SET University and USAID CEP have announced an open call for female-led startups to attend the WE.Brave bootcamp. Participating teams will receive intensive training and mentoring, and the winners will receive a budget for business development consulting.
SET University, with the support of the USAID Competitive Economy Program, launches WE.Brave bootcamp for technology products founded by women or those where 70% of the core team is female. You can apply for participation from February 5 to February 25 by filling out the form.
Another important requirement for participating startups is product readiness – it must be at the development stage, not just an idea. Having a working MVP is not a requirement, but it will be an advantage. Also, startup founders should be interested in developing the product after training: working on attracting investment, creating jobs, and monetizing it.
Each selected startup must have at least 2 representatives who will actively participate in the bootcamp. However, the number of participants from each selected startup is unlimited.
The bootcamp will run from March 11 to 22. It will consist of intensive training and mentoring sessions. The intensity of the program means that participants will have to devote about 6 hours to the bootcamp every day, except for weekends. The training and communication with mentors will take place online, so Ukrainians from all over the world can take part in the program.
During the training, participants will gain knowledge in MVP development, market analysis, financial planning, business, marketing, and sales strategy, fundraising, pitching, and building relationships with investors.
The program’s mentors include Ukrainian and international experts, including Sergiy Kudryashov, Yevhen Gusarov, Alexa Sinyachova, Kyrylo Mazur, Angela Conway, Jane Davidiuk, and others. The full list of experts can be found on the program page on the SET University website.
The three best participating projects will receive an additional budget of $6,500 for consulting and mentoring necessary for further business development.
“We at SET are very pleased to launch this program and are convinced of its importance. For example, in the United States, women-led companies contribute trillions of dollars to the country’s economy and employ 23 million people. This emphasizes not only the investment attractiveness of fem-led projects, but also the huge untapped potential. In Ukraine, we aim to change this dynamic by providing women’s startups with the resources they need to successfully launch and grow. For the program, we have assembled a team of experts who will teach in the form of lectures and conduct mentoring sessions. So I encourage all entrepreneurs who already have their own startups in the early stages to apply and recommend the program to their network.” – Yevheniia Klepa, Director of Partnerships and Innovation at SET University.
“More and more Ukrainian women are striving to start their own businesses, and the SET University initiative is an opportunity for them to gain practical knowledge and skills to successfully launch their own business in the tech business. Thanks to the WE.Brave program, dozens of women will be able to start a business, create jobs and pay taxes, which is so important in times of war. The USAID Competitive Economy Program systematically supports the development of women’s entrepreneurship, and such educational programs help to unlock the powerful potential of Ukrainian women, who are increasingly taking leadership positions in business and strengthening the economy of their country.” – Olesya Zaluska, USAID Competitive Economy Program Chief of Party.
More information on the requirements for participants and the program of the bootcamp can be found on the SET University website.
Read more about open opportunities: UA Seeds of Bravery Open Call
