NBK's FoundHER Program Supports Kuwaiti Women-Led Startups

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 19 October 2026

As part of its efforts to empower women and promote inclusive economic development, the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has recently initiated the FoundHER Program, wmeant to help women entrepreneurs improve their entrepreneurship skills, expand their professional network, and learn about methods for sustainable development.

NBK intends to promote the establishment and expansion of women-run businesses and increased involvement of the private sector in economic development in the country through the FoundHER program. With this, NBK aims to foster inclusive business environment in which women entrepreneurs have easy access to information on developing their business.

Key Highlights:

• NBK launches FoundHER to support women entrepreneurs across Kuwait
• The participants gain business training and expert networks, with eligible projects considered for grants
• Eligible startups must be at least one year old and 50% owned by Kuwaiti women

Manal Al Mattar, EVP - Head of Group Corporate Communications at NBK commented, "FoundHER reflects NBK’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills, resources, and connections needed to navigate business challenges, seize growth opportunities, and build competitive, sustainable enterprises.”

"The initiative aligns with the Bank’s social responsibility and ESG strategy, particularly its focus on advancing financial inclusion, supporting women’s economic empowerment, and contributing to sustainable economic development in Kuwait,” she added.

The program serves as an integrated development platform which entails a number of training and mentoring programs as well as interaction with industry experts and specialists. The participants will be guided on how to develop their business management capabilities and growth strategies. Besides getting to develop their entrepreneurial capabilities, the participants will get to know the sources of finance and ways of growing their businesses.

Apart from acquiring essential entrepreneurship skills, participants in the program will get acquainted with funding opportunities as well as methods to expand their businesses. This program would seek to afford women entrepreneurs an opportunity to make choices in the direction of expanding their businesses.

The application process of the program will begin in late October 2026. As a requirement for application, the person applying must be a Kuwaiti female entrepreneur or a partner having fifty percent or more ownership in the business venture. The selected applicants will be able to benefit from the well-organized support programs offered by the project, which include training in business, networking with experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders, and help to improve their businesses.

The FoundHER program will involve a training component enhancing participants' business and entrepreneurship competencies such as finance, marketing, business law basics, business growth, customer engagement, and presentation. The participants will be asked to present their projects at the end of the training stage before the specially assembled judges. This stage will help women entrepreneurs to present their models of businesses and share growth plans and business challenges. Participants will also have an opportunity to share how they plan to solve business challenges and create and avail growth opportunities.

Program will end with honoring all teams that take part in the program and announcement of projects that will receive financial assistance. Projects will be selected based on business challenges and program terms and conditions. Financial assistance will help entrepreneurs to fulfill their entrepreneurial goals and grow their business. FoundHER launch by NBK recognizes contribution of women entrepreneurs to economic diversity and success.