Herizon is a program implemented by SHONA in partnership with Welthungerhilfe, with funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development,  Germany (BMZ). The program is implemented in Uganda and Kenya.
Its primary objectives are:

• To build economic opportunities for women in.
• To increase access to products and services that improve the quality of life for women.

The program plans to achieve this by identifying and supporting the growth of 40 female-driven enterprises operating in specific thematic areas.

A business is considered women-driven for the Herizon program when it meets the following conditions:

• It is female-owned (women own more than 50% of shares) OR
• It has 50% of women in management positions, AND
• 50% of its suppliers are women, AND
• 50% of its customers or users are women.

Growth-driven businesses in Uganda or Kenya that match all the following criteria are eligible:

• Ownership or Management:

• • • The business is women-owned (more than 50% shares owned by women), OR
    • More than 50% of women are in management positions AND one of the founders is from either Kenya or Uganda.
  • Key Thematic Areas: The business must operate in one or more of these areas:
    • Agriculture, Climate-smart food production & nutrition
    • Climate change
    • WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
    • Digitalisation
    • Skills development
    • Economic Empowerment
  • Staffing: The business must have at least 3 full-time staff, including the founder.
  • Supply Chain: 50% of the business’s suppliers must be women.
  • Customers and Users: 50% of the business’s customers or users must be women.

• Business Traction:

• • Must have been in operation for at least 2 years.
  • Must have an annual revenue of UGX 80,000,000 or KES 3,000,000.
  • Must have over 200 suppliers, users, and customers.

Legal Business Registration: The business must be legally registered by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) in Uganda or the Business Registration Service (BRS) in Kenya.

Participating businesses will receive extensive support aimed at building economic opportunities for women and increasing access to products and services that improve women’s quality of life. This support includes:

• Capacity Building Support:

• • Development and implementation of a 3-5 year strategic plan.
  • Refinement of business models to grow revenue and profitability.
  • Strengthening of business value chains and relationships with suppliers and distributors.
  • Streamlining of business operations, including customer acquisition, financial management, and human resource management.
  • Opportunities to learn from other businesses and peers.
  • Strengthening of business leadership skills.

• Increased Access to Capital:

• • • Targeted support to become investment-ready.
    • Curated connections to potential investors, including SHONA Capital.

• Connections:

• • Introductions to potential investors and partners.
  • Becoming part of a network of other women-driven businesses in Uganda and Kenya.
  • Building relationships with peers, business experts, and other women-driven businesses.

• Following the initial bootcamps, businesses in the Herizon program will continue to receive intensive and tailored support throughout their participation, including:

1. • One-on-one advisory support: Each business is assigned a Senior Business Analyst who serves as their point of contact, offering ongoing support as a thought partner and guiding them during program implementation.
   • Support to refine growth plans and financial models: Businesses work alongside SHONA’s team and experts to strengthen their growth strategies and financial plans, typically completed within 2 months after the initial 5-day training/bootcamp.
   • Support from technical experts: Businesses will have access to a budget of approximately USD 500 (controlled by SHONA) to invest in addressing or strengthening specific areas of their business identified through a diagnostic process.
   • Leadership support: Businesses will strengthen their leadership by learning from peers in assigned groups of approximately 7 entrepreneurs, facilitated by a leadership coach over a 12-month period.
   • Learning exchange visit: An opportunity to visit and learn from a role-model business of their choice within East Africa, with costs covered by the program under set terms and conditions, to inspire and explore new markets.
   • Support to raise investment: Continuous work to make businesses investment-ready, explore potential investment sources based on their needs, and get introductions to a network of investors, including SHONA Capital.

Showcasing your business: Assistance in growing their network, including participation in an ecosystem event to showcase entrepreneurs and their businesses.