124 Belizean Women Graduate from CatalyzeHER Incubator Program

The CatalyzeHER Potential Initiative marked a milestone on August 29th, as NIME Belize and its partner, IDB Lab, hosted a national closing ceremony in Belize City to celebrate the completion of Stage 1 of the Incubator Program. The event brought together graduates from across the country, guest speakers, funding partners, and dignitaries to recognize the achievements of 124 women entrepreneurs from all six districts of Belize.
Stage 1 of CatalyzeHER focused on building a strong business foundation through a seven-course curriculum. Participants completed training in business planning and development, financial management, marketing and branding, customer identification, business operations, entrepreneurial leadership, and strategies for sustainable growth. The closing ceremony recognized the cohort’s completion and marked their progress through the program.
Led by NIME Belize with support from IDB Lab, the initiative aims to strengthen and grow women-led businesses by providing practical business knowledge, hands-on learning, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Of the 124 graduates, 91 qualifying entrepreneurs advanced to Stage 2, the Accelerator Program. This phase focuses on market expansion, business plan refinement, pitch preparation, access-to-finance readiness, and long-term sustainability strategies. The Accelerator is designed to increase participants’ business visibility and prepare them for potential investment and seed capital opportunities.
Before the national ceremony, the program conducted community-level training and mentorship across Belize’s six districts, allowing women from both urban and rural communities to participate. San Pedro entrepreneurs are among those who have progressed through the program. Daralee Stuart of 501 Drift and Drink completed Stage 1 and is now taking part in Stage 2, while Kathya Cuéllar of LandSea Consultancy has completed both stages.
San Pedro resident Mariel Calderon, who graduated with the first cohort of CatalyzeHER and is currently participating in Cohort 2, described the initiative as transformative. “CatalyzeHER is more than a business course; it created a space where women could recognize the strength and potential they already carried,” she said. Calderon added that the program provided practical knowledge, renewed confidence, and a network of women who understand the realities of entrepreneurship. She also emphasized that investing in women can strengthen families, communities, and Belize’s future.
Looking ahead, organizers hope advancing 91 entrepreneurs into the Accelerator Program will lead to greater business visibility, employment opportunities, and access to financing. Through continued mentorship, training, and potential funding opportunities, CatalyzeHER aims to help participating entrepreneurs strengthen and sustainably grow their businesses.