WHAT IS SHE INVESTMENTS?
SHE Investments focuses on the economic empowerment of women in Cambodia by providing support structures and business incubator programs to help women entrepreneurs scale their micro businesses to profitable and sustainable small–medium enterprises (SMEs).
Our vision is a world where investment in women entrepreneurs in developing countries is seen as opportunity, not charity.
OUR STORY
Our names are Celia and James. 2 years ago we had an idea to increase investment into women-led enterprises in Cambodia, and finally, after a lot of research and planning, we're ready to start piloting this idea!
James is a Physiotherapist by training, and he has jointly started, scaled and then sold a small - medium sized business in Melbourne over the past few years. He is currently studying for his MBA, and is passionate about health
and the social impact that can be made through business.
Celia's background is in international development and community project management, and she has been working in this field for the past five years across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Kenya and now Cambodia. Celia is passionate about gender equality and
wants to see investors increasing their focus on women-led enteprises, particularly in developing countries.
Together, we have worked really hard over the past year to plan for this pilot. We've had some pretty amazing experiences and support from organisations like
The Foundation for Young Australians and the
School for Social Entrepreneurs, as well as help and advice from mentors, friends and family.
We've also taken a pretty massive risk in starting SHE! Not only have we relocated to Cambodia to focus on launching this start-up, we've also said goodbye to friends and family (including our cat Yoghurt), given up jobs, and James even sold his business.
We are totally committed to making SHE Investments work!
WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE
Our objectives are to alleviate poverty through income generation and employment creation, improve local economies and bridge the gender gap in business and entrepreneurship.
In Cambodia there are many NGOs and Microfinance institutions that provide micro-loans, financial literacy and business training for women to support them in starting micro businesses (typically a very small business existing within the informal sector,
which employs 1 – 2 people). However, there aren’t structures in place to support these micro entrepreneurs to move out of the informal sector (such as running a small market stall) into the formal business sector, or to help them scale to a profitable and
sustainable small – medium enterprise (SME). There is also a severe lack of programs that facilitate peer and one-on-one support for women to grow their enterprise.
There is nothing like SHE Investments' program specifically for women in Cambodia.
In 2015 we want to launch the first of its kind!
HOW WILL WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN?
Partnerships
SHE partners with NGOs and Microfinance Institutions that already work with women on programs such as financial literacy, women’s empowerment and microfinance. Our partners select participants that show drive, commitment and vision to scale their existing
micro enterprises to small – medium sized businesses.
Business Incubator Program
We'll work with small groups of women through a Business Development program, including regular and culturally tailored workshops, inclusive peer support structures, and field trips to support participants in identifying markets, customers, and existing
successful businesses.
Mentoring and Practical Learning
We'll provide group and individual mentoring for program participants, utilising the local expertise of existing successful female business owners, and creating connections and networks.
Links to Opportunities for Impact Investment
Our goal is that all of the women graduating from our program have improved and grown their businesses, and that a percentage of these women will have investment-ready enterprises. We'll then link these businesses with opportunities for impact investment
from other agencies, and continue to support them in scaling further.
WHY IS SHE INVESTMENTS UNIQUE?
We're not a charity
We believe that business can be a tool for change, and so we need to practice what we preach! We're crowdfunding for our pilot, but our long-term goals are built on plans for self-sustainability. By supporting us in our earliest stage, you'll be helping
us to take our first step in getting there!
We're not a Microfinance Program
Cambodia has enough (over 40!) Microfinance Institutions, and even more NGOs and charities. They're doing amazing things, but this means that there isn't a place for another micro-loan scheme. We also want to help women get
out of debt, not back into it.
We're not your typical Entrepreneur Incubator
There are some amazing business incubators out there right now (we've been through a couple ourselves!). The key points of difference for SHE are:
We're focused on women because we believe that investing in women will create the deepest impact for
everyone. Other incubators are open to both men and women, but more often than not (especially in Cambodia) the large majority of participants are men. We're focusing on bridging that gap!
Our program is specifically tailored to Cambodian culture. We don't believe that it's our place to teach women in Cambodia how to start or run a business using only Western methods. We've identified the key barriers for women entrepreneurs,
and developed a program using the best incubator methods, specifically tailored to Khmer culture. We are employing Cambodian staff to work with us in finalising the program curriculum and in actually delivering it to participants.
more partnerships, and open SHE social enterprise businesses to grow our sustainability and our impact. Watch this space!
WHY IS SHE INVESTMENTS NEEDED?
Lack of existing support
There is a severe lack of structures and programmes that support Cambodian women entrepreneurs to scale up and develop long-term sustainable businesses.
Lack of decent jobs for women
Although more than 80% of women and girls over the age of 15 participate in the Cambodian workforce, 82% of these jobs are in the informal sector, and women earn about 70% of men’s wages (ESCAP). There is also a real lack in the
variety of jobs available for women, as most opportunities and vocational training focuses on fields of work such as sewing, cooking, hospitality, secretarial work, etc.
Right time, right place
The Cambodian Government and key development actors recognise the importance of the key role that women and youth entrepreneurs can play in driving socio-economic development and the potential for job creation and poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship.
Real opportunity to create huge impact
We know that investing in women has a huge return for everyone. Women typically invest at least 90% of their income back into their families and communities. If a woman is educated and earns an income, her children are more likely to be educated and healthy.
Women make up 50% of the world's population, and 70% of the world's poor. They do 2/3 of the world's work, yet earn only 10% of its income. What would happen if 50% of the world's population could contribute as much economically as the other 50%?
Think of the incredible opportunity we have before us to invest in women to create social and economic impact in their communities.
For more information on why SHE Investments is needed,
visit our website.
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
We can't do this without you.
Please help us to launch a program that will be the first of its kind for women entrepreneurs in Cambodia!
Pledge to our campaign
You will help us to launch our pilot and make SHE Investments a reality. All funds raised go directly towards supporting up to 12 women in Cambodia through our first Business Development Program!
Share our campaign
Tell your friends! Please share this campaign on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email, every platform you can think of!
Come to our Launch Event
We're holding a campaign launch event on March 11th in Melbourne. We would LOVE it if you came along! You can find more
info about the event at this link.
Volunteer with us!
Passionate about investing in women, social enterprise, international development? Got any special skills you think you could contribute? Get in touch with us! We'd love to have you on board.
Become a partner or investor
Contact us to learn more about our plans for the future, and find out how you can make a massive impact in the launch of SHE Investments.
We're about to launch a new initiative for women in Cambodia,
and we want you to be a part of it!
If you'd like more information on SHE Investments, please visit our
website or
Facebook page!
