The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Brunei officially launched its fourth cohort today at iCentre, welcoming 27 women entrepreneurs selected from over 100 applicants.
This global initiative, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, aims to enhance economic opportunities for women through entrepreneurship in more than 100 countries worldwide.
In Brunei, the U.S. Embassy in Brunei funds AWE, with the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) through Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) the appointed facilitator.
Participants will undergo a two-month training using DreamBuilder, an online learning platform developed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. The platform covers 13 essential business modules, focusing on key areas such as business planning, financial literacy, and marketing strategies.
In her welcoming remarks, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Katherine Ntiamoah emphasized the U.S. State Department’s core values in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in ensuring diversity in this year’s cohort.
“Our diversity is our greatest strength. When we make opportunities available for everyone and fully leverage what Brunei has to offer, our economy can become stronger, smarter and more innovative,” she said (pictured below L).
The fourth cohort represents a diverse group of Bruneian women with various interests such as community tourism, food and beverage production, fashion, and educational training services.
DARe will facilitate weekly in-person sessions, providing guidance and promoting peer-to-peer learning over the modules. These sessions will offer participants the opportunity to discuss course material and receive feedback, significantly improving engagement in contrast to online-only courses. After receiving pitch training, participants will showcase their business ideas to a panel of judges and deliver their completed business plans.
The program will culminate with a graduation ceremony in January 2025, where the top three entrepreneurs will each be awarded USD 3,000 in seed funding to support their business ventures.
AWE graduates will continue to benefit from DARe’s extensive ecosystem of business development initiatives, which includes access to financing, workspace, further training, mentorship, and market access.
In addition, AWE graduates will join a community of others who have participated in U.S. government-sponsored programs and have access to an abundance of resources to support their businesses through the U.S. alumni network.
Since its introduction in 2021, 66 female entrepreneurs have graduated from AWE in Brunei. The program is open to Brunei-based women aged 18 to 40-years-old who are early-stage entrepreneurs with limited business experience or training.
Globally, AWE has been implemented in more than 100 countries, with over 25,000 participants. Surveys from graduates have reported increased earnings, job creation, and the expansion of products or services.
This article above is a press release by BEDB.
