The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil, in collaboration with the +Unidos Group, have announced the opening of applications for the fourth edition of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE 4.0). This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote economic development by empowering women entrepreneurs. The program is available at no cost and aims to support 100 women this year.
Applications are open until July 28, 2025, and can be submitted via the website: https://www.maisunidos.org/awebrasil/. AWE is a project under the U.S. Department of State that has already supported over 10,000 women across approximately 50 countries. It focuses on providing entrepreneurial education to women who own and manage their businesses.
Participants benefit from specialized mentorship alongside the course material, helping them enhance their business acumen and strategic approaches. Ana Nascimento, a past participant from AWE 3.0, shared her experience: “Participating in AWE was a turning point in my journey as an entrepreneur. The program broadened my perspective on my business, bringing more strategy, opportunity, and confidence. The exchange with other women and the support from mentors were fundamental for me to position myself more solidly in the market.”
The curriculum for AWE-Brazil 4.0 includes content from "100 Million Learners Bootcamp on Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation," developed by Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. It covers diverse topics such as leadership, management, technology integration, strategic planning, business growth strategies, ethics in business practices, recruitment processes, organizational culture development, financial management skills including funding acquisition strategies and public-private partnerships.
Furthermore, it explores social entrepreneurship models along with customer loyalty tactics through branding initiatives and intellectual property rights management within e-commerce platforms utilizing social media channels effectively.
Program activities will feature workshops and lectures along with virtual fairs allowing exchanges between participants and successful entrepreneurs complemented by targeted mentorship sessions.