The award is part of the second edition of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, which has already trained almost 200 Brazilian women
São Paulo, May 3, 2022: From April 28-30, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil, in partnership with +Unidos Group, brought together the participants of the second edition of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Program (AWE). The event, which was held in São Paulo, was the capstone of a five-month training program after which three finalists were selected to receive seed capital to scale up their businesses.
“In many ways each of these women entrepreneurs embodies the Brazilian spirit of creativity, hard work, and commitment, and I find so much to admire in them. I am proud that the Embassy and Consulates, together with our Brazilian partners, are literally shaping lives and making a difference that you can see. I am confident that AWE will help set the stage for these women leaders to take their businesses to the next level turn their ideas into reality and set a new course for further develop themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Chargé d’Affaires Douglas Koneff.
In this year’s program, the participants pitched their business plans to a jury composed of representatives of both the public and private sectors. The three winners are:
- First Place R$ 10,000 – Brenda Mendes Mota – Teresina-PI / Filha da Maria Terapia Capilar
- Second Place R$ 7,500 – Luciana de Lima Fontes – Fortaleza-CE / Filha do Mar Beachwear
- Third Place R$ 5,000 – Michele Aliete Marques de Souza – São Paulo-SP / M&M Gestão e Negócios
The event featured remarks by respected entrepreneurs in the Brazilian private sector, as well as participation by the U.S. Consul General in São Paulo, David Hodge, and Viveka Kaitila, president of GE Brazil representing the +Unidos Group, in addition to the three finalists of the first edition of 2020.
“Women have a crucial place in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and we see their positive impacts every day, both in the Brazilian and international markets. At the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil, we recognize that by supporting women entrepreneurs, we are helping build a more just and equitable future, while at the same time advancing both our private sectors and strengthening the mutual respect, collaboration, and ties between two of the largest economies in the hemisphere,” noted CG Hodge.
AWE-Brazil 2.0 took place in an online format between November 2021 and March 2022 and included the participation of 89 women entrepreneurs representing all regions of Brazil. AWE-Brazil 2.0 curriculum was based on the 10 modules of the “10,000 Women” virtual course from the Coursera educational platform, and included sessions on business expansion, finance, financial planning, negotiation, sales, marketing, operations, and management. The modules were supplemented with lectures, workshops, visits, virtual fairs, interaction with successful women entrepreneurs, mentoring by experienced mentors, access to innovative tools, and professional and commercial enrichment activities.
AWE-Brazil 2.0 is an initiative of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil, Grupo +Unidos as an implementation partner and pedagogical support by Somos Todas Marias Institute. Entrepreneurship and women empowerment are essential aspects of U.S.-Brazil bilateral priorities. As they acquire opportunities to strengthen their economic potential, women make positive contributions to stability, security, and prosperity in their communities and societies.
AWE has trained more than 7,000 women worldwide, operating in 50 countries, and in Brazil 179 innovative women have been enriched through this program and are helping strengthen the national economy. To learn more about the program and the participating entrepreneurs, visit the website: https://www.maisunidos.org/awebrasil/
