Visa, a company specialising in digital payments, recently extended its “She’s Next” program to Kenya.
As part of its mission to help build a more equitable and inclusive world, Visa launched She’s Next to encourage women to start and grow their businesses. Its goal is to provide resources like capital, education, and guidance to women-run small businesses.
A grant of up to KES 2.5 million is available for women entrepreneurs from any industry and sector who apply. Visa and its partners will provide training and capacity-building sessions to the top applicants in addition to the monetary prizes.
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To apply, interested parties must fill out a brief form on the She’s Next Kenya | Visa website outlining their company. You have until June 12th to apply; we’ll announce the winners in July.
How Women Have Benefitted Globally from Visa, She’s Next Grant
More than 250 women entrepreneurs from the United States, Canada, India, Ireland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Morocco have received over $3 million in grants and coaching from Visa since the program’s inception in 2020.
Three local women entrepreneurs received $10,000 grants from Visa after the program’s August 2023 call for applications from small businesses in India owned and led by women.
Three Egyptian startups were each given $10,000 in November after winning the second annual She’s Next competition, which was co-hosted by Commercial International Bank (CIB) and Visa. The victors include the apparel label Green Fashion, the health tech company Reme-D, and the shipping service aggregator Fincart. Additionally, USAID extended mentorship opportunities to the top 20 contestants.
Visa Canada announced the She’s Next Grant Programme winners for the Canadian extension in March. Ten finalists were given $10,000 CAD and access to an expedited mentoring programme through YSpace at York University to support women-owned small businesses.
With a total of $500,000 in grant funding spanning 64 matches and potentially 32 qualifying countries, Visa, the Worldwide FIFA Women’s Football Partner, announced in mid-2023 the first-ever extension of the prestigious Visa Player of the Match athlete award to support women-owned small businesses (WSMB). As they cheered on the female players at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM, fans back home could do their part to boost the status of women in business.
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About Visa
With a presence in over 200 countries and territories, Visa enables digital payments for consumers, businesses, banks, and governments. For the benefit of people, companies, and economies everywhere, the company has consistently ensured they create the most cutting-edge, user-friendly, trustworthy, and secure global payment network.
The future of the money movement is based on inclusive economies that lift everyone everywhere and see access as fundamental. Visit Visa.com to find out more.