Jane G. Hanna is the Head of Partnerships at AAST Entrepreneurship Center and the Founder and Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre for Social Impact and its Agri-Business Incubator ESTEDAMA at Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development. She is also a start-up mentor at the EU EWEMA Program, GIZ, ChangeLabs Impact Accelerator, and other programs. As an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Adviser for academic institutions, she participated in developing and managing internationally funded innovation projects. Jane received a Master's degree from the University of Edinburgh, UK, an International Diploma in Euro-Mediterranean Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI).

IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs with Entrepreneurial Skills and Access to Finance  

The project is designed to bridge the gender gap in Egypt's entrepreneurial landscape. It will equip women entrepreneurs with the essential tools and knowledge to succeed. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and access to financing opportunities, the project fosters a supportive environment for women to thrive as business leaders. This project works to empower women to launch and grow successful ventures, ultimately contributing to a more vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Egypt.

So far, Jane's project has begun by selecting 30 women entrepreneurs with business ideas or established SMEs from a pool of 45 applicants. The project successfully conducted its first two workshops on September 21 and 28, 2024. The first focused on Business Model Optimization to access finance, including grant funding and investment opportunities.   

The second workshop explored effective Go-to-Market strategies, providing participants practical tools to grow their businesses. The initial workshops led to significant outcomes, with participants reporting increased business knowledge, a better understanding of financial sources, and enhanced strategies for optimizing their business models.  

Jane's project has established valuable connections with key stakeholders, including the Women Entrepreneurs Networks (WEN) in Egypt and the US Embassy. Collaborative efforts are underway to coordinate joint activities in future project phases. Participants noted other positive outcomes of the workshops, such as "Networking with like-minded women entrepreneurs and having a community for sharing ideas." 

 

 

“By empowering women to turn their dreams into reality, we can unlock a wave of innovation and economic growth that benefits Egypt’s future.” - Jane Hanna

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Jane participated in the IVLP Project Science and Technology Entrepreneurship organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute for International Education, in partnership with Global Ties Detroit, the Michigan Council for Citizen Diplomacy, Global Minnesota, and the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council.

Jane’s exchange experience led to the development of her project: “Particularly impactful was the visit to the US Department of State in Washington DC where I got to know about several valuable opportunities and initiatives to support women entrepreneurs worldwide. I realized how much women entrepreneurs in Egypt would need similar support and exposure.”

U.S. Communities Visited   

Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, DC; East Lansing, MI; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN

Country: Egypt

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