Support female entrepreneurs
to make their communities cleaner, healthier, and safer
EMPOWERING IMPACTFUL INNOVATION
RISE by Sundara Fund supports and empowers early stage female entrepreneurs working in water, sanitation, and hygiene.
We provide mentorship, business education, seed funding, and access to a network of experts.
Our entrepreneurs provide innovative solutions to problems in their own communities.
Together, we make the world healthier, safer, and brighter.
Every day, on average, over 800 children under 5 years of age die from diarrhoeal diseases due to lack of clean water, compromised sanitation and hygiene. 780 million people are currently utilizing water from an unsafe drinking source. 2.5 billion people lack access to decent sanitation. That's 1 in 3 people across the entire globe.
In many developing countries, there is still an under-representation of women in leadership positions. While many desire to become catalysts of change within their community, female entrepreneurs have less access to mentorship, capital and role models in business, compared to their male counterparts.
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THE PROBLEM
OUR SOLUTION
We leverage our expertise in the water, sanitation, and hygiene field to give fearless early-stage female entrepreneurs the mentorship, seed funding, and network they need to build their own self-sustaining businesses. Our fellows know first-hand the impact of having restricted access to clean water and basic hygiene services - and they are hard at work to improve these circumstances for generations to come.
BUILDING ON A FOUNDATION OF HYGIENE ACTIVISM
In 2013 Sundara was founded as a non-profit recycling gently used hotel soap. While working in the water, sanitation, and hygiene field for seven years, we kept encountering women with innovative ideas to improve their communities. Many of these women struggled to find the support they needed to implement their solutions. In 2020 we launched RISE to give them that support. We know first-hand the difference that empowered female entrepreneurs can make.
SUPPORT RISE
BECOME A CORPORATE PARTNER
For every $1.00 investment into sanitation programs there is a $5.00 return - and for every $1.00 invested into clean water programs alone, there is a $7.00 return. Beyond your financial investment, by becoming our CSR Partner, you’ll reduce the disparity gap between female and male entrepreneurs, helping women to act as thought-leaders and change-makers across the world.
MAKE A DONATION
When you donate to RISE, your support acts as a catalyst for long-term, sustainable change within underserved communities. You have the opportunity to empower innovative female entrepreneurs. Your donation will have a monumental impact on the health and hygiene of women and their families for generations to come.
Shreya, India
My mentors pointed out communication gaps in my presentation and areas for development. The discussions around strategies for scaling also resonated with my current strategies and was a great source of validation. I am delighted by the depth of the questions I am asked and the quality of feedback that I receive.
Hoyce, Tanzania
My plan for now is to implement and work on the feedback I received from the RISE team to make sure that I come up with a compelling pitch deck, and share it through different platforms that were mentioned in the future. Once again, thank you so much to my mentors for your tireless support and encouragement.
Stella, Ghana
RISE has enlightened me on how to pitch my business to impress donors for future fundings, marketing of my product on the internet and other avenues of securing funding. I look forward to more events organized by RISE for us to create opportunities for sustainable networking, training and empowerment. Thank you.
TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR RISE ENTREPRENEURS
APPLY TO OUR PROGRAM
If you are an individual entrepreneur or a locally led non-profit with an idea on how to improve water, sanitation or hygiene issues in your own community, let’s join forces. We partner with motivated women in developing countries. Click the Apply Now button below to learn more and review our application criteria.
TO ACCESS:
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World-class training from our network of business experts across the globe
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Our own knowledge and expertise from seven years in the water, sanitation and hygiene industry
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Personalized mentorship and support through any challenges that arise as your grow your business from the ground up
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Seed funding to help launch your business
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Improved water, sanitation and hygiene for yourself and your community as a result of our mentorship and investment into your sustainable business
Join us as we report on our selected entrepreneurs from across the globe. We’ll share open and honest conversations about our experience and the entrepreneur’s trials and triumphs.