Open call: USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program 2025

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is inviting applications for its USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program.

The USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program (WEIP) is a transformative initiative aimed at supporting women-owned small and growing businesses (WO-SGBs) across Kenya by providing resources, mentorship, and financial support to help entrepreneurs scale and succeed.

The programme is seeking to recruit the best entrepreneurial minds, focusing on Women-Owned Small and Growing Businesses (WO-SGBs) as key drivers of innovation and economic growth operating in Kiambu, Nakuru & Nairobi.

Eligibility criteria

Management and ownership criteria:

  1. Women must own 51% and above of the share capital.
  2. The business must be women-led, controlled, and managed.
  3. The business must be in one of these key sectors: agribusiness and agro-processing, textiles & apparel, healthcare, and water & sanitation.

Micro enterprise

  1. Must have formal registration (at least a trading license).
  2. Operated for 1-2 years.
  3. Employ fewer than 10 people (with at least 1 permanent employee).
  4. Annual turnover: Below KES1 million.
  5. Must have a valid tax compliance certificate and a physical address or premise.

For manufacturing enterprises:

  • Investment in plant and machinery must not exceed KES10 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

  • Investment in plant and machinery must not exceed KES5 million.

Small enterprise

  1. Must have formal registration and all required business certificates/permits.
  2. Operated for 3 years or more.
  3. Employ 10-49 people, with the ability to retain at least 30% of employees.
  4. Annual turnover: Between KES1 million and KES5 million.
  5. Must have a valid tax compliance certificate and a permanent business premise

For manufacturing enterprises:

  • Investment in plant and machinery should be between KES10 million and KES50 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

  • Investment in plant and machinery should be between KES5 million and KES20 million.

Medium enterprise

  1. Must be formally registered with an incorporation certificate.
  2. Provide 3 years of audited financial accounts.
  3. Operational for at least 3-5 years, with clear operational structures and systems in place (e.g., HR management, payroll, finance).
  4. Employ 50-99 people.
  5. Annual turnover: Above KES5 million.
  6. Investment in plant and machinery for manufacturing should exceed KES50 million; for service and farming enterprises, it should exceed KES20 million.
  7. Must have a valid tax compliance certificate and a permanent business premises.

For manufacturing enterprises:

  • Investment in plant and machinery should exceed KES50 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

  • Investment in plant and machinery should exceed KES20 million.

Program benefits

Access to co-investment grants: Participants will have the opportunity to secure co-investment grants to scale their businesses, with a total of $1.25 million in co-investments available across the program

Access to capacity building: Participants will receive comprehensive training tailored to their business needs, focusing on areas such as financial management, business development, and strategic planning.

Business advisory: Entrepreneurs will receive expert guidance on how to grow and sustain their businesses, addressing challenges specific to their sector.

Mentorship: Women entrepreneurs will be paired with experienced mentors who provide personalized coaching to help them navigate the complexities of scaling their businesses.

Apply here before February 6, 2025.

View the original call here.

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