The USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program (WEIP) 2025 for Women-Owned Small and Growing Businesses (WO-SGBs).

Application Deadline: February 6, 2025

Applications are now open for the 2025 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 program 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 Ksh 1 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 Ksh 10 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

• Investment in plant and machinery must not exceed Ksh 5 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 Ksh 1 million and Ksh 5 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 Ksh 10 million and Ksh 50 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

• Investment in plant and machinery should be between Ksh 5 million and Ksh 20 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 Ksh 5 million.
6. Investment in plant and machinery for manufacturing should exceed Ksh 50 million; for service and farming enterprises, it should exceed Ksh 20 million.
7. Must have a valid Tax Compliance Certificate and a permanent business premises.

For manufacturing enterprises:

• Investment in plant and machinery should exceed Ksh 50 million.

For service and farming enterprises:

• Investment in plant and machinery should exceed Ksh 20 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.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the USAID Women Entrepreneurship Incubator Program