Visa Inc.

She's Next Empowered by Visa" is a global campaign dedicated to fostering the economic empowerment of women in business, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. By promoting gender equality and inclusivity within the private sector, Visa contributes to the development of a more equitable society. Among the partners of "She's Next" in Georgia are prominent organizations and media platforms such as the Business Association "Women for the Future," USAID Economic Security Program, Forbes Woman Georgia, Marketer.ge, TBC, and Bank of Georgia.

"She's Next Empowered by Visa" was introduced to Georgia in 2020 to provide support and empowerment to local women entrepreneurs. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the attitudes, experiences, and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and business owners, a study was conducted. Based on the results of this study, a strategy was developed that is specifically tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs operating in Georgia. Within the framework of this initiative, a total of four major projects were implemented in Georgia.

In partnership with Forbes Woman Georgia, the VISA She's Next portal was established, showcasing the stories of female entrepreneurs. These stories offered insight into the journeys of She's Next representatives as they built their businesses, serving as inspiration for other aspiring female entrepreneurs.

Visa and the Business Federation "Women for the Future" jointly hosted four webinars featuring successful women, trainers, experts, and motivational speakers. These webinars provided valuable guidance and inspiration to women entrepreneurs looking to succeed in their own ventures.

As part of the initiative, 8 master classes were conducted covering various aspects of business development, benefiting over 100 women entrepreneurs. Following these sessions, 10 outstanding businesses were selected for additional training, leading to the identification of 3 finalists and ultimately, 1 winner.

In collaboration with the "Women for the Future" business federation, a public business competition was announced for female entrepreneurs. Selected participants received free mentoring sessions, and the winner was awarded cash prizes.

To further encourage women's participation in entrepreneurial activities, a new format was introduced—a competition of business ideas. After 5 days of educational sessions, the top 10 female participants presented their business ideas, resulting in the announcement of 3 winners, each awarded 10,000 GEL and a free consultation session.

As part of the initiative, the She's Next platform was developed, bringing together over 2,000 female entrepreneurs. This platform functions as a website equipped with professional social networking capabilities, providing a safe, friendly, and essential space for female entrepreneurs. The digital platform facilitates connections among women entrepreneurs from various countries, enabling them to unite, share experiences, and expand their businesses internationally.