SLASSCOM WTech Forum and IFC hosts accelerator and mentoring programs for female technopreneurs

To nurture and support the growth of women technopreneurs in Sri Lanka, the SLASSCOM Women Technopreneurs Forum (WTech) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), with assistance from the Government of Japan, will launch a bootcamp and a one-on-one mentoring program with the aim of supporting women technopreneurs in Sri Lanka to connect with an unparalleled network of established entrepreneurs and industry professionals. 

The bootcamp ‘Fast Forward Accelerator’ is a three-month program covering key areas encompassing product development, sales, marketing and finance and will feature group sessions, fireside chats and networking. Facilitators will guide emerging entrepreneurs identify the areas needed to successfully frame their ambitions, validate the value propositions of their businesses and attract investments.

At the conclusion of the bootcamp, each entrepreneur will present a reworked business plan, incorporating the new knowledge and training acquired during the program. A panel of judges will recognise the startups that demonstrate the highest potential for progress after the completion of the ‘Fast Forward Accelerator’.

“MentorHer” is another initiative launched, that provides women technopreneurs with the opportunity to be mentored by seasoned experts from the field. Conducted over a period of five to six months, it supports all stages of the start-up journey and leverages the resources within the SLASSCOM WTech ‘MentorHer’ database, providing participants with access to leading women in tech. 

The ‘MentorHer’ database is targeted to all female entrepreneurs, from the aspiring or novice, to the more established entrepreneurs who want to take their businesses to a new level.

The Women Technopreneurs Forum was launched by SLASSCOM in 2020 to create a positive change across the tech ecosystem in Sri Lanka and it supports and promotes the talents of women as they become innovative technopreneurs. WTech will continue to launch programs that will harness female technopreneurs who will contribute towards uplifting the Sri Lankan economy in the future.

Each of the programs were designed based on the key asks from Sri Lankan women technopreneurs highlighted in the survey and landscape report: ‘Women Technopreneurs: The Landscape for Women Technology Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka’ available on www.ifc.org.  

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. They work in more than 100 countries, using capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries.

In 2021, IFC committed a record $ 31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.