50 women entrepreneurs recently celebrated the launch of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) 2024, marking the second year of the programme’s implementation in Cyprus.
The event, which took place on Friday, September 13, was attended by various alumni from last year’s programme, as well as local stakeholders.
The AWE Academy, implemented in Cyprus by CyprusInno, powered by the SocialTech Lab, and supported this year by the US Embassy in Nicosia and Chevron, provides 50 women entrepreneurs with the opportunity to start or expand their businesses.
According to a statement from CyprusInno, over the next few months, the AWE Academy Cyprus will integrate selected participants into a mix of in-person workshops led by experts, online training modules, study visits, practical experiences, and direct mentorship from successful Cypriot women entrepreneurs.
This holistic approach, the announcement explained, aims to nurture entrepreneurial talent, promote innovation, and support sustainable business development across Cyprus.
For this year’s programme, more than 120 applications were received from across the island, featuring business ideas ranging from education, technology, and the arts and media to wellness, e-commerce, and sustainable social practices.
Upon graduating from the Academy, participants will join a global network of AWE alumni, fostering ongoing connections and collaborations worldwide.
The event, held at The Base by CyprusInno in the buffer zone of Nicosia, was inaugurated by the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Julie Fisher, and Chevron’s Financial Director in Cyprus, Melina Demetriou.
The programme included presentations from successful women entrepreneurs running businesses in Cyprus, followed by a panel discussion with alumni from the 2023 programme.
“Wherever we operate, we follow Chevron’s way,” said Demetriou.
“This includes developing local talent and championing diversity, inclusion, and equality,” she added.
“I speak on behalf of all my colleagues at Chevron, both women and men, in saying that the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs embodies Chevron’s way,” Demetriou concluded.
