Levers For Change
We live in a global ecosystem dominated by male-run accelerator programs, initiatives that often fail to attract women and accommodate their needs.
The data is staggering:
- Globally only 3-5% of venture capital funding is invested women led businesses.
- Less than 5% of venture capital firms are run by women.
- 94% of decision makers at Venture Capital firms are men.
- Of 131 corporate accelerator programs, 87% are run by men.
- Women do 2.6 times more unpaid care and domestic work than men.
Meanwhile we know that women are vibrant and vital architects of society, often the best levers for change in our world:
- Despite raising less, female founders are likely to produce more revenue than their male counterparts.
- Women are likely to invest three times more of their profits back into their family and community.
We wanted to help create world where male and female founders share an equal platform to launch and grow their social ventures So we got to work on designing an alternative accelerator, one that applies a feminine approach to supporting women entrepreneurs and their businesses.
Working with ygap’s curriculum, a model proven across 45 accelerators and 515 ventures around the world, we applied a feminine lens, tweaking and progressing each step of the syllabus to inspire and accommodate women entrepreneurs.
Specifically designed by women entrepreneurs, for women entrepreneurs, today yher provides participants with access to skills, knowledge, connections, funding and community, the pillars of a sustainable and scalable impactful business.
We provide a safe, welcoming space (breastfeeding babies are welcome!) for women to come together, inspire each other and to feel comfortable addressing the unique challenges female entrepreneurs face. By creating this space, yher provides the psychological safety needed to discuss the barriers that are holding them back and develop the strategies, confidence and business acumen they need to grow their ventures.
What Does Success Look Like?
We want to see the women we support experience increased confidence and obtain the competency and acumen they need to validate and scale a social business and ultimately improve the lives of people in their communities, countries and regions.
We want to see more capital invested in women led social businesses and help foster a strong network of female entrepreneurs and people who support them.
And more broadly, we hope that we can contribute to a thriving ecosystem that creates inspiring female role models for the next generation to aspire to and that the ecosystem is empowered and equipped to provide female entrepreneurs with the support they need to thrive. If you’re interesting collaborating or becoming a mentor, we’d love to hear from you.
Today…
Our locally based teams have rolled yher out across South East Asia, Africa and most recently, the Pacific Islands, backing women pioneering new ground in their communities. Running 7 female-focused programs across 2 regions and an additional 3 countries, we’ve been privileged to work alongside 63 female led ventures. We thrilled to shine a light on these outstanding social businesses and help them grow.
Specifically Pasifika
After a successful pilot in 2018, we’ve been working alongside 22 of the best women led ventures from the across the region – today, these fabulous female founders have collectively improved the lives of over 2955 Pacific Islanders. Together, we’re on a mission to see the region thrive, thanks to a movement of women blazing trails and improving their communities.
Pacific Islands Applications Are Now Open
Our 2020 intake is officially open! If you’re running a female-founded venture in the Pacific Islands and on a mission to improve your local community, you’re eligible to apply for the yher Pacific Islands program.