Tech giant Microsoft recently engaged in a strategic partnership with She Loves Tech, an international initiative and network for women-led technology enterprises, to bolster economic growth and inclusivity across 15 Asian countries.
The team-up between the two groups aims to bolster She Loves Tech’s goal of unlocking capital amounting to $1 billion for women-led businesses by 2030 through Microsoft-backed Azure-powered digital network among global angel investors, venture capitalists, and female entrepreneurs.
Microsoft’s vast range of tools and resources will be accessible to She Loves Tech community startups, empowering women-led businesses based in Asia towards scaling their enterprises to a valuation of $1 billion, known as going from “idea to unicorn.”
According to DealStreetAsia, businesses in Southeast Asia that were built by women shared in only 0.9% of the region’s total raised capital.
In 2020, female-led enterprises received merely 16.5% of $8.6 billion in total capital, thus making the two organisations’ partnership a well timed opportunity towards closing this financial gap.
Through Microsoft Azure and GitHub access, female-led startups within the She Loves Tech community will have the means to scale their business rapidly, breaking down the hurdles involved in showcasing their innovations to the market.
Additionally, inputs and mentorship from a network of global industry professionals will be available as well in order to ensure that founders have all the support necessary for faster product development and achieving critical targets.
Ahmed Mazhari, Microsoft Asia President, spoke highly of the need for collaboration in order to achieve true gender parity and inclusion as women business leaders are vital to economic growth in Asia.
“Organisations like She Loves Tech are critical to create access and inspire women to become part of the tech industry. We know everyone wins when women are included,” Mazhari said.
He further stated that Microsoft’s top goal is to “empower Asia as an engine of innovation for the world” and that to meet this they are committed to shattering gender-based obstacles for female-led enterprises, and supporting Asian startups in the process of turning their idea to unicorn.
As for She Loves Tech Co-Founder Leanne Robers, the partnership with Microsoft serves to further their objective of “levelling the playing field” for women entrepreneurs in Asia, through greater resource and networking access.
Robers also recognised Microsoft as a respected technology collaborator that shares She Loves Tech’s long-term vision for women entrepreneurs and stressed that by utilising the proper tools and channels for development in an increasingly digital economy, future generations of female-led enterprises will benefit from the support they deserve.
“By helping over 10,000 women entrepreneurs gain access to funding, a global network, and support from other women founders from around the world, we hope their success will indirectly contribute towards creating 100,000 jobs across local economies in Asia,” Robers said.
