Visa and NBK announce winners of the She's Next program in Kuwait

 Visa (NYSE: V), a world leader in digital payments, together with National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), announced Dr Alaa Abul of “Doctor Mum” as the winner of the She's Next grant program for Kuwait. The winner was selected at an award ceremony held at the NBK Headquarters.

Handpicked from a pool of over 100 applicants from across Kuwait, the winning woman-owned small business, “Doctor Mum”, a brand specializing in maternity and baby products, won a grant of US$25,000. In addition, Latifah Alessa of Ayadi, won a prize of US$15,000 and Reem Al Farhan of CTC, won a prize of US$10,000. Dr Alaa Abul of “Doctor Mum” also won a people’s favourite prize of US$10,000.

A jury evaluated entries based on the following criteria: compelling story of entrepreneurship, strength of business metrics, compelling digital presence and compelling problem solving within the business among other criteria. The members of the jury included: Ghadeer Al-Awadhi, Head of Sales & Distribution Channels Strategy, Consumer Banking Group at NBK; Najla Al-Sager, Head of Talent Management & Learning, Group Human Resources at NBK; Maha Nizam, Visa’s Head of Brand in GCC; and Dalal Al Doub, Kuwaiti influencer and entrepreneur.

By participating in the program, all women entrepreneurs gained access to practical insights from female leaders in Kuwait, as well as valuable tools and educational resources. These include Visa’s Practical Business Skills Program, designed to help them grow and develop their businesses.

On this occasion,  Ghadeer Al-Awadhi, Head of Sales & Distribution Channels Strategy at NBK reaffirmed the Bank’s unwavering commitment to championing women's empowerment, a cornerstone of its corporate culture and strategic vision.

She emphasized that NBK’s ongoing collaboration with VISA to launch the "She's Next" initiative for the second consecutive year reflects the bank's dedication to social responsibility and its efforts to foster a business environment that empowers national female talents to develop innovative solutions for their enterprises. This initiative underscores NBK’s belief that supporting women-owned businesses is no longer a choice but a necessity, given the pivotal role of women entrepreneurs in driving economic growth.

According to Visa’s SMB Women Digitization Index in Kuwait, women-owned businesses rely women-owned businesses rely on venture capital (45%) and personal finances (38%) to set up their businesses. This underscores the importance of programs like She’s Next in providing essential financial support and resources for women-owned business to grow and succeed.

Shashank Singh, Visa’s Country Manager for Kuwait and Qatar, commented, “At Visa, we believe in the potential of women to drive innovation and economic growth.  She’s Next program in Kuwait reflects our commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs by providing the resources, mentorship, and funding they need to thrive. We would like to extend our congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists for their remarkable contributions to Kuwait’s entrepreneurial landscape and look forward to supporting them through this program as they can continue to grow their businesses."

Grand Prize winner Dr Alaa Abul of “Dr Mum”, shared: “This award is not just for me but for all the mothers and babies we serve through “Dr. Mum”. My mission has always been to provide evidence-based support, wellness, and care for families, and this recognition fuels my passion to grow and make an even greater impact. Thank you Visa, NBK, and She’s Next for empowering women entrepreneurs in Kuwait.”

Since its launch, the She’s Next program has provided over $3 million in grants and coaching to women entrepreneurs across the globe, empowering them to scale their businesses and contribute to economic growth.

The program also recognized outstanding finalists who showcased exceptional entrepreneurial vision and innovation. These included Mariam Al Saad of Al Manakh and Hanouf Abdulaziz of Calma Home.