2023 Academy of Women Entrepreneurs Program in Consular District Hyderabad (India)

Deadline: 31-Jan-23

The U.S. Mission to India has launched the 2023 Academy of Women Entrepreneurs Program in Consular District Hyderabad.

Project Goal

• Graduating participants will gain the basic knowledge necessary to formalize and grow their businesses, as well increase their contacts and learn about local business incubator opportunities and resources.

Project Objectives

• The implementing partner will have experience in development work, women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship incubation, and will have the contacts and organizational experience and capacity to manage the four cohorts that are geographically dispersed. The implementing organization will work with local institutions familiar with each site’s context and know how to advertise and recruit participants for the program.
• Program management will be the responsibility of the selected implementing partner in coordination with the U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad. The implementing organization will be responsible for selecting an overall project lead responsible for the management of the program in all of its locations and phases. The organization will recruit four facilitators who will be responsible for leading each cohort in the four separate locations. The selection committee for the facilitators will put a premium on choosing individuals with business, entrepreneurship, and/or teaching and academic experience in business, as well as experience managing and mentoring groups. Alumni of previous USG funded programs with relevant experience will be given preference when selecting facilitators. Facilitators should be from the metropolitan area in which the classes take place to ensure they have local contextual knowledge and can organize and participate in the once-per-month in-person facilitation sessions.
• The program will be taught in a hybrid fashion, involving both virtual and in-person facilitation sessions. Facilitators will meet with participants twice each month following the completion of each module, once virtually and once in person, to review the content. Participants will complete two modules per month, with two weeks to complete each module. Each cohort will conduct their program simultaneously on the same schedule.
• Facilitators will guide the first seven DreamBuilder modules starting in April 2023. In July, the first day-long mini bootcamp will be conducted in each location to reinforce and consolidate the information shared during the first seven classes.  Guest speakers will be invited attend to inspire participants and motivate them to finish the program, with at least one USG alumnus as a featured speaker. The trainers from the American Center New Delhi-based NEXUS business training incubator will also offer a virtual class on pitching best practices in anticipation of the pitch competition at the final bootcamp. Due to travel cost considerations, each cohort will conduct its own mini bootcamp in its regular facilitation location.
• Facilitators will complete the final six DreamBuilder modules between August and October 2023. During this second half of the program, an English Language Specialist funded through the U.S. Embassy will spend three to five days at each cohort location providing advanced English training, with an emphasis on “business” English and pitching skills for interested participants. This will better prepare participants for the pitching competition and enhance their skills in working with investors and partners following the end of the program.
• A final two-day bootcamp will take place at the end of the program in November, where the participants will review the content of the last six modules, attend educational sessions on specific topics, and hear from motivational speakers. The American Center NEXUS staff will participate in the bootcamp in-person to offer additional training. At least two USG alumni will be speakers/trainers at the bootcamp. The capstone event of the program will be a pitch competition. Successful business executives, the executive director of NEXUS, and USG program alumni will be judges at the pitch event. The top three pitches in each class will receive a small amount of seed funding (for consulting services, including but not limited to branding, accounting, and trademark registration), and will also be offered the chance to make an express application to NEXUS for more advanced training (NEXUS alone will make all final decisions on eligibility for their programs).
• During the course of the entire program, each participant will be assigned a mentor with experience in business and entrepreneurship to provide advice, guidance, and networking connections. As envisioned, all mentors will be USG program alumni. The mentors are not intended to replace the facilitators for the core training elements of the curriculum, but instead will provide participants with a one-on-one relationship with an experienced business professional who can be a source of advice, tips, and encouragement.
• Fund will be provided, if needed, to participants to subsidize the cost of internet data to attend all the virtual classes. Participants will also be provided with funds to assist with transportation to the once-per-month in-person facilitation sessions and the one-day mini bootcamp. The full costs for transportation, food, and lodging for the end-of-the-program final bootcamp will be covered for all of the participants to ensure they are able to attend in person.

Category of Funding Activity     

• Arts
• Community Development
• Consumer Protection
• Disaster Prevention and Relief
• Education
• Employment, Labor and Training
• Energy
• Environment
• Food and Nutrition
• Health
• Humanities
• Natural Resources
• Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Project Funding: USD $65,775
• Estimated Award Ceiling (Maximum): USD $65,775
• Estimated Award Floor (Minimum): USD $55,000
• Length of Project Period: 12 MONTHS
• Anticipated Program Start Date: MARCH 1, 2023

Project Audiences

• Participants must be from 18 to 50 years of age who have limited resources to develop a business plan to start or grow their small businesses. All participants must already have a small business in operation for at least six months at the open call and/or have proven working experience with the business idea they would like to implement. Priority will be given to underrepresented groups in all locations. All participants must have intermediate computer skills with access to internet to be able to follow the DreamBuilder modules online and connect to the virtual facilitation sessions. They will be assisted with subsidized internet/data connectivity if needed. Participants must also have intermediate or better English skills so that they can complete the DreamBuilder curriculum without the need for its translation. Participants will be required to have completed at least high school education (10+2 education).
• The implementing organization and the facilitators will review applications and select 100 women to attend the monthly classes (25 women entrepreneurs per city). The selection committee should identify at least three alternates per cohort who will be invited to complete the DreamBuilder curriculum on their own and join in person only if a participant drops out of the program.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Civil society/non-governmental organizations
  • Think tanks
  • Public and private educational institutions
  • Individuals
  • Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
• Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.
• Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.
• Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.
• In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI will be generated when the organization registers in SAM.gov.

Ineligible

This award does not allow:

• Projects relating to partisan political activity;
• Charitable or development activities;
• Construction projects;
• Projects that support specific religious activities;
• Fund-raising campaigns;
• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
• Scientific research or surveys;
• Commercial projects;
• Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
• Projects that duplicate existing projects; or
• Illegal activities.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.