UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will host an in-person Masterclass for women digital entrepreneurs from Latin America and the Caribbean under the theme: ‘Scaling Businesses in Latin America: Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital Era’, 1-4 April 2025, in Bogota, Colombia.
Addressing the gender digital divide
The rapid spread of digital technologies is creating many business opportunities for entrepreneurs across Latin America and the Caribbean. Yet, significant disparities remain across and within countries regarding digitalization, especially for women entrepreneurs.
Against this backdrop, UNCTAD invites up to 25 women digital entrepreneurs from the region to take part in this empowerment event. The Masterclass will offer participants an opportunity to boost their skills to grow their businesses in the digital economy.
The Masterclass is organized in partnership with Ms. Ana Sandoval, Founder and COO of Bold (Colombia), and eTrade for Women Advocate for Latin America and the Caribbean.
What will the masterclass focus on?
The Masterclass will combine a set of learning, inspirational and networking sessions, which will cover critical aspects of how to develop and grow a digital business.
As part of the Masterclass, UNCTAD will also host a Policy Dialogue where digital entrepreneurs and government representatives from the region will discuss how public policies can help build a more inclusive digital economy in the region.
How to join?
The Masterclass is open to Women digital entrepreneurs from the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
To be considered, candidates must:
- Be a woman founder/co-founder of a digital business such as an e-commerce marketplace, a digital logistics platform, or offer digital services such as edtech, fintech, agritech, healthtech, etc.;
- The business must have a minimum of 3 years of operations;
- Candidates must demonstrate a positive impact on their community through economic and social empowerment, digitalization, advocacy, or related actions.
Candidates who meet the above selection criteria are invited to submit their application no later than 26 January 2025 on the Masterclass webpage.
UNCTAD and its partners will review the applications received and inform selected participants by mid-February 2025.
Further information about the Masterclass, is available on the eTrade for Women website.
The eTrade for Women initiative
The eTrade for Women initiative was launched by the United Nations in 2019 in partnership with eTrade for all. It aims to empower women by combining the transformative power of female entrepreneurship with the positive impact of digital technologies.
