NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Women-owned and led SMEs (WSMEs) are important drivers of innovation, job creation, and economic growth, yet many continue to face barriers to accessing the capital needed to scale. Business accelerators and investment readiness programs can help entrepreneurs strengthen their business models, expand professional networks, engage with investors, and build their capacity to attract and secure investment. Yet women entrepreneurs remain underrepresented in these programs. An analysis of more than 300 accelerator programs found that only 13 percent of founding teams were composed entirely of women, compared with 52 percent composed entirely of men. Moreover, participation in accelerators does not necessarily translate into improved access to finance, underscoring the need for more intentional approaches to helping women entrepreneurs secure investment.

The webinar will bring together practitioners and experts to discuss emerging evidence and practical lessons from implementing business accelerators and investment readiness programs for women entrepreneurs. The discussion will explore what works, where implementation challenges persist, and how programs can be strengthened. It will also share key insights from a new We-Fi note on the topic, drawing on lessons learned from We-Fi-supported initiatives.

Time: 9:00 -10:00 am ET