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On February 21st, 340 female entrepreneurs completed a free training program that strengthened their businesses and increased their financial independence. Through access to lessons, strategic tools, and a support network, participants increased their business revenue by 83%. The impact extended beyond the entrepreneurs themselves, indirectly reaching more than 1,200 people, including their families and communities.
Recent data shows that programs like this are essential for advancing equity in the sector. Women account for approximately 46% of early-stage entrepreneurs in the country, yet they face obstacles such as difficulty accessing credit, as well as a lack of support and networking opportunities.
The Business School is a project by Rede Asta, a social organization that has been empowering micro-entrepreneurs, artisanal producers, and local economies for 19 years. Aimed at supporting women leading small businesses, the project was sponsored by Transportadora Associada de Gás – TAG, which operates the country's largest natural gas pipeline network, and by Harald, a benchmark in the confectionery chocolate market, through the Ministry of Culture's Incentive Law.
For Alice Freitas, co-director of Rede Asta, investing in the development of female entrepreneurs is an essential step toward transforming local economies. “Every woman who graduates and strengthens her business contributes to a much greater social impact. Their growth directly reflects in income generation, financial autonomy, and the sustainable development of the regions where they operate,” she states.
Simone Muniz, a student at the Business School, highlights the impact of the exchange between classmates: “Each meeting, each piece of guidance received, made me realize how capable we are of evolving, especially when we have such a solid and dedicated support network. Today, looking back and seeing the progress achieved is a source of great pride,” says the entrepreneur from Pernambuco.
For Andréa Lima, from Fortaleza, the experience was a rediscovery of herself: “It was very important to reconnect with the entrepreneur who was dormant inside me. I am grateful for all the learning I gained,” says the student.
Throughout the journey, the entrepreneurs received scholarships, and at the end of the project, 34 of them were awarded R$ 1,000.00 (one thousand reais) in seed capital, a financial incentive that enables investment and the growth of their businesses.
The Rede Asta Business School has already trained more than 3,000 female entrepreneurs across Brazil. Focused especially on the handmade sector, the initiative seeks to transform artisanal activity into a viable and sustainable business, promoting financial autonomy and personal development through education and a support network.
TAG owns the most extensive natural gas transport pipeline network in the country, spanning approximately 4,500 km and crossing nearly 200 municipalities across ten Brazilian states. The company's shareholders are ENGIE, with a 50% stake, the country's leading renewable energy company, which operates in electricity generation, trading, and transmission, gas transport, and energy solutions, and CDPQ, a global investment group, with a 50% stake.
A leader in chocolate and coatings for the confectionery market, Harald is one of the main brands of chocolate for processing and a benchmark for the specialized, food service, and cash & carry markets. Harald's portfolio includes the Unique, Melken, TOP, and Confeiteiro brands. Founded in 1982, the company has been part of the Fuji Oil group, a Japanese giant with global operations, since 2015.
For 19 years, Rede Asta has been empowering nano-entrepreneurs, artisanal production, and local economies through its Courses and Training, Impact Products, and Local Initiatives programs. The organization is dedicated to promoting handmade goods as a catalyst for a more sustainable, resilient, and diverse local economy with the power to create systemic impact and support the reduction of social inequality.
For more information, visit redeasta.com.br.