The Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA) officially launched its first regional edition on the evening of 1 August 2026 at The Dome, SPARC, Medine, bringing together women entrepreneurs, sponsors, institutional partners and stakeholders from across the Indian Ocean region for an evening of celebration, connection and recognition. The event marked a defining moment in WEA’s journey, as the platform, which began as a celebration of Mauritian women entrepreneurs, extended its reach for the first time across seven territories: Mauritius and Rodrigues, Madagascar, Seychelles, La Réunion, Comoros and Mayotte.
The opening night served as the official unveiling of this year’s candidates, with the full list announced on the evening before an audience that reflected the breadth and ambition of this third edition.
Kirti Sheonarain, Founder of the Women Entrepreneur Awards, expressed her gratitude and excitement following the event. “We have been truly moved by the quantity and diversity of profiles we received from across each island in this first regional edition. Women entrepreneurs from across the Indian Ocean stepped forward to share their stories, their journeys and their achievements, and it is both humbling and energising. We are so proud to have celebrated, alongside our partners and the wider community, the remarkable women who make up this year’s edition.”
The evening was made possible through the commitment of partners who share WEA’s conviction that investing in women entrepreneurs is investing in the future of the region. Medine Group, venue sponsor for both the opening night and the upcoming Grande Finale, hosted the event at SPARC, its flagship destination where lifestyle, innovation, community and enterprise converge.
Heba Capdevila Jangeerkhan, Chief Executive Officer of Medine Group, welcomed guests on behalf of Medine, reflecting on what it means to host WEA at SPARC. Sharing a personal perspective shaped by years of working across the Indian Ocean, she said: “Women are the engine. They are the socio-economic engine of our islands and the Indian Ocean. The entrepreneurs that drive the economies of this region are, without a shadow of a doubt, women. Women have the capacity to hold it all together, and so we need to be proud of being women.” Speaking directly to the candidates in the room, she added: “When you do something new, different, unusual, you step into the unknown. What lives here, in all of you, is fear. Fear of not being good enough, of not making it. But one thing I deeply believe is that on the other side of fear, there is always growth. Whatever fear you may have overcome to be here this evening, know that it will always translate into something greater.”
Jean Luc Manneback, Founder of Impact Production Group, who has been alongside WEA since its first edition, used the occasion to reflect on what this regional expansion represents. “By expanding the awards internationally, Kirti, you are sending a very powerful message: talent has no nationality, courage has no borders, and the entrepreneurial spirit speaks every language,” he said. Paying tribute to the women in the room, he added: “Many of you live several lives at once. CEO, mother, wife, partner, mentor, and often the person who keeps everything together and finds solutions when everyone else believes there are none. Doing so while continuing to care for the people you love requires infinitely more than perseverance. It deserves our deepest respect.”
The evening also brought powerful voices from WEA’s longstanding sponsors and partners. Atul Bhatia, Chief FinTech Officer of blink by Emtel, who is marking his third consecutive year supporting the platform, took to the stage to address the candidates directly. Reflecting on the journey shared between blink and WEA since the very first edition, he said: “This is the third consecutive edition that blink by Emtel has stood alongside the Women Entrepreneur Awards, and that consistency reflects something we genuinely believe in. Supporting women entrepreneurs is not a one-off gesture for us. It is a commitment to a community. We have seen how this programme has evolved and
how it inspires more and more women to step into entrepreneurship, while also recognising and rewarding those doing great work, not just for themselves, but for their communities and their countries.” Addressing the candidates in the room, he added: “Every entrepreneur here has experienced fear and doubt. You have all wondered whether your idea would work. Yet you believed in it. You stood behind your vision, and platforms like the Women Entrepreneur Awards stand behind you by giving you visibility and a stage to showcase your business.”
Representing Axelya Group, WEA’s Headline Sponsor, Amalia Ahmed, Communications Manager, delivered a powerful message on behalf of the group’s President and Co-Founder, Nawale Yssoufa Jimitri, who was unable to attend in person. Speaking on the significance of Mayotte’s presence at the awards, she said: “Mayotte is too often spoken about only through its challenges. We do not ignore these realities, but
we refuse to let them define who we are. Mayotte is also a place of inspiring women, determined men, young people eager to learn, entrepreneurs who innovate, and teams who transform every challenge into an opportunity.” Extending an invitation to all those present, she added: “From Mayotte to Mauritius, let us ensure that the Indian Ocean is not a space that separates us, but one that connects us.”
Samantha Seewoosurrun, Co-Chair of WEA, introduced this year’s jury members, who bring vast experience and understanding of both Mauritius and Indian Ocean Islands: Natacha Emilien, Manisha Dookhony, Catherine Dubreuil Le Roy, Trinida Chetty and Chantal Dagnaud. She also highlighted that the awards will be given in a number of categories to recognise those winners who are the most innovative, sustainable and impactful, as well as to award the WEA Champion 2026 at regional level, with the possibility to also award WEA Champions at country level.
Malika Nowbuth, KYC and Compliance Partner, explained the process and the upcoming phases, including the workshops, to the applicants.
The opening night of WEA 2026 set the stage for what promises to be the most ambitious edition of the awards to date. The Grande Finale, which will also be held at SPARC, Medine, will bring the third edition to its conclusion with the announcement of this year’s
winners.
For more information and updates,visit www.womenentrepreneurawards.com or follow WEA on social media.
