Accelerate-Her
The Centre’s AccelerateHer is a business entrepreneurship programme offering an exciting opportunity for Guyanese women to access business acceleration workshops and professional mentoring to grow their businesses.
Targeting local women owners, operators, and managers, it builds the leadership and business skills of women entrepreneurs in Guyana to help them grow companies across a wide variety of industries and sectors. The Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG) partners with AccelerateHer to act as lead mentors, guest facilitators, and expert speakers.
Testimonials
This programme was such an eye opener for me. It helped me to see what my business can really go and the importance of building systems and a road map to get there. For an indigenous tourism business such as mine, the focus on pitch development, marketing, and mentorship was the key for me. AccelerateHer helped me to come out of my shell, be more streamlined and confident in communicating my business, and boosting my confidence as an entrepreneur. Because of this programme, the Centre will always be close to my heart.
Manager
Bimichi Eco-Lodge
AccelerateHer met and exceeded my expectation for growth in my company, but also for me as an individual. The courses were specifically targeted to help me identify gaps in my business, areas I need to tackle and how to start mapping that out for future development. Going through is programme has set me up for some of the successes I am benefitting from now…It is a programme that you have to commit your time to, but the Centre has made it very manageable with a full time business to run and my role as a mother.
Owner
Sure Gig Inc.
The AccelerateHer Programme showed me where my business is at this current moment in time, the opportunities it will have in the future, and how I can position myself to get there. As a growing business in Region 3, this programme and the Centre added to my growth and development as an entrepreneur and company in Guyana. It has propelled me to take advantage of the opportunities now coming into my region and beyond.
Managing Director
Global Commercial Import and Transport Inc.
I have been a part of many mentor-based programmes before, however nothing has ever been as content packed and practically driven as the AccelerateHer programme. From learning through the team and speaking with my mentee on all the programme pushes her to do, I can truly see how beneficial it has been to her as it encouraged practical growth for both her and her business.
AccelerateHer Mentor
Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Containers Inc.
The programme
AccelerateHer is designed to enable the growth of small businesses through tailored workshops, access to one-on-one business advisory services, mentoring, pitch development, and fostering a strong and supportive peer-learning environment for women. Predicated on successful mentorship and peer-learning models, AccelerateHer matches a pool of professional mentors with participants based on their business background and focus.
AccelerateHer seeks motivated women entrepreneurs who recognise the value of an interactive and collaborative approach to grow their business acumen and entrepreneurial skills.
Women entrepreneurs looking to expand their company, access new markets or increase efficiencies and innovation should consider applying to the programme.
Application Deadline: June 21, 2024
The third cycle of AccelerateHer will run from June-September 2024. Notification of selection for bootcamp will be on June 26, 2024.
Phase One
June 28-29
- Weekend bootcamp (3-Day Event)
- 30 participants
- Group sessions and take-home activities
- Business model canvas
- Value proposition development
Phase Two
July-August
- 15 select participants (from the bootcamp)
- 13-week programme
- 8-10 hours per week
- 1:1 mentorship, tailored coaching and workshops
- Weekly peer learning (Wed 9am-12n)
- SWOT analysis of business
Graduation
September – Demo Day
- Graduation
- Certificates Awarded
- Interact with the business community, potential buyers, and partners
AccelerateHer Mentors
The Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG) partners with AccelerateHer to act as lead mentors, guest facilitators, and expert speakers. WCCIG is a nonprofit charitable organisation dedicated to creating a collective voice for women and assisting women to achieve success and economic independence through business ownership and self-employment.
Who is AccelerateHer looking for
YOU
- Embody coachability and commitment
- Either a founder or a member of the management team of an existing small business
- Guyanese citizen living in and based in Guyana
YOUR BUSINESS
- Is more than a year old, and is looking to grow, access new markets or add innovative best practices
- Is legally registered in Guyana
- Is women-led and with women in key leadership positions
There are no fees associated with applying or participating in AccelerateHer. This programme is funded and made possible by the Greater Guyana Initiative.
Note: Proficiency with video conferencing platforms (i.e. Zoom, Teams, Webex) and virtual collaboration tools (i.e. Google docs, Dropbox) is recommended.