The USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program (WEIP) 2025 for Women-Owned Small and Growing Businesses (WO-SGBs).

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Application Deadline: February 6, 2025

Applications are actually open for the 2025 USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program. The USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program (WEIP) is a transformative initiative aimed toward supporting Women-Owned Small and Growing Businesses (WO-SGBs) throughout Kenya by offering sources, mentorship, and monetary assist to assist entrepreneurs scale and succeed.

The program is in search of to recruit the very best entrepreneurial minds, specializing in Women-Owned Small and Growing Businesses (WO-SGBs) as key drivers of innovation and financial development working in Kiambu, Nakuru & Nairobi.

Eligibility standards

Management and Ownership Criteria

1. Women should personal 51% and above of the share capital.
2. The enterprise should be women-led, managed, and managed.
3. The enterprise should be in considered one of these key sectors: agribusiness and agro-processing, textiles & attire, healthcare, and water & sanitation.

Micro enterprise

1. Must have formal registration (at the very least a buying and selling license).
2. Operated for 1-2 years.
3. Employ fewer than 10 individuals (with at the very least 1 everlasting worker).
4. Annual turnover: Below Ksh 1 million.
5. Must have a sound Tax Compliance Certificate and a bodily tackle or premise.

For manufacturing enterprises:

• Investment in plant and equipment should not exceed Ksh 10 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

• Investment in plant and equipment should not exceed Ksh 5 million.

Small enterprise

1. Must have formal registration and all required enterprise certificates/permits.
2. Operated for 3 years or extra.
3. Employ 10-49 individuals, with the flexibility to retain at the very least 30% of staff.
4. Annual turnover: Between Ksh 1 million and Ksh 5 million.
5. Must have a sound Tax Compliance Certificate and a everlasting enterprise premise

For manufacturing enterprises:

• Investment in plant and equipment must be between Ksh 10 million and Ksh 50 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

• Investment in plant and equipment must be between Ksh 5 million and Ksh 20 million.

Medium enterprise

1. Must be formally registered with an incorporation certificates.
2. Provide 3 years of audited monetary accounts.
3. Operational for at the very least 3-5 years, with clear operational constructions and techniques in place (e.g., HR administration, payroll, finance).
4. Employ 50-99 individuals.
5. Annual turnover: Above Ksh 5 million.
6. Investment in plant and equipment for manufacturing ought to exceed Ksh 50 million; for service and farming enterprises, it ought to exceed Ksh 20 million.
7. Must have a sound Tax Compliance Certificate and a everlasting enterprise premises.

For manufacturing enterprises:

• Investment in plant and equipment ought to exceed Ksh 50 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

• Investment in plant and equipment ought to exceed Ksh 20 million.

Program advantages

Access to Co-Investment grants: Participants could have the chance to safe co-investment grants to scale their companies, with a complete of $1.25 million in co-investments obtainable throughout this system

Access to Capacity Building: Participants will obtain complete coaching tailor-made to their enterprise wants, specializing in areas akin to monetary administration, enterprise growth, and strategic planning.

Business Advisory: Entrepreneurs will obtain knowledgeable steering on find out how to develop and maintain their companies, addressing challenges particular to their sector.

Mentorship: Women entrepreneurs might be paired with skilled mentors who present personalised teaching to assist them navigate the complexities of scaling their companies.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program