
Let the Mentors Speak
In the following blog posts, we will be giving the floor to our 2022 Edition’s mentors, without whom we would never have been able to establ
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.
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 Global Impact Investment Network.
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
The participants are social enterprises created by women entrepreneurs who have already developed traction with their business and are ready to scale up.
Enterprises will get access to an empowering program that will include monetary prizes, mentoring, access to opportunities and more.
Open House
- Online discussions
- "info sessions"
- Selection Process
Sprint
- High intensity workshops
- 1 on 1 follow-up
- Sprint demo day
- Selection process
Accelerator
- Weekly workshops
- Regular milestone check-ins
- Mentorship coordination
- Demo day
We believe that radical change hinges on these three supreme pillars as the conditions and means by which solutions to other critical SDG* challenges may be unlocked.
We’re particularly interested in unlocking change that addresses
SDG1 "end poverty in all its form everywhere" mostly through job creation
SDG 5 "achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls"
SDG 10 "reducing inequality within and amongst countries"
*The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The 2022 HerMeNow Accelerator Cycle.
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
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:
Participate in at least 1 mentor speed dating session
Guide enterprises through accelerator cycles
Participate in pitch feedback sessions
Participate in accelerator demo days
Provide guidance while budgeting program funds
Join at least 1
sprint session
Meet the HerMeNow Accelerator Mentors
A huge thank you to all our advisors and mentors who volunteered to dedicate their time and expertise to what we believe in. None of the above would have seen the light of day without their knowledge and generous intelligence.
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.
Outreach Partners
Engaging your community online and offline in order to help us source enterprises for the program.
Knowledge Partners
Conducting online workshops providing mentorship for participating impact startups, helping make relevant connections, etc.
Ecosystem Partners
Providing additional support to the participating enterprises, such as investment, grants, partnerships, contracts,conference, visibility, services, etc.
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.
is to support women-led social enterprises whose purpose is to shake up the status-quo through their commitment to social and environmental change.
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.
The 2022 HerMeNow Accelerator edition is funded by StardustConcept* ESG & Impact division led by Tamara Ghandour.
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.
The program is almost entirely remote and accessible to enterprises across geographies.
*Stardustconcept is an interior design company, with offices in Dubai and New York.
They whispered to her,
you cannot withstand the storm.
She whispered back, I am the storm
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.
They also have substantial prior experience in entrepreneurship, tech, education, and community building in the US.