Imagine Her

Rural Uganda faces deep structural dependency challenges that undermine economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods. Although 75% of Ugandans live in rural areas with high entrepreneurial potential, most remain excluded from viable pathways to independence. Young women and youth, the backbone of these communities, are disproportionately locked out, with about 3 million classified as NEET (not in education, employment, or training). This exclusion is driven by three reinforcing barriers: Financial Exclusion: Only 35% of women access formal financial services, which limits their access to startup and growth capital. Skills & Exposure Gaps: Limited entrepreneurial training and market exposure confine Enterprises to informal, low-margin activity. Ecosystem Isolation: Innovation hubs, accelerators, and investor networks remain concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural entrepreneurs disconnected. Together, these barriers create a self-perpetuating cycle of exclusion, keeping rural young women and youth dependent rather than enabling them to participate as economic actors. Imagine Her is building a rural entrepreneurial infrastructure in Uganda by preparing rural young women and youth to become thriving social entrepreneurs that launch, sustain, and scale social enterprises in Uganda’s two pressing sectors: Agrifood and Climate resilience. Our model combines entrepreneurial skills training, access to patient returnable capital, and tailored Enterprise development support, mirroring the discipline of an investment firm while being deeply rooted in community realities.