Accelerating Impact: The EY SDG Accelerator for Women Entrepreneurs

Background for the Opportunity

In at present’s quickly evolving technological panorama, girls entrepreneurs proceed to face vital underrepresentation inside the synthetic intelligence (AI) and broader tech sectors. A pervasive problem is the persistent barrier to accessing the essential financing wanted to successfully scale their modern companies. Despite these systemic hurdles, girls entrepreneurs are constantly on the forefront of creating extremely impactful options that handle vital social and environmental challenges, notably inside the Global South. Their ventures typically drive profound constructive change, tackling points starting from local weather change to enhancing livelihoods and fostering resilient communities.

The EY SDG Accelerator for Women Entrepreneurs has been particularly designed to instantly handle these disparities and shut the present hole. This pioneering program is devoted to supporting women-led AI ventures which might be explicitly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By specializing in these ventures, the accelerator goals to foster and amplify options which might be actively working to fight local weather change, improve financial alternatives for underserved populations, and construct strong, sustainable communities throughout Africa, Latin America, and South/Southeast Asia. This initiative recognises the immense potential of ladies innovators and seeks to empower them to scale their ‘AI for good’ options for a extra equitable and sustainable future.

Detailed Information About the Opportunity

The EY SDG Accelerator for Women Entrepreneurs is a complete, 6-month program poised to empower the following era of women-led AI ventures driving constructive change.

• What is it?

  This accelerator program is designed to determine, nurture, and help 5 (5) high-potential, AI-driven impression enterprises. These enterprises have to be led by girls and function inside Africa, Latin America, and South/Southeast Asia. The core of this system is to champion companies which might be leveraging synthetic intelligence for good, adhering to accountable AI practices, to deal with among the most urgent international challenges of our time. These challenges embrace, however aren’t restricted to, local weather change, persistent meals insecurity, systemic social and financial inequity, and different vital points confronted by communities worldwide. The 6-month period of this system ensures a centered and impactful interval of growth and help.

• Who is it for? (Eligibility Criteria)

  The program is searching for particular varieties of ventures and leaders who meet the next standards:

  • Tech for Good Focus: The enterprise should demonstrably make the most of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) expertise for social impression. Furthermore, a strict adherence to accountable AI practices is obligatory, guaranteeing moral and useful application of expertise.
  • Female Founder Requirement: The major applicant have to be a feminine founder, co-founder, or proprietor of the corporate. She should maintain a key decision-making position inside the organisation, comparable to CEO or Managing Director, and possess a major possession stake within the enterprise. This criterion ensures that this system instantly empowers girls on the helm of modern ventures.
  • Social Enterprise Model: The enterprise mannequin might be versatile, encompassing for-profit, nonprofit, hybrid, or cooperative social enterprise constructions. The essential component is a transparent dedication to social impression alongside any monetary goals.
  • Geographic Focus: The organisation should at the moment function inside one of many focused areas: Africa, Latin America, South Asia, or Southeast Asia. This regional focus ensures this system’s impression is concentrated the place it will probably handle particular developmental wants.
  • Legal & Operational Status: The enterprise have to be a legally integrated entity and have been in lively operation for a minimal of 1 yr. This ensures a foundational degree of multinational and operational expertise.
  • Growth Potential: Applicants should clearly reveal an ambition and capability to develop each their enterprise’s earnings era and its social or environmental impression. The accelerator is designed to help ventures prepared for scaling.
  • Language Requirement: Given the worldwide nature of this system and the collaboration concerned, proficiency in English is a compulsory requirement for all candidates.
• Benefits for Selected Entrepreneurs

  The 5 chosen women-led AI ventures will obtain a complete suite of advantages all through the 6-month program, designed to speed up their development and impression:

  • Dedicated EY Business Coaching: Each chosen entrepreneur will likely be assigned a devoted one-to-one enterprise coach from EY, offering personalised steerage and strategic mentorship.
  • Professional Technical Workshops: Participants will achieve entry to specialised technical workshops, enhancing their sensible abilities and information in related areas.
  • Capacity-Building Sessions: The program contains capacity-building periods, facilitated by industry-leading collaborators, geared toward strengthening the enterprises’ operational and strategic capabilities.
  • Global Network Access: Entrepreneurs will achieve entry to a invaluable international community comprising buyers, company companions, and fellow social innovators, fostering potential partnerships and funding alternatives.
  • Peer-to-Peer Community: Regular peer-to-peer calls will likely be organised, enabling members to construct a supportive international neighborhood, share experiences, and study from each other’s journeys.
  • Event and Promotional Opportunities: Selected ventures may have occasional alternatives to take part in numerous occasions, achieve promotional publicity, and interact with exterior collaborators, rising their visibility and attain.

• When is it? (Key Program Dates)

  • Applications Open: May 1, 2025
  • Applications Close: June 15, 2025
  • Successful Applicants Notified (Shortlisted): June 18, 2025
  • Short Interview Process for Shortlisted Applicants: Dates to be confirmed post-notification.
  • Final Selection of 5 Ventures: By June 30, 2025
  • Program Duration: 6 months, commencing after the ultimate choice.
  • Apply now

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