Fémina Oaxaca, 1st entrepreneurship institution for female entrepreneurs @ Oaxaca, Mexico

Fémina Oaxaca - Centro de Oportunidades (Center for Opportunities) is the first business and entrepreneurship institution for female entrepreneurs in the state of Oaxaca, one of the most at-risk states for women in Mexico in regards to gender based violence, informal economy and education. We provide affordable training to women who own businesses with a gender perspective, as we reflect on Feminist economics and care work, and provide free childcare services to participants.

Working alongside national and international allies, including the social enterprise Oaxaca en una caja, ProMujer and the Secretariat of Business Development of the Municipality of Oaxaca de Juárez , we were able to start a first training cycle of our in-person program Emprende Fémina in spring 2023 with over 40 registered participants. Since then, we have developed other programs for women with expanding businesses (Acelera Fémina), have organized specialized workshops on product photography, self-care strategies and online marketing, and have given conferences on the importance of gender lens investing. We have been able to open new training cycles with individual and corporate donations since we already have female business owners on a waitlist.

Our innovative and star program, Emprende Fémina, is a 3 month-long course in which participants review their businesses´ profiles and operation, learn about new marketing, customer and accounting skills, practice self-care techniques and become members of an all female business network. All participants receive a training manual, additional learning materials and resources, marketing credits and are invited to fairs, markets, and corporate and speed-networking events. Graduates receive a certificate and a mobile point-of-sale at no cost. “Emprender” in Spanish means, among other things, to start or to take over something. For us, it means to manage a recently created business with a solid foundation!

Some impact numbers about our programs:

• 92% of participants have been able to write their own business plans.
• Participants have reported up to a 30% increase in their sales as a result of their participation in our program.
• 96% of participants consider themselves as members of an all female support network.

Members of our community have also referred to individual milestones as a result of their participation in our programs, including:

• New sales venues
• Interacting with other participants had a deep impact in the learning process
• Better labeling and packaging
• Being admitted in other business acceleration programs
• Impact measurement (social impact)
• Trademark and denomination of origin

Participants have also applied gender lens strategies within their businesses, such as:

• Benefiting more female suppliers and providers
• New products specifically designed for women
• Employing other women

Awards and recognition:

Highlighted program - Conference "Gender Mainstreaming for investment: A perspective from Social Enterprises in Latin America" @ Women Deliver 2023

Winner - Acelera Fémina, Formando Catalizadores Program 2023 by Agora Partnerships

#GoMujeres 2024 Fundraising Campaign, sponsored by Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIPGive)

Grant received - All To the People Foundation (2024)

https://www.facebook.com/FeminaOax

https://www.instagram.com/FeminaOaxaca

https://www.linkedin.com/company/feminaoaxaca