More than half of the world’s people live in poverty. Social entrepreneurship addresses the root problems of poverty through the power of business and innovation to provide sustainable economic and social impact.

In support of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, Miller Center is focused on supporting women’s economic growth. Investing in women’s economic empowerment (WEE) globally sets a direct path toward gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth.

We want to support social enterprises that are taking a robust and holistic approach to supporting women in all aspects of business. Our goal is to bring social enterprises that have a gender lens strategy together to offer mentorship and tailored curriculum to help build sustainable and scalable businesses.

Applications for this first-ever Women’s Economic Empowerment Online Accelerator are due December 1, 2020 and will kick off in mid-February 2021.

Looking to take your impact to the next level?

Here are 6 reasons to apply to our first-ever Women’s Economic Empowerment cohort:

1. SUPPORT WOMEN, CHANGE THE WORLD
   Some may question the need for an accelerator focusing on Women’s Economic Empowerment and what that entails. Miller Center believes that empowering women as leaders, employees, value chain partners, and customers/users is an important step in changing the world.According to UN Women:
   – Women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality.
   – When more women work, economies grow. Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification, and improves income equality, in addition to other positive development outcomes.
   – And research shows that women’s economic equality is good for business.

   Investing in women — as leaders, employees, and value chain partners — is the best way to end poverty for everyone. Focusing on gender equity can lead to transformative, positive impacts for entire communities because the money women make is much more likely to be spent on things like school fees for their children and correcting social ills in their communities.

   Unfortunately, investment in women-focused enterprises lags. According to Goldman Sachs All In: Women in VC Ecosystem 2019 Report, “among entrepreneurs, women receive far less venture capital funding than men do.” Yet women social entrepreneurs, more than their men counterparts, tend to take on more complex societal challenges, such as human trafficking and education, in more comprehensive ways. Focused support critically impacts investment in women-owned businesses.

2. A STRUCTURED AND VALIDATED CURRICULUM
   Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship has accelerated over 1,000 social enterprises to achieve operational excellence and prepare for investment. Impact driven, our social entrepreneurs come from all around the world. Miller Center has developed a methodology that revolves around three dynamic, interactive aspects: social enterprise accelerator readiness, stage-specific programs, and executive-level mentoring.
3. NOT A PITCH PROGRAM
   We walk with you every step of the way in building a more sustainable, scalable, and market-based enterprise. The expected outcome of our accelerator programs is that our social entrepreneurs will have a strategy for growing their enterprises in a financially sustainable manner through a validated business model and be able to secure the funding necessary to do so.
4. NO COST TO PARTICIPATE, EVER!
   All Miller Center accelerator programs are offered at no charge to selected social enterprises.
5. EXECUTIVE MENTORS
   Our executive mentors are your trusted advisors. They will accompany you with expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the program, focusing on strengthening your impact and business model, and presenting your value proposition in a compelling manner.Our mentors are successful business executives with decades of experience and connections who volunteer to work intensively with our social entrepreneurs in an in-depth relationship. Many are founders of successful startups, venture capitalists, or executives at Fortune 500 companies. All are chosen for their experience in startup enterprises and/or profit and loss (P&L) responsibility in larger organizations. Most mentors find Miller Center’s mentoring process to be personally fulfilling, and they return year after year.
6. AN ONLINE COMMUNITY PLATFORM
   Our online community platform will help you better engage with peers, mentors, and Miller Center staff for advice and fellowship. Benefit from program management and regular communications to support you and keep you on track. Utilize templates, tools, and resources tailored to your business needs.

Applications for our WEE program are due December 1, 2020. Learn more and apply here.