To promote up-and-coming women entrepreneurs, Cartier made a call for applications for its Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, a yearly event that identifies and supports innovative start-up business ideas worldwide and across the region.
Created in 2006 by Cartier, the Women’s Forum, McKinsey & Company, and INSEAD business school, the project aims to encourage innovative projects led by women entrepreneurs in all countries and industries. The six selected winners each year receive US $20,000 (AED/SAR 73,000) of funding, professional coaching, and media exposure.
The top three projects from each region (Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, North America, and Sub-Saharan Africa) make it through to the final round, which will be held in Paris in October. There, the 18 finalists will present their projects and detailed business plans in front of a jury of experts.
The 2013 jury from the Middle East and North African was composed of Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi (UAE’s Minister of Development and International Development), Neveen El Tahri (Managing Director of Delta Shield for Investment, Egypt), Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun (CEO of Holmarcom Group, Morocco), Meisah Betayneh (Founder of Architect at Maisam, Jordan), and Hanan Saab (Founder of Pharmamed). And among the 2013 laureates, Sima Najjar (Jordan), and Namita Banka (India) received the much sought-after jury prize.
Women entrepreneurs worldwide are now invited to submit a short business plan using the online application form. Their projects must be in a start-up phase and between one and three years old. Applications will be accepted until February 28th.
www.cartierwomensinitiative.com
—Elisabeta Tudor
