infoDev’s Entrepreneurship Program for Innovation in the
Caribbean (EPIC) presents the
INNOVATIVE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
COMPETITION
Do you consider yourself an Innovative Woman Entrepreneur in CARICOM?
Competition
now OPEN!
PRIZE: An opportunity to participate in the 5th
infoDev Global Forum on Innovation and Technology
Entrepreneurship, to be held in East London, South
Africa, from 28 – 30 May 2013.
http://www.globalforum2013.co.za/
infoDev, a department of the World Bank, in partnership with the Canadian Government, is implementing the
Entrepreneurship Program for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC) to promote economic diversification and
productivity in the region through the promotion of technology-based entrepreneurship. More specifically, EPIC
aims to foster the growth of competitive micro, small and medium enterprises across the Caribbean*.
As part of this EPIC, the Women Innovators Network in the Caribbean (WINC) is targeting the region’s growthoriented, innovative women entrepreneurs and business owners. Its objectives are:
1.
To assist existing Caribbean women-led businesses which have the capacity to grow substantially via the
adoption of innovative practices and products.
2.
To provide sector-specific support and advice to women entrepreneurs developing technology-oriented
innovative businesses.
3.
To strengthen networks of innovative women entrepreneurs who can support each other, share
knowledge and ideas, and inspire others by showcasing their success stories. These will connect with
other women entrepreneurs around the world via infoDev’s Global Incubator Network.
4.
To grow the pipeline of successful growth-oriented, innovative women entrepreneurs by providing a
package of assistance to those with entrepreneurial aptitude and ambition.
WINC will be rolling out several activities in 2013, starting with this opportunity to participate in the 5th infoDev
Global Forum in Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship in South Africa in May. This will be followed by
Creativity & Innovation workshops in July, providing valuable business training for women entrepreneurs. Piloting
in Barbados and Jamaica initially, WINC will engage strongly across the rest of the region. All training materials,
useful information, connections etc will be shared through WINC’s online communities.
WINC’s team is eager to connect with women entrepreneurs and business owners through the Caribbean*, as
well as with individuals and organizations who provide business support services. To help shape this program
and join WINC’s community, contact us through [email protected] and our Facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/WomenInnovatorsNetworkCaribbean. You can also learn more about EPIC and WINC
through infoDev’s website: http://www.infodev.org/wincChallenge.
* EPIC covers the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana,
Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago
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Guidelines for Innovative Women Entrepreneurs Competition
SHOULD YOU APPLY?
YES, if this describes you / your company:
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A woman entrepreneur and/or the CEO or Executive Manager of a woman-owned business based in
CARICOM
Looking to grow your business and seeing good growth prospects locally and/or abroad
Impatient to grow your market share and product portfolio in your quest to grow your business,
substantially
Open to innovative methods/business approaches/products/processes that could be applied to your
business to drive its growth
Open to using technology to expand the operations of your business
Would benefit from business coaching support
Looking for an opportunity to meet and learn from other successful entrepreneurs
Supportive also of other women entrepreneurs on their journey to success with a strong desire to “pay it
forward”.
This is your opportunity to win a trip to attend and participate in the 5th infoDev Global Forum on Innovation and
Entrepreneurship which will take place in East London, South Africa from 28th - 30th May 2013, hosted by the
South African Department of Science and Technology. The event is expected to attract over 600 participants
ranging from entrepreneurs, business incubator managers, private sector and government representatives,
financiers, members of the media and donors. Highlights of the 2013 Global Forum will include:
• interactive learning sessions around green growth and clean technologies, mobile applications, and
agribusiness entrepreneurship;
• the launch of an African Women Entrepreneurs’ Roundtable;
• a cutting-edge training course for business incubator and technology hub managers;
• the chance to watch and learn from live pitching contests with real investors;
• inspiring keynote speeches from private & public sector leaders about the journey ‘From mind to market’;
• learning from experts about new ways to access finance through web platforms, angel investors and other
sources;
For more details about the Forum, visit: http://www.globalforum2013.co.za/programme.php.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please complete the attached application form, and email it to [email protected] by 4PM EST on Monday 15th
April 2013. Late submissions will not be considered.
