Take part in the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs programme

The University of Iceland and the US Embassy in Iceland are now inviting applications for the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) programme. The programme, which is specifically aimed at women, will start on 23 January 2025 and end on 30 April with a graduation ceremony. It is open to both individuals and teams, and there is no participation fee.

The application deadline is 6 January.

The programme will take place this year for the fourth time. Its goal is to support women in developing their business ideas and strengthen their social networks. The AWE programme consists of the online training programme DreamBuilder, organised by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management, and workshops organised by the University of Iceland in collaboration with the Association of Businesswomen in Iceland (FKA). During the workshops participants will be guided by experienced women in innovation and entrepreneurship in areas such as marketing and social media, launching a company in Iceland, network building, grant applications, intellectual property, and other useful knowledge for starting and developing a business.

The programme aims to attract women from diverse backgrounds and origins living all over Iceland. Most workshops will be streamed online but there will be an on-site session in Hvanneyri and a visit to women-led companies in Reykjanesbær in collaboration with FKA Suðurnes.

Further information can be found on our website.

Prizes are awarded for the best business plans in both individual and team categories:

• First prize – ISK 700,000
• Second prize – ISK 500,000 
• Third prize – ISK 300,000

There is also a prize of ISK 300,000 for the best pitch and ISK 200,000 for the most progress made during the programme.
Women of all ages can apply to participate in the accelerator, and 20-30 applicants will be selected. The applicant does not need to be or have been a student at the University of Iceland.

You can apply to take part in the programme on the AWE website. The website also contains further information about the programme and a recording of an open meeting on 21 November.

More information about the AWE programme

The University of Iceland organises the AWE programme with the US Embassy in Iceland. The United States government runs the initiative in over 50 countries worldwide. Iceland is the first Nordic country to participate. The Association of Women Business Leaders and the Women of Multicultural Ethnicity Network (W.O.M.E.N.) are also involved in organising the AWE programme.
Eighty-five women have gone through the AWE programme in Iceland and have gone on to carve out niches for themselves in Iceland and abroad by continuing to develop and finance their business ideas.