For many in Asia, entrepreneurship is an effective means of earning a living and an opportunity to balance family and work and achieve decent work. By starting their own businesses, citizens gain the ability to take a new perspective at social issues and actively contribute to society as innovative participants. This is especially the case for women – women's economic and social empowerment is known to have a ripple effect not only on women, but also on their families, children, and the communities in which they live. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to take the initiative to start their own businesses and increase their economic power.
However, there are often many hurdles for aspiring entrepreneurs. Location and social background are factors which can limit access to opportunities to develop and grow. Further, in regions and countries that traditionally require gender-normative roles and behaviors, women are not always tolerated for being entrepreneurs – despite, in many cases, being the majority of individuals pursuing their own business – and “unconscious bias” prevents them from fulfilling their potential. As a result, many entrepreneurs lack necessary support and access to appropriate resources, including funding and mentorship.
We aim to bridge this societal gap by building inclusive ecosystems which make investment and support readily available to entrepreneurs regardless of gender, location, background, or size of business. By uplifting aspiring entrepreneurs, we expect to produce serious dividends in terms of economic growth as well as social cohesion and stability.