Your completed application (Sections 1-5) must not exceed 5 pages, maintaining the current page margins and
Calibri font size 10. You may however remove the footnotes.
From this competition, two women entrepreneurs will be selected to attend the Global Forum 2013. The WINC
team will inform all applicants of the outcome of the selection process.
Have questions about the competition, application process or Global Forum? Email them to [email protected]
or post them on WINC’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WomenInnovatorsNetworkCaribbean before
midnight EST on Wednesday 10th April 2013. Responses to all questions received by both means before then will
be posted on WINC’s Facebook page within 24 hours so that the same information is accessible to everyone. It will
be your responsibility to keep abreast of these updates.
Information you provide in your application will be kept confidential to the program.
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EVALUATION CRITERIA
WINC is particularly focused on supporting women entrepreneurs and business owners who are demonstrably
growth-oriented and innovative. An assessment panel of WINC and independent judges will be looking at
applications against the following criteria:
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Clarity of your business (20% of marks) – including how clearly you have described your business, its
products/services, your clients, your plans and your role.
Your business growth (25% of marks) – e.g. what does business growth means to you, how your business
is growing, what your plans are to achieve further growth? Etc.
Your inclination towards business innovation (25% of marks) – e.g. how you define innovation in your
business, how do you foster innovation and embrace change.
Perceived benefit(s) from the Global Forum (10% of marks) – what you believe you will gain from this
experience, what you feel you will contribute to the Forum, and why you should be selected?
Your planned contribution to WINC’s community (20% of marks) – how you intend to support your fellow
women entrepreneurs and business owners through this experience and WINC.
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For all applicants, we look forward to this being the start of a continuing relationship with the program.
If you would like to join WINC’s community but do not wish to apply for this competition, contact us through
[email protected] or WINC’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WomenInnovatorsNetworkCaribbean.
We would very much like to hear from you!
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Application for Innovative Women Entrepreneurs Competition
Section 1: Your details
Your name (title, first name, surname):
Name of your company1:
Start date of your operations:
Registration date of your company (if different):
Registered address of your company2:
Mailing address of your company (if different):
Your email:
Your telephone number(s), with country
prefixes:
Work
Cell
Your Skype address:
Your company’s website and/or social media (if
applicable):
Section 2: Your business
How do you describe your role in the company? Please include your job title, ownership (if applicable) and how
you contribute to the decision-making processes.
A short description of what your company does
A list of your company’s products / services
Who buys your products / services, and why?
Are you currently exporting? If yes, to which markets? If no, why not?
An indication of your current turnover (select applicable option by marking with an ‘X’):
< US$ 10 000
<US$ 50 000
< US$ 100 000
<US$ 1 000 000
Other (please indicate)
1
The word “company” here includes incorporated entities as well as the operations of sole-traders and partnerships.
2
Your company must be registered in one of the following countries for you to be eligible for this program: Antigua and
Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St
Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago
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Section 3: Your business growth and change
How has your business changed in the past 2 years? In your opinion, what has been driving this change?
What plans do you have to grow your business? How will you achieve this?
If you woke up one morning and found that the tooth fairy had left you US$ 1000 for your business, how would
you utilize it3?
Section 4: Your orientation towards business innovation and change
What do you consider to be the two most innovative things you did in your business during 2012? Briefly
describe also the results.
What is the one thing you most want to change about your business this year, and why?
Why do you believe that you qualify as an Innovative Woman Entrepreneur? And why should you be selected?
Section 5:Participation in the infoDev Global Forum
Why would you like to attend the 5th Global Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship?
Section 6: Your contribution to WINC’s community
Should you be selected, in what ways do you plan contribute to WINC’s objectives in supporting your fellow
women entrepreneurs & business owners in CARICOM?
Although not part of your Application Form, we want to learn how best to communicate with you in future.
How did you hear about this competition? (select applicable option(s) by marking with an ‘X’)
Email directly from WINC, EPIC or infoDev team
Email from another source (indicate organization/network/other)
WINC’s Facebook or other social media (indicate which)
infoDev website
Hard copy of flyer (indicate where you saw this)
Other (please indicate)
3
Please note that this U$ 1000 is not part of this competition or Global Forum program.
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