Mene Cynthia Mene](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Vetsark.png)
Cynthia Mene
Vetsark
![Abimbola Adebakin Abimbola Adebakin](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/My%20Medicines.png)
Abimbola Adebakin
myMedicines
![Morenike Fejemisin Morenike Fejemisin](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx38116/files/2023-07/Whispa%20Health.png)
Morenike Fejemisin
Whispa Health
What are the timelines?
The Women Empowerment Award is an annual program. The application period starts in the beginning of each calendar year. The next application phase will start in January/February 2025. This year's award program is powered by Impact Hub Network. You can find all details here: Impact Hub (bayerfoundation-wea.com).
Impact of the Women Empowerment Award
Our Women Empowerment Award winners drive impact to different UN Sustainable Development Goals with their social businesses.
Please find here the Bayer Foundation Impact Database on Loompact.