CED worked on a capacity-building development program under the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) 2023 Program [Cohort 2] to provide women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, and access they needed to launch or scale successful businesses. The program aimed to support 90 young women entrepreneurs, providing access to soft-skills training to strengthen their business skills and promote greater alumni engagement. In the first phase of AWE 2022, CED received over 1600 applications from different demographic groups and geographical areas. Out of the applicants, only 3% were selected for training. Due to high interest, participant numbers increased. The program followed an innovative approach where participants submitted business plans after completing training. Six (6) business plans were selected for seed grants to start or expand businesses, with necessary incubation support provided through BRAC University’s Business Incubation Centre (BIC). Recruitment focused on underprivileged, indigenous, and minority communities, primarily in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. Three (3) in-person trainings were organized in these locations, with residential training in Chittagong and Sylhet. These regions were chosen to cover indigenous, ethnic, and minority communities, given the richness of these areas and the significant number of applications received from outside Dhaka in the first phase.