BRAC Bank, BRAC University join hands to groom women entrepreneurs

BRAC Bank and BRAC University joined hands to launch a comprehensive Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme aimed at helping aspiring women entrepreneurs become successful in business.

The two organisations have partnered for the intensive training programme styled ‘Uddokta 101’, an initiative of the bank’s women banking segment ‘TARA’.

‘Uddokta 101’ is a targeted certification course for aspiring women entrepreneurs, having a minimum of one year of business experience. Alongside them, BRAC University alumni and students can also take part in the programme, said a press release.

The programme is to facilitate promising women business owners in honing their managerial and entrepreneurial skills helping them sustain and expand businesses.

In the three-month long training session, the aspiring entrepreneurs will deep dive into business plan, record keeping, accounting, and taxation, compliance, HR management, operations and supply chain management, e-business, export-import management and important aspects of business management.

BRAC Bank and BRAC University will conduct four batches in one year with each batch having 30 students. BRAC Bank will bear 80% of the total course fee while BRAC University will provide resources persons, module, research and logistics.

At the end of the programme, each participant will have to prepare and present business case proposal before a panel of judges and three winners will be given special awards.

“BRAC Bank has always been proactive in nurturing SMEs in Bangladesh. With this accelerator programme, we aim to help SMEs and women entrepreneurs grow by up-scaling their businesses. We want rising businesswomen to make best use of this course to realise their entrepreneurial dreams. We have plan to scale up this initiative and reach out to far-flung areas of the country,” said Syed Abdul Momen, deputy managing director and Head of SME of BRAC Bank.

Professor Vincent Chang added, “We think this collaboration will benefit the up-and-coming entrepreneurs to shine in business. We have prepared a comprehensive module that will provide necessary skillsets required to run a business in today’s world. We extend our appreciation to BRAC Bank for making us a knowledge partner of the initiative. We are proud to be part of this initiative that will be fulfilling and empowering to the women of this country.”