Halcyon and AWS launch program to advance women social entrepreneurs in Bahrain

Nonprofit Halcyon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the launch of an intensive incubator program for early-stage women-founded social enterprise technology startups based in Bahrain. The 2021 Bahrain Women’s Intensive program will help social entrepreneurs scale their ventures and use AWS Cloud technology to help innovate and grow. The program for tech startups is now accepting applications.

Halcyon and AWS are committed to supporting women entrepreneurs and diversifying startup communities. The program is designed to position participating founders for rapid and effective growth, while taking no equity in participants’ ventures.

The selection committee will consider criteria including innovation, strength of the business model, and potential for impact at scale, in addition to the pre-requisite of being a woman founder of a tech-based impact-driven business based in Bahrain. Applicants selected for the program will receive mentorship and training from Halcyon’s network and an introduction to the U.S. market and potential investors. AWS will provide AWS Promotional Credit and technical support, training, and mentorship support.

History of empowering women entrepreneurs

Halcyon aims to make the art and business worlds more inclusive, impact-oriented places. Since its founding as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Halcyon has worked closely with entrepreneurs and artists to understand their ecosystems, identify their needs, and explore new programs and partnerships to meet those needs.

Since it began in 2014, the Halcyon Incubator has been equipping early-stage social entrepreneurs with the support they need to transform their ideas into scalable and sustainable ventures. The incubator has provided fellowships for 111 impact ventures, which have gone on to raise over $150 million in capital, create over 1,700 jobs, and impact more than 2.5 million lives around the world. Among Halcyon Incubator ventures, 59 percent have had a woman founder or co-founder.

Applications for the 2021 Bahrain Women’s Intensive are open now until November 23, 2020.  A cohort of 10 ventures will be announced in late 2020, with plans for the entrepreneurs to begin monthly programming in January. Learn more about the 2021 Bahrain Women’s Intensive and apply today.