Applications open for 2010 Cartier Women's Initiative Awards

The 2010 Cartier Women's Initiative Awards, now in it's fourth year, is calling for applications. The awards recognises entrepreneurs and aims to encourage female entrepreneurs who have recently started up their companies.

11 Feb 2010

Applications open for 2010 Cartier Women's Initiative Awards

Launched in 2006 in partnership with the Women's Forum, McKinsey & Co. and INSEAD business school, Cartier's program is an international business plan competition and targets women entrepreneurs who lead creative, sustainable and socially responsible enterprises.

The awards are given each year to five laureates, one for each region:

Africa
Asia (including the Oceania Zone and the Middle-East)
Europe
Latin America (including the Caribbean)
North America

Selected by an independent jury among 15 finalists, they receive, in addition to a trophy, one year of coaching with Cartier, McKinsey & Co. and INSEAD professionals, a US$20,000 prize, networking opportunities as well as media exposure.

Eligibility criteria:

Projects to be considered for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards must be:

an original for-profit business creation;

in the initial phase: pre-launch or startup (no older than 3 years); and

the main leadership position must be filled by a woman.

The competition is open to women from all countries, nationalities and industries. In 2009, there were 820 participants from 70 countries*: 10% from Africa, 22% from Asia (including the Oceania Zone and the Middle-East), 19% from Europe, 17% from Latin America (including the Caribbean) and 32% from North America.

To apply for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards, candidates must complete the application form online before 10 March 2010, 11.59pm, GMT +1. Forms sent by courier or email are not accepted.

For more information, go to www.cartierwomensinitiative.com.

* The country refers to the country where the company is created and not the nationality of the candidate(s).