Fibank in Bulgaria invested over BGN 120 million (approx. EUR 62 million) in the program that supports women entrepreneurs.
“Smart Lady” is a Fibank’s program to support women entrepreneurs in Bulgaria, which celebrated its sixth birthday on March 8th. For six years, every working day for the program team has been related to financing women entrepreneurs, providing them not only with financial means but also with mentoring support to build and develop successful businesses. During this time more than BGN 120 million (approx. EUR 62 million) were granted to more than 1,100 women entrepreneurs.
To realize their dreams, participants get access not only to some Bank products with preferential terms but also to a series of training and workshops, where they find an environment of like-minded people, inspiration, and peace of mind. Nearly 1,000 women have taken part in specially designed training, mentoring sessions, and business events.
With the footprint of business on the environment in mind, the candidates in the current National Mentoring Program – Mentors BG, supported by Smart Lady, will also be trained. Since its launch in 2023, it has been a center of attraction for the training of over 110 participants, including three women from Yemen, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, selected to be trained in the program by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Bulgaria.
In 2024, a special training module on “Sustainable Business”, developed based on the program of the University of Cambridge, Institute for Sustainability Leadership, was introduced into the mentoring program.
Moreover, in 2023, “Smart Lady” created the Smart Lady Club for women entrepreneurs.
In 2024, the National Program for Women Entrepreneurs was launched, in cooperation between Smart Lady and the Women’s Business Community of the Entrepreneurship and Startup Council of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mentors BG. Within the year, more than 200 women will undergo training on sustainable business and project financing.
Source: the Bank’s press release dated March 08, 2024
