Visa Foundation launches programme to support women entrepreneurs in Ireland.
Visa Foundation has partnered with INCO to launch CatalyseHer, a comprehensive training and micro-grant programme designed to support 100 women-led small businesses across Ireland.
The initiative will provide early-stage, revenue-generating companies focused on social and environmental impact with training, community building opportunities, and access to funding through micro-grants.
“Small businesses represent 90% of all companies and account for nearly 70% of both jobs and GDP worldwide”
Applications for the programme opened on July 8th, targeting entrepreneurs who have completed the training component and can demonstrate their business potential through video pitch submissions.
Empowering small business owners
“Small businesses represent 90% of all companies and account for nearly 70% of both jobs and GDP worldwide,” said Najada Kumbuli, head of Investments and Partnerships at Visa Foundation.
“With such a large footprint, they are an integral part of our global economy’s fabric and can’t be overlooked. At Visa Foundation, we are focused on empowering SMBs and entrepreneurs with access to capital, digital tools and financial skills to grow and thrive, and we are proud to launch a tailored programme with INCO to reach more entrepreneurs in need of support in Ireland.”
The programme aims to equip entrepreneurs with knowledge and skills to scale their businesses and become more investment-ready. INCO, a leading social enterprise company, brings expertise in supporting impact-driven businesses to the partnership.
“At INCO, we see the meaningful impact being created by women entrepreneurs,” commented Hannah Rhodes, associate director at INCO.
“Supporting these entrepreneurs to thrive is at the core of our mission to build a new economy that is green, inclusive, and resilient, which is why we’re incredibly excited to partner with Visa Foundation to launch CatalyseHer, an initiative designed to accelerate women-led businesses making impact across Ireland.”
Interested entrepreneurs can apply for the programme here
This initiative builds on Visa’s existing commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs through programmes like ‘She’s Next’, which launched in Ireland in 2021 and has invested more than €200,000 in grants and coaching for female small business owners across the country.
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