HerMeNow is an accelerator that aims to support women-led social enterprises in the MENA including Lebanon to increase their regional impact.
The masterminds behind this initiative are Natacha Fazal Karim and BloomMena, an NGO that “supports communities through entrepreneurial programs.”
Natacha is the owner and founder of Stardust Concept, an interior design firm, and she strongly believes that “women are the bedrock of society.”
The initiative is in partnership with many international associations, notably the Asher Center For Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACIE) in the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) In Lebanon.
The accelerator serves as a solution to a regional problem. As stated in their launch, the social impact sector is a $715 Billion market, however, the MENA region receives less than 2% of the investment.
This lack of investment is due to the fact that Lebanon’s and regional startup social enterprises do not receive the adequate support needed in their early stages. Thus, they do not receive the right resources to grow.
HerMeNow is the solution. Most of the program is held remotely so that it can be accessible to any company.
The program consists of an open house during the months of June and July, and a sprint for selected teams starting in August. Then, the 10 selected teams will enter the accelerator program and will participate in the in-person training held in Tuscany, Italy.
The program is looking for social enterprises that focus on culture, mindset, and education. Applicants should be in line with achieving the Sustainable development Goals (SDGs), most notably: SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Inequality Across Countries).
The chosen teams will gain world-class training, networking opportunities with international mentors, cash funding, and many other tools to grow their impact and transform the world.
For more information regarding their criteria and registration deadline check out their website: HerMeNow.com
