Norrsken Rwanda - Women In Business Initiative

1. Business development - Participants demonstrated measurable improvements in key business areas. Feedback indicated that 50% of participants gained a clearer understanding of their unique value propositions, while 45.5% improved their ability to identify and segment ideal customers. Enhanced marketing strategies, refined business models, and improved operational systems were common outcomes across the cohort. 2. Technological advancement and platform development the program supported both enhancement of existing online platform as well as the development of new platforms for the enrolled startups. The cohort supported 13 digital platforms which include websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, which all significantly improved the start-ups online presence enabling better customer engagement and streamlined operations. 3. Strengthened financial performance women-led startups enrolled in the program recorded a cumulative 35% increase in monthly revenue the main driver for this cumulative growth was tailored financial training and mentorship in operational cost management. This is predominant in sectors of agriculture, retail and services. 4. Employment generation The program sought to create sustainable employment opportunities. As a result, participating businesses collectively added 15% more full-time employees, and 20% more part-time employees compared to the baseline data. In otherwards, collectively the participating 15 women tech-startups generated about 33 new jobs, literally 2 new jobs per start-up. Tech startups and tech-enabled services had higher employment elasticity due to increased scalability. 5. Enhanced entrepreneurship skills - Through training and mentorship programs, participating women entrepreneurs reported significant improvements in their business management capabilities. Endline survey indicated that 85% of participants felt more confident in areas such as financial management, marketing, and strategic planning. It is anticipated that this improvement will increase their business performance and informed and strategic decision making. 6. Expansion into new markets a few businesses which were part of the cohort successfully ventured into new markets. For instance, Green Energy expanded into two additional markets, increasing its customer base by 40%. The final evaluation estimates that, the cohort collectively increased startups market reach by 36%. 7. Reduction in operational expenses rent and utilities were flagged as significant expenses, consuming approximately 30% of operational budgets. However, mentorship helped businesses optimize these costs through resource sharing and coworking spaces. Marketing expenses were strategically reallocated to digital platforms, cutting costs by 20% while achieving better outreach 8. Leveraging digital marketing and advertising start-ups collectively reported a 40% increase in customer acquisition through digital marketing campaigns supported by startup resources. It was observed that online platforms, combined with in-person networking events, created firm customer relationships. The evaluation also underlines how the start-ups leveraged on mentorship and tailored coaching opportunities to increase brand visibility, leading to a 25% increase in customer retention rates 9. Tax compliance - compliance with tax obligations was a priority, with businesses trained in efficient bookkeeping and regulatory adherence. Tax contributions increased by 10% compared to baseline, showcasing both growth and responsible entrepreneurship

This intervention aims to explore effective methods for encouraging and supporting women entrepreneurs in Rwanda. This is intended to be achieved through enabling and grooming successful women entrepreneurs into role models for aspiring young talents both in Rwanda and the region. Specifically, this pilot partnership with Norrsken is expected to i) test and design an effective approach to creating an ecosystem that would support women entrepreneurs, ii) reach a high understanding of specific constraints that women entrepreneurs face, and the type of support services that they need to grow and accelerate their business, iii) Pilot service offerings, events, activities, and programs for women entrepreneurs and women-led start-ups and lastly iv) identify and/or help create women role models in the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.