Women entrepreneurs are critical drivers of economic growth and job creation, yet they face systemic barriers in business accelerators and investment readiness programs (IRPs), two key mechanisms for supporting early‑stage and growth‑oriented firms. Despite their potential, women remain underrepresented in these programs and consistently raise less capital than their male peers. These persistent gaps point to the need for more intentional program design and implementation approaches that address gender‑specific constraints and improve women’s participation and fundraising outcomes.
This practitioner’s guide aims to bridge this gap. Drawing on experiences from three We-Fi supported programs, WE3A (implemented by IDB Lab), She WINS Arabia (implemented by IFC), and WeRaise Pakistan (implemented by the World Bank), the guide synthesizes on-the-ground experiences and best practices to identify 10 key lessons across program setup and implementation. To support delivery, the guide also provides actionable tools, templates, and resources for practitioners to design and run programs that work more effectively for women-owned and led firms.
