Microsoft encourages female entrepreneurship in Brazil in 2019

A Microsoft, in partnership with the Sebrae, Bertha Capital and Belvedere Investments, launched two initiatives that aim to encourage female education and entrepreneurship in the country. christened of Women Entrepreneurship (WE), the initiatives are composed of two strategic pillars that aim to increase women in national entrepreneurship.

The proposals aim to encompass projects in all regions of the country, regardless of the previous training of female entrepreneurs in higher or technical education. This is because technical business and investment training will be offered to female entrepreneurs who participate in the initiatives.

These two initiatives come to celebrate 30 years of Microsoft in the country, reaffirming its commitment to Brazil. The WE initiative aims at stimulating development, democratizing the uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country and encourage the creation of projects that generate sustainable and social impact in the country.

Microsoft is investing heavily in female entrepreneurship

In order to participate in WE initiatives, it is necessary that the team has at least one woman as a partner in the enterprise. With this, the initiative aims to fill an existing gap in the economy that, according to research carried out by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), found that there has been an increase to 38% of entrepreneurs in the country since 2018, with 41,7% of the group being men and only 34,4% women.

According to research by District 100 Super Founders, there are only 2% of women in the leadership of startups in the country. This has been happening because of the difficulties in seeking specialization to manage the business or even the cultural barriers of the corporate environment of startups, mostly founded by men.

In terms of capital, the Microsoft aims to raise, with the WE Fund, BRL 100 million in up to five years, starting with the BRL 50 million already raised. As there is currently a low supply of base capital for female partners, the Fund aims not only to encourage the creation, but also the permanence of these startups in the market.

The Fund of Microsoft It will also offer business and digital technology training through technical mentorships. Along with the project, challenges will be launched so that any student from universities or technical courses can transform their ideas into a real company, a project already consolidated by the Sebrae.

At this stage, resources will be offered to fund operational services of up to R$50 for up to six ideas per year so that entrepreneurs can open and maintain their businesses and companies.

Research shows an increase in female entrepreneurship

According to research carried out by the Sebrae on female entrepreneurship, the country has the seventh highest proportion of women among initial entrepreneurs, who are in charge of their businesses with less than four years of existence.

Therefore, it is extremely important to invest and the Microsoft Fund to help create women leaders who serve as examples for generations to come. With the initiative, it is still possible to show that entrepreneurship can be a natural path for any woman.

“It will be a long-term impact that will likely reverberate to future generations. As more female-led startups gain more experience, they will encourage other women.”

Franklin Luzes, vice president of Microsoft Participações.

All this, added to the fact that the role of women in companies has increased, explains that the initiative accelerates the expansion of new companies with female leaders and, with that, gives a global vision to everyone. The Microsoft Fund aims to invest in 25 startups over the next five years.

Belvedere Investimentos, on the other hand, will be responsible for raising funds, in addition to creating a dedicated vehicle to receive the participation of individuals who wish to support the initiative to encourage female entrepreneurship in the country. This practice allows people who do not have a CNPJ to also encourage national entrepreneurship.

This initiative also supports the investment of AIs on national soil, demonstrating that there is great demand on national soil for the implementation of solutions used by this technology. However, there is still an arduous path to be pursued, which aims to qualify the population in the technological area.

It is true that the demand for AIs in the market have grown over the years, and that the Brazilian market is very open to receiving the technology. The Fund of Microsoft aims to bring the two aspects together, whether the issue of technology in the country, or the promotion of women in the job market, training and qualifying them even more, so that their companies can maintain themselves in a highly competitive market.

In this aspect, female entrepreneurship emerges as an important instrument for social transformation, which aims at the achievement, independence and female affirmation. This, in a scenario where, in recent years, the number of businesswomen has increased, makes a significant difference to the business market.