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The US embassy in Bahrain and the Bahrain Entrepreneurship Organisation (BEO) have launched an educational programme for Bahraini women to learn the ‘ins-and-outs’ of starting a business.
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) programme, which started at the beginning of the month, is set to take the entrepreneur from the idea stage through a series of lessons to create a business plan to launch a company and grow.
Forty Bahraini women have enrolled in the 13-course US State Department-funded programme that is being facilitated by the BEO. The BEO was established in 2018 as a platform to recognise young and women entrepreneurs and to help them hone their skills, as well as help to network with like-minded individuals.
“We are honoured that we are conducting this programme in co-ordination with the US embassy and to have a role in supporting Bahraini start-ups to become successful entrepreneurs,” said Feryal Nass, BEO chairwoman and founder.
“Bahrain is known for having the most active entrepreneurial ecosystem and considered the best entrepreneurial hub in the region with all the wise leadership and governmental initiatives to support this sector.
“There are many people with start-ups at an early stage or have an idea and don’t know how to begin. This programme assists with this and the classes create a sense of support and also accountability.”
The comprehensive course includes speaking engagements from Bahraini business leaders with a series of sessions on topics such as market research, basic accounting and marketing.
The programme will conclude with a vendor fair for the top three participants who will receive a small seed fund to support their entrepreneurial journey.
Participant Zainab Mohsen Salman, 28, from Al Daih, is delighted to be a part of the course. “I work in the crochet doll industry and I wanted to be part of this programme to gain leadership and financial skills, raise my country’s economy and learn how to manage businesses and projects,” she said. “This would help me develop my work further and show it to the world.”
