About Company
Herizon is an economic empowerment initiative supporting women-led businesses in Uganda and Kenya. Run by SHONA Group in partnership with Welthungerhilfe and funded by Germany’s BMZ, the program targets 40 female-driven enterprises across key sectors like agriculture, climate-smart food production, WASH, digitalization, skills development, and overall economic empowerment.
Who qualifies?
To participate, businesses must meet these criteria:
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Owned or managed by women (≥ 50% ownership or ≥ 50% women in management, with at least one founder from Uganda or Kenya)
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Active for at least 2 years
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Annual revenue of UGX 80 million (~USD 21 k)
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At least 3 full-time staff (including the founder)
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Supply chain and customers/users must be ≥ 50% women
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Registered legally in Uganda
What support does Herizon offer?
Participants receive:
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Bootcamps & One-on‑One Guidance
Intensive training followed by support from SHONA’s senior analysts to streamline financial models and develop 3‑5-year growth plans. -
Leadership, Peer Groups & Learning Exchanges
Monthly coaching through peer cohorts (~7 entrepreneurs), plus exposure visits to high-performing East African ventures. -
Investment Readiness & Network Access
Assistance to prepare for fundraising, plus introductions to investors—including SHONA Capital—and ecosystems events. -
Capital Support
Additional budget (around USD 500) allocated to address specific business needs identified during diagnostics .
Impact & Reach
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Targeting 40 businesses over the 2024–2026 period .
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Aims to reach over 16,000 people—suppliers, users, and customers—through improved access to products and services from these women-driven enterprises.
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Addresses critical financial inequality: in Uganda, only 9% of commercial credit goes to women-led businesses.
Why Herizon matters
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Women own nearly 38.4% of SMEs in Uganda.
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Financing gaps severely limit their growth: structured support bridges that divide and drives food security, job creation, and prosperity .
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Herizon positions women as key economic agents, empowering them to scale enterprises that benefit entire communities.
🔎 How to learn more or apply
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Visit the SHONA website (Herizon page) for full program details: eligibility, application links, FAQs.
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Follow Welthungerhilfe Uganda and SHONA Group on LinkedIn/X/Facebook for announcements, calls for applications, and success stories.
If you’re a Ugandan woman entrepreneur working in one of Herizon’s target areas and meet the criteria, definitely consider applying. It’s a chance to scale your business, access new funding, and join a network of like-minded entrepreneurs.
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