September 30, 2022. After a long process of selection and evaluation of more than 200 applications from Honduran women to participate in the Empresarias Progresando Program (EMPRO), today we announce the 40 winners.
These 40 women with the desire to continue transforming their businesses were selected by an Evaluation Committee whose members carefully reviewed the merits of each of the applicants.
This program was developed by INCAE Business School, under the Women's Business Growth initiative and has the financial support and accompaniment of PriceSmart Foundation and Cargill. EMPRO aims to strengthen women's business knowledge through a series of training courses that will contribute to the transformation and scaling up of their businesses, as well as to access to new markets and financing.
"For INCAE, through its Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, it is an honor to contribute so that this select group of entrepreneurs can transform their businesses, generate more employment and prosperity for Honduras. At our institution, we are committed to helping women overcome the challenges and biases that have traditionally limited their growth potential," said Octavio Martinez, Director of CLACDS/INCAE.
These are the winners and the names of the companies with which they are participating:
The entrepreneurs belong to the commercial, agricultural, food, services, technology, agribusiness, industrial, personal care, and textile sectors, including products such as shoes, jewelry, printing, handbags, clothing, pastries, sauces, and frozen products. The vast majority of these are handcrafted and innovative products, which could soon be on the international market.
"I was very proud to learn details of the projects with which the selected entrepreneurs will be participating in this program and I am excited to think of EMPRO's contribution to the professional and business growth of my compatriots," said Gracia Barahona, EMPRO's Manager in Honduras.
This first stage of the EMPRO program successfully culminated with the selection of these 40 women entrepreneurs, but this would not have been possible without the financial support of the PriceSmart Foundation and Cargill.
We are also grateful for the collaboration of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Tegucigalpa, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Cortés, Voces Vitales, Terra Te Impulsa, Tech4DevHN, Banco Ficohsa, LAFISE, BAC and MasterCard during the recruitment phase.
Important dates for the EMPRO Program
From October 3 to 16, the winning entrepreneurs will have access to pre-selected courses from the LEADS Mujer online program and their respective Bootcamps in innovation and finance. This online course platform was designed with the sponsorship of Mastercard, a company with which INCAE has joined forces to promote the talent, knowledge and growth of women entrepreneurs in different countries.
From October 17 to November 18, the businesswomen will begin with the first class sessions, resuming activities on January 3, 2023, until the end of the training sessions in the second week of June 2023.
EMPRO was conceived to strengthen the knowledge and skills of women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and access new markets and financing. Members of the faculty of INCAE will participate, as well as experienced mentors from national and international companies, as well as from the banking sector. The training culminates with a business roundtable where each participant puts into practice the knowledge acquired, presenting their business and products to potential distributors, retailers, and financial institutions.
For more information, please contact Mauren Esquivel at mauren.esquivel@incae.edu or Gracia María Barahona, Manager of the EMPRO Honduras Program at gracia.barahona@clacds.incae.edu.
