MARY KAY: WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCELERATOR DIGITAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE WINNERS UNVEILED

 

The ten winning companies of the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge were invited to present their two-minute live pitches before an expert Grand Jury comprised of investors and cross-sectoral representatives. (Graphic: Mary Kay Inc.)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Taking place on the margins of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with support from Mary Kay Global, announced the 10 winning companies of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA) Digital Innovation Challenge.

According to Mary Kay in a statement, three startups namely Tiny Totos, Gwiji for Women and Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), were awarded Special Recognition status for their best-practice innovations.

In first place, Tiny Totos, a Kenyan social enterprise working to ensure quality childcare, provides training, access to capital, a network and a technology platform. It helps set childcare centres up for success and in turn increases the availability and improves the quality of childcare services in the country.

Meanwhile, HIEx identifies challenges faced by health systems and connects innovators with key health eco-system actors primarily in Africa and Asia to deliver solutions to improve access to quality healthcare.

Gwiji for Women is a tech start-up addressing barriers to labour market participation by low-income women in Kenya. It identifies, vets, trains and empowers women from lower socio-economic backgrounds as casual cleaners by connecting them with prospective clients through a mobile application.

Mary Kay Chief Operating Officer, Deborah Gibbins called for action now “to reverse the current trend of gender-blind innovations and redress the digital gender gap that exists in access to technologies and in digital education and skills.”

Given the scale of the challenge, she invited “more cross-sectoral partners to join efforts to build the conditions for women entrepreneurs to innovate, compete and thrive.”

Launched in December 2022 at ITU’s global headquarters in Geneva, the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge received 250 submissions from companies in 54 countries either owned by women or with a minimum of one female founder.

Each company showcased how their unique digital solution can potentially strengthen digital entrepreneurship in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The winning companies were invited to present their two-minute live pitches before an expert Grand Jury comprised of investors and cross-sectoral representatives who each provided their unique insights based on the above criteria.

The winners will gain access to the “Digital Innovation Challenge Acceleration Program” over the coming months where they will receive capacity-building training and a virtual bootcamp to help further refine their business plans as well as specialised mentorship and access to a network of change-makers.

Following this, selected winners will participate in ITU’s prestigious Global Innovation Forum later this year and join a community of practice to explore ways to leapfrog the digital innovation divide and address global challenges.

-- BERNAMA