Women entrepreneurs across Belize, particularly those based in underserved rural communities, have gained a transformative new support system to grow their small ventures into sustainable, scalable businesses. Nonprofit organization NIME Belize (International Network of Women in Business) has officially launched the Catalyze Her Potential Catalyzer Project, a three-year strategic partnership with the IDB Lab that addresses long-standing systemic barriers holding women-led businesses back from economic growth.
As an organization dedicated to advancing women in business across Belize, NIME Belize already serves a network of 280 members spread across the country. This new initiative expands that impact dramatically, with a goal of supporting 250 additional women entrepreneurs through three integrated, high-impact components: hands-on business incubation, one-on-one expert mentorship, and access to critical seed capital that many rural women founders are locked out of through traditional financing channels.
Katia Montenegro-Hoare, president of NIME Belize, emphasized that the program is designed to deliver far more than just startup funding. Unlike many early-stage entrepreneurship initiatives that focus solely on launching new businesses, the Catalyze Her Potential project prioritizes long-term business sustainability, builds founder confidence, and drives measurable inclusive economic growth that benefits entire communities across Belize. “Our mission has always been to provide the resources, tools, opportunities, and networking that women need to build lasting businesses that contribute to Belize’s economic and social development,” Montenegro-Hoare explained in the official launch announcement.
Registration for the program is open now and will close on April 10, with all interested women entrepreneurs invited to apply. Full program details, registration instructions, and additional resources are posted to NIME Belize’s official website and social media platforms, making it easy for remote and rural applicants to access information about the opportunity.