Opportunity Information: Apply for WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 003
Apply for WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 003
- The DOS-WHA in the business and commerce, employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WEAmericas Accelerator" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.750.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 27, 2016 and posted on Apr 27, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 07, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,277,227.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The WEAmericas Accelerator is a U.S. Department of State (DOS-WHA) discretionary grant opportunity designed to expand women-led entrepreneurship in Central America by replicating a proven small-business accelerator model over a three-year period. The core idea is to take an accelerator approach that has already demonstrated success and scale it in a structured way so that women entrepreneurs receive the kind of concentrated support that typically helps businesses move from early traction to real growth, stronger operations, and clearer investment readiness.
Programmatically, the project is centered on running an intensive accelerator that combines training and hands-on advisory services. The grant expects at least three cohorts over the life of the project, reaching a minimum of 75 women entrepreneurs in total. Participants are intended to receive direct mentoring and counseling from business experts, which implies more than classroom learning: individualized guidance, feedback on business strategy, and targeted problem-solving support. A key capstone component is the opportunity for participants who complete the accelerator to present their business plans to potential investors, creating a pipeline from capacity-building to real-world capital access and market connections.
The intended outcomes focus on improving gender balance in the regional business environment and advancing gender equality in practical, measurable ways. Rather than framing equality as an abstract goal, the opportunity emphasizes concrete barriers women entrepreneurs often face, such as limited access to high-quality training, mentorship networks, new markets, and financing. By building entrepreneurs skills, connecting them to expert advisors, and creating an investor-facing platform, the accelerator is meant to help women develop stronger businesses and expand professional networks that can persist after the program ends.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a grant (not a contract) with an award ceiling of $2,277,227, and the agency anticipated making one award. The funding activity category is Business and Commerce, Employment, Labor and Training, and the CFDA listing provided is 19.750. The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 003) was posted on April 27, 2016, with an application deadline of June 7, 2016.
Eligibility is broad but targeted toward organizations capable of delivering multi-year entrepreneurship programming at scale. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The listing also indicates that additional applicant types may be eligible under an "Others" category, subject to the clarification in the opportunitys eligibility section. Overall, the grant is structured for an organization that can manage cohort-based programming, recruit and support women entrepreneurs, engage credible business mentors and advisors, and coordinate an investor presentation component that aligns with the goal of expanding access to capital and markets.
WEAmericas Accelerator Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the WEAmericas Accelerator grant opportunity?
The WEAmericas Accelerator is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State (DOS-WHA). It is designed to expand women-led entrepreneurship in Central America by replicating and scaling a proven small-business accelerator model over a three-year period.
What is the main goal of the project?
The main goal is to improve the enabling environment for women entrepreneurs by delivering a structured accelerator that helps women-led businesses move from early traction to real growth, stronger operations, and clearer investment readiness. The project aims to advance gender equality through practical, measurable support that addresses barriers women entrepreneurs commonly face.
What kind of approach does the program use?
The opportunity is centered on an accelerator approach that combines intensive training with hands-on advisory services. It emphasizes individualized mentoring and counseling from business experts, not just classroom-based instruction.
How long is the project period expected to last?
The accelerator model is intended to be replicated over a three-year period.
How many cohorts are expected, and how many entrepreneurs should be reached?
The grant expects at least three cohorts over the life of the project, reaching a minimum of 75 women entrepreneurs in total.
Who are the intended participants?
The intended participants are women entrepreneurs in Central America. The program is designed specifically to strengthen women-led entrepreneurship and address gender-related barriers in the regional business environment.
What types of services are participants expected to receive?
Participants are expected to receive a mix of intensive training and direct advisory support, including mentoring and counseling from business experts. This implies individualized guidance and feedback on business strategy, operations, and other targeted challenges that affect growth and investment readiness.
Is there an investor or funding connection component?
Yes. A key capstone component is that participants who complete the accelerator should have an opportunity to present their business plans to potential investors. This is intended to create a clearer pipeline from capacity-building to access to capital and market connections.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The intended outcomes include improving gender balance in the regional business environment and advancing gender equality in practical ways. The opportunity emphasizes reducing real-world barriers for women entrepreneurs, including limited access to high-quality training, mentorship networks, new markets, and financing.
Is this funding a grant or a contract?
This opportunity is a grant, not a contract.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $2,277,227.
How many awards does the agency anticipate making?
The agency anticipated making one award.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, within the DOS-WHA context (Western Hemisphere Affairs).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 003.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on April 27, 2016. The application deadline was June 7, 2016.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed as Business and Commerce, Employment, Labor and Training.
What CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided is 19.750.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The listing also indicates that additional applicant types may be eligible under an "Others" category, depending on clarification in the opportunity's eligibility section.
Does an applicant need to be able to run programming at scale?
Yes. The opportunity is structured for an organization capable of delivering multi-year, cohort-based entrepreneurship programming, recruiting and supporting women entrepreneurs, engaging credible mentors and advisors, and coordinating an investor presentation component.
What does "replicating a proven accelerator model" mean in this context?
Based on the description, it means taking an accelerator approach that has already demonstrated success and scaling it in a structured way across multiple cohorts over three years, rather than building an entirely new model from scratch.
Is the program focused only on training, or also on mentorship?
It is focused on both. The accelerator combines training with hands-on advisory services, including direct mentoring and counseling from business experts, indicating a strong emphasis on individualized support.
What is the capstone activity for participants?
The capstone is an opportunity for accelerator completers to present their business plans to potential investors, supporting access to capital and market connections.
What kinds of barriers for women entrepreneurs does the opportunity specifically highlight?
The opportunity highlights barriers such as limited access to high-quality training, mentorship networks, new markets, and financing.
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