Application Deadline: August 9th, 2024
Launched in 2019, the Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton program is the first women-in-business support initiative of its kind in the industry offered by Access Bank’s W Initiative. The program in its maiden edition provided a free mini-MBA certification for 50 women entrepreneurs in Nigeria as well as financial grants worth N9Million to the top 3 applicants. This is done in conjunction with the International Finance Corporation (IFC, a member of the World Bank Group). Subsequently, the program was extended to 10 other African countries where Access Bank’s W initiative has its presence.
The program has since provided Mini-MBA to over 300 women entrepreneurs across Africa. This year hosts the 5th season of the program and seeks to provide mini-MBA certification to another 120 women entrepreneurs in Nigeria as well as grants worth over N17 million Naira to WSMEs.The 2024 Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton program for Nigeria will officially kick off on Monday, June 24th – August 9th, 2024 and will offer financial grants, an exclusive certified capacity-building program, and business coaching aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs.
Requirements
- Interested female entrepreneurs who meet the criteria of having an existing business for at least one year with at least 50% female ownership and between the age range of 18- 55 years are eligible
Benefits
- They will benefit from an exclusive and certified Mini-MBA and grant prizes.
- The program is designed for a 3-month period comprising 8 weeks of mini-MBA training in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and pitching sessions to a Pan-African Jury panel where the top finalists will pitch their businesses, infusing learnings from the mini-MBA and will stand an opportunity to win financial grants and other consolation prizes
Access Bank Womenpreneur Reward
Prizes:
- First prize is N5 million naira
- Second prize is N4 million naira
- Third prize is N3 million naira
- Fourth prize is N2 million naira
- Fifth prize is N1 million naira
- Sixth Prize is N750,000 naira
- Seventh Prize is N500,000
20 applicants will also receive consolation prizes such as free online advertisement and free website development
- The top 100 applicants will receive a 12-week mini MBA training from the International Finance Corporation.
Application Procedure:
- All online applications will be reviewed and screened by independent business experts for all five hundred (500) candidates who will be required to send in a sixty-second video pitch for the opportunity to be selected as part of the final top 120 candidates.