The inaugural EmpowerBizConnect session in January marked a crucial step in our journey toward economic empowerment. The event facilitated introductions of our organization to SMEs, providing insight into our initiative and offering solutions to their challenges. We identified prevalent financial challenges, business management issues, and market access difficulties among SMEs. This led to our goal: empowering youth and women with financial aid, business support, and market access. Our program is designed to address these needs through targeted interventions, equipping SMEs to overcome barriers and catalyse sustainable growth.