Innovation
Income
Agency
Our unique, hybrid model facilitates female entrepreneurs living under the poverty line to start their own businesses.
The Zena model is founded on the single premise that investing in female entrepreneurs has the power to change the global stories of gender inequality, and extreme poverty. We believe that educated, female business owners are positioned to address systemic and pervasive community issues.
With little to no financial literacy or infrastructure, female entrepreneurs living in rural poverty are vulnerable to exploitation and pitfalls of loans and handouts. In short, female entrepreneurs living in rural poverty are facing two major barriers to business opportunity: lack of education and lack of capital.
We set out to change that.
Equipping Female Entrepreneurs
Vision
We believe female entrepreneurs are the best placed visionaries and change makers for their own communities. We work with women who have a venture idea for their communities.
Education
Each entrepreneur is placed on a tailored education program to build her business plan aswell as to access the classes and one on one mentorship she needs to thrive.
Agency
No hand-outs, No loans. We believe that if women can earn their own start up capital, they will be able to implement it how they want to, and have confidence in their own leadership.
Community
Zena program members graduate as business owners with a ready made support system of peers.