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School partners with Bicester Collection to support South Asian entrepreneurs with tailored education programme

Published

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, is partnering the Bicester Collection to provide tailored executive education to winners of an entrepreneurship competition.

The Unlock Her Future™ Prize 2025 will support the next wave of female social entrepreneurs in the award's target region of South Asia.

Social entrepreneurship is a key focus of Oxford Saïd and was the main theme of the Global Innovation Index 2024, edited by Oxford Saïd Dean Professor Soumitra Dutta. Within the School, social entrepreneurship is championed by the Skoll Centre, an internationally renowned social impact centre, which brings researchers and practitioners together to generate insights on how to lead, organise, finance, measure, and scale impact. These insights are then incorporated into learning programmes for entrepreneurial leaders at Oxford and worldwide.

The Bicester Collection award is an annual start-up competition for female social impact entrepreneurs. For its third edition, the annual entrepreneurship programme aims to drive change by identifying and supporting women social impact entrepreneurs from South Asia. 

As the academic partner, Oxford Saïd will be providing an executive education programme and bespoke leadership coaching for the winners, to help them achieve their personal and professional goals. Prize winners will each receive a business grant of up to US$100,000 to launch and scale their start-up.

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Kathy Harvey, Associate Dean of the School said: ‘We are delighted to be partnering with The Bicester Collection for this initiative and to support the development of female entrepreneurs who want to make a difference.

‘I’m passionate about giving women an equal chance when it comes to founding their start-up and this competition is an important milestone in a long-term mission by so many of us across organisations to create a level playing field. Alongside our Co-Director Simeone Koo Ishikawa, I look forward to welcoming the finalists of the Unlock Her Future Prize 2025 South Asia Edition to the Oxford entrepreneurial ecosystem and taking them on the next stage of their journey.’

 

 

The 2025 edition of Bicester Collection’s prestigious prize welcomes applications from women from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, aged at least 18, with an inspiring start-up idea that will generate a positive and sustainable impact on society, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Applicants’ start-ups can be either at the idea/validation stage, where they have a big idea for a new product or service with a tested prototype that is being validated, or at the launch/growth stage, for start-ups operating under three years and with less than US$1 million in revenue. 

‘At The Bicester Collection, we are dedicated to creating destinations where experiential retail meets purpose. With flagship locations across Europe, China and the US, we unite our guests and partners to drive meaningful change and make the lives of others better. Unlocking the potential of women, both locally and globally, is central to our mission. Female entrepreneurs need access to capital, education and influential networks. Through our philanthropic programme, DO GOOD, we provide the tools to help them succeed. The Unlock Her Future Prize empowers women to launch businesses, transform communities and create sustainable growth that leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come,' said Chantal Khoueiry, Chief Culture Officer at The Bicester Collection.

Partner, Shruti Nair, Leader, Ashoka Innovators for the Public, South Asia said: ‘Ashoka is committed to build a world where everyone has the power to give, contribute to change and be a changemaker! We are also witnessing a historic moment of advancing leadership roles of women and girls in our society. We are very excited about this timely and much needed partnership with The Bicester Collection to help women entrepreneurs to create an ‘Everyone A Changemaker’ society and be role models for all aspiring female changemakers.’

Finalists will be chosen by a Selection Committee of international business leaders and social impact experts. They will then be invited to a pitch day in the region in October, where they will present their start-up to an assembly of judges comprising high-profile women from South Asia.

The winners will be announced in November 2025 during a ceremony in the UK with Bicester Village, forming part of The Bicester Collection’s thirtieth anniversary celebrations. Applications for the Unlock Her Future Prize 2025 South Asia Edition are now open until 10 March 2025. More information and to apply.

Social entrepreneurship programmes at Oxford Saïd.