Shepreneur

Enactus Toronto Metropolitan University

When many think of entrepreneurship, they default to an app that was built, components of the gig economy, or the large tech startups that flood Silicon Valley. It’s not often that they think of the woman who’s struggling to maintain her small business to put food on the table. In 2021, 81% of female entrepreneurs in six Latin American countries started their own business because there were no better options for employment.

The Shepreneur Project from Enactus Toronto Metropolitan University aims to empower and inspire women that lack formal education and come from vulnerable living situations to create innovative businesses and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit within.

These free, 10-week bootcamps empower and equip women with business basics, mentoring and microfinancing programs to introduce a fresh and motivated mindset to young women who have a dream but need help bringing it to life.

The team launched their pilot in Mexico City this past year in partnership with El Pozo de Vida and the Orphaned Starfish foundation and educated an impassioned group of 15 women on business basics and building a strong foundation.