Removing financial barriers, promoting equality, supporting every woman's ambitions through high-quality training and, finally, improving networking opportunities to build a supportive and effective community.
High Her's message is clear! This modern organisation aims to reduce the funding gap between men and women by offering structured programmes (Money Academy, Tech Academy), mentoring and a supportive community. ‘On a daily basis, female entrepreneurs often face difficulties in accessing finance. High Her gives female entrepreneurs the resources, knowledge and networks to finance and grow their businesses. We aspire to an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, where every woman and every minority has the means to realise their entrepreneurial ambitions and where their contributions play a key role in economic growth and innovation,’ says Juliette Malherbe, co-founder and CEO.
A 10-week programme
In concrete terms, the Money Academy offers female entrepreneurs the tools they need to secure their first rounds of funding. ‘Our intensive 10-week programme is specifically designed to help female entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of fundraising at the pre-seed and seed stages. The programme also enables them to develop a solid financial plan and learn how to present it to investors in a dynamic and impactful way.’
This comprehensive training programme is designed with financing experts to prepare each participant for successful fundraising. This approach is clearly in tune with the times for all female entrepreneurs in Belgium who aspire to growth and expansion with a validated presence of early customers concerned with sustainability and ethics.
Three clear focus areas
The non-profit organisation High Her has developed three focus areas based on financial tools, empowerment and mentoring to support women in their search for funding. It should be noted that numerous studies have shown that, even today, too many bankers do not trust women in this area. ‘Female entrepreneurs who already have their own businesses join the Money Academy. They apply online via a form, present themselves to a jury and are then selected. We help them with their business, their vision, their performance indicators and the growth of their company. Every Friday morning, we meet at Beci for workshops with experts from the world of finance. There, all means of financing the company are explored: microcredit, crowdfunding, bank loans, fundraising from business angels, etc.’
Nothing is left to chance: workshops even address the relationship with money. ‘It's important to identify your fears in this area. Not to mention the art of negotiation and sales, how to pitch your project effectively, and how to put together a business plan and a solid financial plan. At the end, the entrepreneurs stand before a jury of investors to present their projects. This step is essential: entrepreneurship can be learned a little in business schools, but above all in the field, through contact with others.’
Who are these female entrepreneurs?
There are many different types of female entrepreneurs: ‘We support many female solopreneurs who are the sole founders of their companies.’ This reality leads to another that should not be underestimated: the loneliness of entrepreneurship. ‘This investment represents situations throughout life with many ups and downs. It is important for them to be able to count on a community that supports each other and understands each other. They need to be able to surround themselves with people facing the same challenges.’
This exchange of experiences is key: ‘During the workshops, the fifteen or so female entrepreneurs ask a lot of questions. A deliberately small group facilitates discussion. There is no embarrassment about asking questions. We see that when programmes are mixed, the vast majority of participants are men. That is why we decided to use exclusively female environments. Ultimately, this will enable them to feel confident enough to apply for mixed programmes.'
The programme itself also aims to expand its network: discussions are underway with universities and colleges. ‘We would also like to launch a study on start-ups.’
Identified sectors
This whole debate is all the more significant given that women account for 85% of purchases, yet only 1% of research and development is dedicated to women. ‘These realities in the field show that funding, commitment, teamwork and diversity are very important. To enable the best possible development, we need to create a space that is truly inclusive.'
Today, women who take the plunge and contact this organisation are looking to develop projects in textiles and women's health (postpartum, nutrition, etc.), but other profiles are also interested in architecture, real estate, jewellery, technology and more.
The organisation can also count on partners to provide training, including Finance Invest Brussels and Belfius. ‘Thanks to the partnership with Funds for Good, each entrepreneur has a specific coach who supports her for three to six months. This is extremely important, because the workshops are group sessions. Here, they benefit from individual support from volunteer coaches who are part of the Funds for Good network. Not to mention the partnership with female business leaders.’