Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, launched a new edition of the She’s Next Program in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Saudi Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) and Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), to empower women-led businesses across the region.
Visa announced in a statement today that women entrepreneurs in the Kingdom can apply for the chance to secure funding, mentorship, and national exposure until 21 July.
The top five finalists, which will be selected and announced on 1 August, will participate in a pitch event and final judging on 2 September, where three winners will be awarded a share of $60,000 in equity-free grants. The Main Prize winner will receive $30,000, while the Runner-Up and People’s Favorite will receive $20,000 and $10,000, respectively.
She’s Next in Entrepreneurship aims to support women from all sectors who have bold ideas and high-growth potential. The program’s new edition focuses on the wider entrepreneurial community, amplifying the voices and visions of women who are driving innovation, creating jobs, and building the future of Saudi business.
Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Regional General Manager in KSA, Bahrain, and Oman, affirmed that the She’s Next Program not only focuses on giving women founders the recognition, mentorship, and support they need to scale with confidence, along with funding. “Together with SAB, Monsha’at, we’re proud to help create a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape, where more women-led businesses can thrive and shape the country’s future economy in line with Saudi Vision 2030,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lama Ghazzaoui, Chief Financial Officer at SAB, commented: “Through She’s Next, we proudly support visionary entrepreneurs with the resources they need to scale their businesses. At SAB, empowering women in business is not a one-off initiative, but a core part of our commitment to building a more dynamic and inclusive economy.”
In December 2024, Visa, Monsha’at, and SAB launched the third edition of She’s Next to empower women entrepreneurs in the fashion industry.
Since 2020, Visa has invested around $3 million in more than 250 grants and coaching for women SMB owners through the She’s Next grant program globally, including in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait.