Business Fights Poverty: Catalysing Female Entrepreneurship

I was honoured to serve as Moderator for the WiNFUND NFT Catalysing Female Entrepreneurship, taking place at this year’s Business Fight Poverty Global Goals Summit, a critical gathering focused on re-energising business partnerships for a more equitable and resilient future.

The inspiring opening remarks from Zahid Torres Rehman, CEO, Business Fights Poverty, and insightful contributions of Patty O’Hayer, Global Head Government Affairs & Co-Founder of WiNFund, Reckitt, Corinne Hart, Senior Gender Advisor and Team Lead, Energy, Environment and Climate, USAID, Corinne Momal-Vanian, Executive Director, Kofi Annan Foundation, Pradeep Kakkattill, Founder, HIEX and Co-Founder, WiNFUND served to powerfully validate the importance of economically empowering gender-centred investments towards Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8, 10 and 17.

Joined virtually by the pioneer cohort of WiNFUND Entrepreneur Winners, Dr. Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, CEO & Co-Founder, Chil Femtech Center Inc, Belinda Shaw, Chair & Founder, Cape Biologix, Adeola Ayoola, CEO & Co-Founder, Famasi Africa, Dr. Mercy Ashaba, CEO & Co-Founder, Peleyta Health, Judith Oketch, CEO & Founder, Ambulex Solutions Ltd, and Olivia Koburongo, Director Quality & Operations, MamaOpe Medicals, the session was a remarkable moment and platform to hear directly from those at the forefront of the innovation ecosystem, and share valuable insights in scaling women-led innovators for planetary, societal, and economic impact.

At this one year milestone since the WiN Fund’s launch at the United Nations General Assembly 2022, it’s hugely encouraging that the WiNFUND has received over 300 applications from 7 countries across Africa, and it was a great pleasure to congratulate its six African female entrepreneurs who are making groundbreaking strides with their innovative start-ups, saving lives in their communities and beyond.

In the shared belief in the power of collaboration to fight poverty, drive equity and build resilience, the Business Fights Poverty 2023 Global Summit was hosted on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly 78 at the New York headquarters of Barclays Bank.