The US Embassy Abu Dhabi is bringing the US Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program to the UAE through a partnership with startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based global accelerator anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).

AWE encourages women to harness their economic potential by building and scaling businesses in over 50 nations, with the aim to reach 50 million women by 2025. Applications are open for female entrepreneurs aged 28–55 in the UAE until October 3, 2020.

In recognition of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy, AWE UAE aims to work with women entrepreneurs to develop their business resilience with a view to survive, thrive, and then grow, in the next normal and beyond. The program is designed to be fully virtual and fit the demanding schedules of business owners.

Taking place in two phases, with 21 virtual sessions over a period of six months,  participants will be trained to recreate value for their companies, build innovation capabilities, create customized business continuity plans to update ventures for the new market conditions, and reset paths to profitability. In addition, entrepreneurs will receive support from talented interns and benefit from mentorship and business connections to fuel their economic potential.  The program will conclude on International Women’s Day 2021, where participants will showcase businesses to potential partners and investors.

Cultural Affairs Officer at US Embassy Abu Dhabi Lauren Willy commented: “The US and the UAE are united in our enthusiastic support for entrepreneurs, as we have in common richly diverse populations that drive cutting edge innovation and creativity. Our partners, startAD at NYUAD and the IEC at Zayed University have designed a top-notch program that is a reflection of the UAE’s entrepreneurial talent and we look forward to welcoming all women interested in building their businesses into the program. ”

Research Professor of Engineering, Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship at NYUAD, and Managing Director of startAD Ramesh Jagannathan said: “In the Mena region, 37 percent of women want to establish their own business, which is the highest rate globally. However, only 9 percent of women in the region are early-stage entrepreneurs. As such, there is a significant opportunity for the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster female entrepreneurial talent and grow the number of women-led businesses, especially in these times.”

“In holding this program, alongside our partners of the US Embassy Abu Dhabi and Zayed University, we want to ensure that regional entrepreneurialism benefits from having strong, female-led businesses that help to drive forward innovation and business development,” he concluded.

A virtual information session for interested applicants will be held on September 16, 2020, a statement said.

startAD is an Abu Dhabi-based global accelerator steering seed-stage technology startups to launch, develop, and scale their ventures. Anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi and powered by its partner Tamkeen, the accelerator equips startups to pilot solutions with industry leaders, while enabling corporates to innovate with startups disrupting their core businesses. – TradeArabia News Service