Last chance to enter the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards

Applications for the 2013 edition of the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards close this Friday, 8 March.

Created by French jeweller and watch-maker Cartier, the Women's Forum, McKinsey & Company and INSEAD business school, the awards are an international business plan competition intended to identify, support and encourage projects by women entrepreneurs.

The competition is open to female entrepreneurs whose projects are between one and three years old.

The mission of the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards is threefold:

* To identify and support initial-phase women entrepreneurs through funding and coaching.

* To foster the spirit of enterprise by celebrating role models in entrepreneurship.

* To create an international network of women entrepreneurs and encourage peer networking.

Since their inception in 2006, the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards have accompanied over 100 promising female business-owners and recognised 32 laureates.

There are two rounds to the annual competition: 

Round 1 (in June): The Jury selects 18 finalists, the top three projects of each region (Latin America, North America, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Asia-Pacific), on the basis of their short business plans. The finalists receive coaching from experienced businesspeople to move to the next round.

Round 2 (in October): Finalists are invited to France for the final round of the competition which includes submitting a detailed business plan and presenting their projects in front of the Jury. They are also invited to the Annual Global Meeting of the Women's Forum.

Based on the quality of the plan and the persuasiveness of the verbal presentation, one laureate for each of the six regions is selected and receives a unique and comprehensive support package comprising $20 000 (around R180 000) of funding, one year of coaching, networking opportunities and media exposure.

Click here to enter.