KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
A new initiative by Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development is aiming to reduce the gender gap in the startup space and facilitate the entry of Emirati women businesses into the ecosystem.
The SWAN programme will support 39 Emirati women with promising home-based businesses to take their ventures to the next level through a series of training and networking sessions, market connections and grant money.
H.E. Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, Acting CEO of Khalifa Fund, told Aletihad that the programme was designed to not only create successful businesses but expand the role that the women played in society.
"We are keen to help these Emirati ladies create their own established startup brands, enabling them to enter the competitive market," she said.
"But we also aim to transform their perspective on entrepreneurship, broadening and elevating their ambitions. As they shift their goals from being purely personal to national, social, and economic objectives, they focus on their social responsibility as Emirati women entrepreneurs and their significant contribution to the prosperity of Abu Dhabi's economy."
Recent data from regional accelerator and analysis firm Wamda and publisher Digital Digest found that in the first half of 2024, almost 89% of startup funding in the MENA region went to male founders.
The SWAN programme aims to challenge this trend and create a throughway for female entrepreneurs to take advantage of the growing startup ecosystem in Abu Dhabi.
Mouza says it will do this by equipping the women with first-class leadership skills and putting them in touch with the right people to grow their businesses.
"There is significant demand for their products, indicating that these ventures are promising and have the potential for expansion when given the right support," Mouza said.
"This programme will develop their personal and leadership skills while equipping them with a solid foundation in the basics of establishing and managing a successful startup business."
The programme is made up of six intensive business management courses, which will equip participants with digital skills like social media marketing and e-commerce logistics as well as solo consultations with renowned experts.
Graduates from the course will be inducted into the Khalifa Fund umbrella which will see them gain access to a range of grants, events, investors and partners across Abu Dhabi.
For those in the Al Ain cohort, a special fund of Dh1 million has been set up that will offer direct grants between Dh40,000–Dh50,000 to graduates that will go towards their operating expenses.
Al Nasri said SWAN would aim to create a thriving cohort of Emirati businesswomen who could both support and uplift each other in the often chaotic and harsh world of startups.
She emphasised how crucial this was in reducing isolation and promoting the collegial empowerment of women.
"It's important to remember that many of these women juggle homemaking, motherhood, and employment alongside their businesses. Raising awareness about mental health helps them balance their personal and professional lives, maintain a focused mindset, and lead successful businesses," she said.
"This entire initiative revolves around empowerment and mental well-being. When we equip women with business knowledge and resources to develop their businesses, it boosts their self-confidence and trust in their talents to succeed, which in turn promotes their mental health."