During his first election into office, Mayor Reed committed to implementing an initiative designed to equip local women business owners with the tools needed to support their business aspirations, while minimizing some of the challenges and roadblocks unique to them as women. Creating a safe, collaborative and supportive work space, served as the catalyst for his vision.
Backed by research and findings from leading institutions on women business owners, and with local women entrepreneurs serving as thought leaders on actualizing the vision, WEI’s primary goal is to provide the following resources to its community of emerging and aspiring entrepreneurs:
- A designated workspace in a technologically-advanced environment, designed to foster business growth and sustainability
- A community designed to support the engagement, interaction and collaboration with fellow women entrepreneurs in a supportive environment
- A network of expert, seasoned mentors and consultants from the business and entrepreneurship communities serving in an advisory board capacity
- Technology resources via the Microsoft partnership to amplify the businesses’ traction and global connectivity
- Measurable business growth and progress metrics to identify, track and harness sustainability and scalability
- Post-incubation support to reinforce business longevity and success, once back in the community
WEI will function as an incubator for the selected participants while also providing community outreach, educational workshops and mentorship engagement, to aspiring business owners and future entrepreneurs.
What WEI Believe...
Upcoming Events
Fueling Drive
The percent of women who cited lack of mentorship, advisors and a support community as a leading challenge to their ability to start or stay in business. A robust and collaborative network is critical to business success, regardless of gender. WEI aims to provide peer-to-peer interaction, mentorship engagement and information exchange in an environment designed to promote the significance of social capital, for our community of entrepreneurs.
Empowering Women
...and growing!
When a woman is empowered, a community is empowered. WEI works intentionally and relentlessly to leverage Atlanta’s burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem to amplify women’s contribution to the economic growth of the City – as innovators, problem solvers and ultimately, job creators. We do this by structuring tangible opportunities for women entrepreneurs, whether emerging or aspiring, to navigate a pathway forged to amplify their success and challenge them to think and grow, bigger.
Vision
The percent of women’s businesses to successfully scale past the one million dollar revenue mark. WEI works to invigorate opportunities for women entrepreneurs with growth aspirations to realize their goals. We identify, engage and cultivate relationships with creative and traditional funding sources for women business owners who seek to not only break even, but break through.