Pomegranate Kitchen a SheEO Top 5 female-led venture
Wellington social enterprise Pomegranate Kitchen is delighted to have been named as one of five top female-led Kiwi
businesses at the SheEO New Zealand Summit in Auckland on April 9.
Pomegranate Kitchen, a catering company that employs former refugees as cooks, will receive an interest-free loan,
business mentoring and access to a network of generous business women around New Zealand.
Worldwide only 4% of funding for new ventures is awarded to female-led businesses. SheEO, which originated in Canada,
aims to change that by bringing together women investors (known as activators) to support new ventures led by female
entrepreneurs. New Zealand is the first country outside North America to adopt the funding model.
Pomegranate Kitchen’s general manager and co-founder Rebecca Stewart says the support from SheEO means her company will
be able to implement a growth plan that will more than double the number of cooks getting work experience, training and
employment. It will also expand the products and services it offers.
“Being one of the first groups to receive the loan is an honour and a vote of confidence for our business” she says. “We
have exciting plans for growth that are going to make a real difference for more former refugees and their families, and
we will bring some amazing food to lucky Wellingtonians”.
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