Dentsu Aegis Network Launches Female Foundry Programme Globally

Dentsu Aegis Network today announces the global roll out of Female Foundry, an initiative to support female entrepreneurs. Initially founded by iProspect in Singapore the accelerator programme is now being rolled out across Dentsu Aegis Network globally. Female Foundry is currently scaled in key markets across the network, with implementations already underway in Canada, Mexico, Chile, South Africa and India.

iProspect’s proprietary research, Hear Her Voice, which was the catalyst for the programme’s inception, sheds light on the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in emerging markets - particularly access to funding, networks and skills. Female Foundry aims to bridge this gap by offering experienced mentorship to empower and develop female-led businesses that embody innovation, diversity, social sustainability and tech leadership.

Anna Easton, global head of social impact, Dentsu Aegis Network commented:“iProspect’s first Hear Her Voice research in South East Asia revealed a new demographic of women, previously excluded from the workplace due to childcare commitments. These women are launching businesses enabled by technology and disrupting the traditional roles of women and the landscape of rural versus urban communities. This presents a tremendous opportunity to diversify the digital economy. The opportunity and challenges these entrepreneurs face was echoed in the next wave of our research in Africa and Latin America. We’ve launched the Female Foundry to help these female entrepreneurs thrive”.

Delivered in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Female Foundry offers a cohort of entrepreneurs a mentoring programme, and a three-day bootcamp where the entrepreneur’s businesses will be strengthened and future proofed for growth and success and continue in regular mentoring sessions after the bootcamp.

During the programme, female founders will have access to tools, training, connections and resources. The Global Entrepreneurship Network supports with expertise in accelerating entrepreneurship around the world, drawing on an extensive global footprint of projects and programmes that make it easier to start and scale a business.

Taj Heer, managing director of the global entrepreneurship Network UK said: “We are proud to partner with Dentsu Aegis Network on this programme. It provides female entrepreneurs with invaluable support and the training they need to thrive in today's complex digital economy. Our expertise in entrepreneurship, mentoring and venture management combined with Dentsu Aegis Network’s expertise in digital technology is a strong proposition that has the potential to make a true difference for female leaders and their businesses”.

The global implementation of Female Foundry is a key milestone in Dentsu Aegis Network’s journey towards its global target of mentoring 100 female entrepreneurs by 2020.Anna Easton, global head of social impact, Dentsu Aegis Network concludes:

“Our purpose at Dentsu Aegis Network is to help create a digital economy that works for all. Our impactful programmes like Female Foundry will create more diversified leadership in the digital economy and ensure it represents the widest interests of society.”