Women-led enterprises shaping the future of health and food security
- MacKenzie King Impact Hub Network
Women are the backbone of our communities. They carry local knowledge, work with and for families, and shape the way food is grown and healthcare is delivered. Yet too often, their ideas are held back by limited access to finance, mentorship, and visibility.
With Bayer Foundation, we are breaking down these barriers. And when women receive the support they deserve, the results are extraordinary: communities thrive, farmers harvest stronger yields, families access the healthcare they need, and entire systems begin to shift.
Meet the women redefining what’s possible
Nearly 300 million people face acute hunger today, while more than 2 billion live with food insecurity. Millions more struggle to access basic healthcare. These are daunting challenges, but many of the solutions already exist in the hands of women entrepreneurs who understand their communities’ deepest needs.
That is why the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award (BFWEA), powered by Impact Hub, has recognised 15 extraordinary women from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
Selected from 1,763 applicants across 117 countries, their ventures span AI-powered health diagnostics, climate-smart farming technologies, community-led nutrition initiatives, and circular economy models. Different in geography and industry, they share a common vision: healthier families, stronger harvests, and more resilient systems.
Proof that women-led innovation delivers
Since launching in 2021, the BFWEA has supported 55 women entrepreneurs, with Impact Hub Network partnering to amplify the programme’s reach over the last two years. In 2024 alone, the initiative drew 2,276 applicants from 109 countries—a 43% increase from the previous year. A global campaign reached 5.2 million people, amplifying the voices and impact of women entrepreneurs.
The 2024 winners offer powerful proof of what women-led innovation can achieve with the right support. Here’s the impact of 15 women:
- Reached 3.68 million people with improved healthcare
- Supported 69,000+ smallholder farmers, training 46,500 to increase productivity and resilience
- Generated $3.93 million in additional income for rural families
- Diverted 1,100 tonnes of organic material from waste streams, repurposing it as food or new products
- Achieved an average 84% revenue growth after joining the programme
These aren’t just statistics—they represent mothers accessing life-saving healthcare, farmers growing sustainable harvests, and entrepreneurs building livelihoods that strengthen entire communities. The 2025 cohort is building on this momentum and currently participating in a 6-month accelerator programme to amplify their impact.
Collaboration that unlocks impact
Big challenges cannot be solved in isolation. Supporting women entrepreneurs to scale their solutions requires not just funding, but also networks, expertise, and visibility. The Women Entrepreneurs Award works because it brings these elements together through collaboration.
- Bayer Foundation anchors the programme with catalytic funding, global credibility, and a clear focus on advancing health and food security.
- Impact Hub brings the reach of a network in more than 120 locations, grounded in local communities. This makes it possible to scout promising innovators, apply refined criteria for scale and sustainability, and provide tailored mentorship and peer learning. Through storytelling and visibility, we also connect women entrepreneurs to investors, corporates, and policymakers who can help them grow.
Together, we are creating the conditions for women-led solutions to move from bold ideas to lasting systems change.
We believe in the transformative power of social entrepreneurs to drive systemic change. Through our partnership with Impact Hub, we connect entrepreneurs to resources and networks that help scale their impact, strengthening locally driven responses to health and food challenges.
Join the movement
At Impact Hub, we’ve witnessed firsthand that when women entrepreneurs succeed, entire communities flourish. Together with Bayer Foundation, we’re building a replicable model for surfacing and scaling women-led innovation that others can adopt and adapt.
Whether you’re an investor seeking impactful opportunities, a potential mentor with valuable expertise, a partner organization aligned with our mission, or simply someone who believes in innovation’s power to create change, there’s a place for you in supporting women and other underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Because when impact entrepreneurs receive the tools they need to succeed, they don’t just transform their own lives—they change the world.
Partner for impact today
Whether you’re interested in finding cutting-edge solutions, designing impactful programmes, or driving powerful social initiatives, we’re here to bring your vision to life. Let’s collaborate!
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