Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (South Korea)

The program provides the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to build, manage, and scale successful businesses. Participants will gain skills to maximize their contributions to the Korean economy and facilitate entry into the U.S. market.

The selected grantee will facilitate a pre-made curriculum combining online and offline components. The curriculum covers topics including entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, financial management, and pitching. The grantee will also collaborate with U.S. Embassy Seoul to organize networking activities for participants to build relationships amongst themselves and to expand their networks of Korean and American business leaders. Prior to the program, the grantee organization will receive an AWE training session to familiarize themselves with the program’s curriculum.

Funding Information

• Total Amount Available: $75,000
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $30,000 to a maximum of $75,000
• Anticipated program start date: October 2024 (project period, including preparation phase, starts prior to the said condition will not be considered)

Program Outputs

• Recruitment: The grantee, in close collaboration with U.S. Embassy Seoul, will recruit 25 women entrepreneurs who have been running their businesses since inception. Detailed participant selection criteria will be designed in close collaboration with the grantee organization.
• Program:
  • Training: The first phase of the program will focus on Thunderbird University’s three-month long “100 Million Learners Program,” delivered online. During this phase, the grantee organization will maintain regular check-ins with participants to ensure their active engagement. Monthly in-person meetings will be held to facilitate discussion of the material and best practices for adapting these skills to their own businesses.
  • Networking: The grantee organization will organize networking activities. U.S. Embassy Seoul will supplement these activities with invitations for participants to attend related ongoing programs or events. In particular, these networking activities should involve the inaugural 2024 AWE cohort and their mentors, when possible.
  • Events: The program will culminate in a graduation ceremony in Fall 2025. Select, highperforming participants will be invited to attend Select USA in 2025 and/or to become mentees in the Select USA Global Women in Tech program.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from not-for-profit organizations.
• Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations with programming experience.
• Non-profit or governmental educational institutions.
• Foreign Public Entities (FPE) for example: Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Republic of Korea.