Visa and Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) have announced the winner of the first ‘She’s Next’ grant program for Bahrain. Aida Almudaifa, the founder of Early Riser, a Bahrain-based manufacturer of granolas and nut butters, was selected as the winning woman-owned small business. She received a $50,000 grant, a year of business coaching from the International Trade Centre (ITC), and $3,000 in Amazon Web Services credits.

The ‘She’s Next’ program received over 880 applications from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The jury evaluated the entries based on several criteria, including the progression of the applicant’s entrepreneurial journey, the robustness of their business metrics, their digital presence, and their ability to confidently problem-solve.

In addition to the main grant, the program also included a People’s Favorite award, which was voted on by the public and awarded $10,000 to Esraa AlJanahi, the Founder of EJS Dynamic Fitness, a boutique fitness facility.

The ‘She’s Next’ initiative aims to support and empower women entrepreneurs in the region by providing them with practical insights, tools, educational resources, and training opportunities. Visa and ITC will also provide one-to-one advisory support for 30 finalists, helping them enhance their business and financial strategies.

This program highlights the commitment of Visa and BisB to empower and recognize women-owned businesses in Bahrain, offering them the support and resources needed to thrive in the business world.