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HerMeNow Accelerator Logo

Empowering women-led social enterprises in MENA + Africa with technical, financial and mentorship resources to transform the world.

HerMeNow Accelerator 2023

Finalists Announced!

After intensive training and personalized mentorship with industry experts, 10 finalists have been chosen from the 40 teams that were accepted into the bootcamp.

HerMeNow mentors conducting a bootcamp session
3 smiling women seated around a wooden table

the HMN
Open 
Community

Join the vibrant network of women entrepreneurs dedicated to making a positive impact!


In parallel with the HMN 2023 program, we hold monthly open sessions available to everyone. You will have the chance to grow both personally and professionally and find strength in a supportive community. 

Proud sponsors of

world map highlighting MENA region

what are
social enterprises?

Self sustaining businesses aimed at making a social or environmental impact through their commitment to create profits while addressing crucial issues within society.

​

Social enterprises can take a variety of forms and work across multiple sectors, including music, arts, sports, media, literature, children's literature, wellbeing and more.

MENA is the only region in the world where poverty rates have consistently increased since 2014.

why MENA?

the global impact investment sector is a $1.16 trillion market.

but less than 1% is coming to the MENA region.*

One of the reasons is there aren't enough accelerator programs that provide local social enterprises with funding and support to help them grow.

There is even less funding available once they exit these programs.

 

*according to the 2022 Global Impact Investment Network Report.

the HerMeNow 2022 finalists in a group photo

the program

the HerMeNow 2022 finalists in Dubai attending a workshop

The HerMeNow Accelerator is run in collaboration with a dynamic team of experts specialized in social entrepreneurship in MENA with more than 14 years of experience in the field: Bloom.pm

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The participants are social enterprises created by women entrepreneurs who have already developed traction with their business and are ready to scale up.

what does the program look like?

Enterprises will get access to an empowering program that will include monetary prizes, mentoring, access to opportunities and more.​

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Open House

- online discussions

- info sessions

- selection Process

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Bootcamp

- 30 teams

- online workshops

- pitch practice sessions

- light mentorship

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Accelerator

- weekly workshops

- regular milestone check-ins

- mentorship coordination

- demo day

The Program

timeline

The 2023 HerMeNow accelerator cycle.

2023 Cycle Timeline
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the HerMeNow 2022 finalists listening to a workshop speaker

mentorship

We strongly believe in the power of outside mentorship to challenge the team to think outside the box by asking the right questions.

Here are two ways to get involved

key mentors

The principal mentor for a team in our programs.

We’ll match you with an enterprise based on your preference and the needs of the business.

 

We’ll ask you to commit to the following:

2

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Participate in at least 1 mentor speed dating session

3

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Guide enterprises through accelerator cycles

4

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Participate in pitch feedback sessions

5

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Participate in accelerator demo days

6

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Provide guidance while budgeting program funds

1

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Join at least 1

sprint session

topic mentors

Topic Mentors support teams in specific areas of expertise. Their support is on a case-by-case basis, per the enterprises' needs and requests. They have two primary responsibilities:

1

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Provide advice and answers to the entrepreneurs

2

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Connect the enterprises with people in their network.

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partnership

We believe in leveraging the wisdom and insight of existing communities on the ground alongside other partners who share in our vision of social Entrepreneurship. 

options for partnership

1

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Outreach Partners

Engaging your community online and offline in order to help us source enterprises for the program.

2

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Knowledge Partners

Conducting online workshops providing mentorship for participating impact startups, helping make relevant connections, etc.

3

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Ecosystem Partners

Providing additional support to the participating enterprises, such as investment, grants, partnerships, contracts,conference, visibility, services, etc.

4

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Growth Partners

Let’s collaborate to expand this program to reach more social impact enterprises, running more cycles, and expanding the support for social enterprises in each cycle.

benefits for partners

1

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Visibility on Bloom

and HerMeNow

properties

2

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Recognition on our

social media channels

3

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Mentions in press

releases

4

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Promotion of partner

activities and opportunities

5

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Special activities

and events

6

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Discounted access to

the bloom platform

about us

our mission

is to support women-led social enterprises whose purpose is to shake up the status-quo through their commitment to social and environmental change.

a person wearing a HerMeNow t-shirt
Women attendees at the HerMeNow workshop in Dubai

our vision

is to provide a platform where women are given the space and freedom to blossom by using their talents to transform the world through positive change as well as  the tools to grow their impact and bolster communities.

our founder

The 2022 HerMeNow Accelerator edition is funded by the StardustConcept* ESG & Impact division.

 

The owner and founder, Natacha Fazal Karim, desires nothing more than to support women’s ideas, hopes and talents by empowering them through social entrepreneurship so they may be creative catalysts for collective change and sustainable development.

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The program is almost entirely remote and accessible to enterprises across geographies.

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*Stardustconcept is a design + branding agency, with offices in Dubai and New York.

portrait of HerMeNow Founder, Natacha Fazal Karim
Workshop trainers at HerMeNow Workshop in Dubai

our trainers

Bloom’s lead trainers individually have 9-12 years experience (each) training and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship across the MENA region, including substantial experience working with people from marginalized, underrepresented, migrant, and refugee communities. 

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They also have substantial prior experience in entrepreneurship, tech, education, and community building in the US.

our team

Meet the HMN Accelerator team

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