As a community of 1000+ African queer womxn entrepreneurs and professionals, our mission is to empower and advance each other through access. We've set a BOLD goal to raise a minimum of $15,000 to coach 30 African queer womxn entrepreneurs and provide funding for 5 queer womxn owned businesses through the 2021 QWB+A Startups Pitch Challenge program. The first virtual business development program for African queer womxn founders. To date, we have coached 56 and funded 12 businesses!
60% of South African queer women founders lack relevant knowledge and access to funding to grow their businesses. Despite recognition that women entrepreneurs are vital in the growth of the South African economy, queer women are often excluded from economic opportunities due to discriminatory business and cultural norms - resulting in stunted business growth, poverty and the lack of a dignified life. This project will fuel 30+ African queer women founders through business coaching and funding.
The QWB+A Startups Pitch Challenge will provide 30+ underserved queer women entrepreneurs with access to a free online business skills development course and training from top experts and professionals to develop their businesses, build their brands, acquire customers/clients and gain sustainable economic freedom. Entrepreneurs who participate will also receive pitch training for success, with the top 5 receiving funding to propel their businesses forward.
In the past year, we have grown our network to 3 chapters across South Africa and intend to launch two more chapters in underserved communities within the next year. Through these local communities, our goal is to provide business skills development for 180 queer women founders in the next 3 years and funding access for minimum 20% of them through QWB+A and other partnerships. This is how we aim to achieve our mission of increasing the success and sustainability of queer women owned businesses.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
