#India #Women Entrepreneurs #South Asia #Unlock Her Future #Bicester Collection

The Bicester Collection Launches Unlock Her Future Prize 2025 in South Asia

The Bicester Collection is proud to announce that, for the 2025 edition of its annual competition, the Unlock Her Future Prize is making its debut in South Asia. This initiative aims to empower women social impact entrepreneurs in countries such as Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This move follows previous successful editions in the MENA region in 2023 and LATAM in 2024, demonstrating a global commitment to fostering female entrepreneurship.

A Chance to Impact Society

The Unlock Her Future Prize is designed to identify and support aspiring female entrepreneurs who have innovative startup ideas that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Women who are at least 18 years old can apply, whether their venture is in the ideation or validation stage, or already launched with revenues under $1 million. This broad scope allows a diverse range of entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and harness the support needed for success.

Substantial Support for Winners

Winners of the Unlock Her Future Prize will each receive a business grant of up to $100,000 to help launch or expand their startups. Furthermore, they will benefit from an executive education program at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, personalized leadership coaching, and access to a network of expert mentors. This combination of financial support and educational resources aims to equip women with the tools needed to create substantial impact within their communities.

The Importance of Gender Equality in Entrepreneurship

Research shows that gender-balanced entrepreneurship could potentially increase global GDP by up to $5 trillion. However, a significant funding gap remains, with fewer than 3% of venture capital funds going to women-led businesses, according to Harvard Business School. The Unlock Her Future Prize seeks to address these disparities by providing the necessary resources for women entrepreneurs to flourish.

The 2025 prize is part of the DO GOOD initiative by The Bicester Collection, which is dedicated to driving sustainable social change, particularly for women and children. With about $600,000 already committed in grants from previous editions, this program continues to build momentum and aim for equality in the entrepreneurial landscape.

An Alumnus Network of Change Makers

Those who secure the prize will join a distinguished network of social impact leaders. Previous winners have made significant strides in their sectors, with ventures such as Salva Health from Colombia and EcoCentric from Iraq becoming examples of how local initiatives can create global ripple effects.

Partnership with Leading Institutions

This prize collaborates with Ashoka South Asia, an organization focused on social entrepreneurship and innovation, and is supported by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, which brings its renowned expertise in nurturing business leaders. This partnership will ensure that participants are matched with pivotal resources and mentorship.

Call for Applications

Applications for the Unlock Her Future Prize 2025 are now open and will remain so until March 10, 2025. Selected finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas in October, with winners announced during a special award ceremony in the UK as part of The Bicester Collection's thirtieth anniversary celebrations in November 2025.

For more information and to apply, individuals can visit The Bicester Collection's official website.

The Unlock Her Future Prize is not merely a competition; it embodies a commitment to create lasting change by empowering women entrepreneurs to become catalysts for societal transformation. As highlighted by Chantal Khoueiry, Chief Culture Officer at The Bicester Collection, “Unlocking the potential of women, both locally and globally, is central to our mission.”