The Search for E. Visayas’ Most Innovative Women Entrepreneurs is On

The search for the top Innovative Women Entrepreneurs in Eastern Visayas is now underway as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is launching the search with the goal of increasing their chances to receive enhanced support from the national government.

This comes as the DOST is inviting at least three nominees from each of the region’s six provinces to participate in the Women-Helping-Women: Innovating Social Enterprise (WHWise) Program.

The selection process will identify five applicants who will join the program, as shared by DOST Eastern Visayas Regional Director Ernesto Granada in a recent interview.

Dubbed “Unlad Bayi,” the search is of great significance as it fosters collective efforts in identifying, assessing, and screening potential women-led social entrepreneurs in Eastern Visayas, according to Granada.

To be eligible for the search, women entrepreneurs must be founders, co-founders, or presidents of social enterprises. Their enterprises should be operating in an existing community and offering innovative products or services.

Moreover, the women entrepreneurs should be registered with the Department of Trade and Industry or Securities and Exchange Commission, have been in operation for one to seven years, and not be current recipients of DOST funding.

The search hopes to further drive greater involvement of community-based women entrepreneurs in the region, providing them with higher chances to participate in the 2024 WHWise Program National Innovation Challenge, Granada added.

DOST will accept regional applications until May 15, 2023, and the winners will be announced on June 23.

From the shortlisted applicants, DOST will select the top five most innovative women entrepreneurs who will undergo mentoring and coaching sessions. A search event will be organized, allowing each applicant to present their project to a three-member board of judges.

Each of the five winners will receive a PHP50,000 cash prize and will be designated as the regional nominee for the national innovation challenge.

Furthermore, ongoing assistance will be provided to the nominee enterprises to further prepare them for the national competition. Those who progress to this level have the opportunity to be shortlisted for a financial grant of up to PHP5 million. (GFB)