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Chemistry Department postdoctoral researcher Enass Abo-Hamed has been nominated as a finalist in the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.
Enass is one of three entrepreneurs selected from continental Europe, and was chosen for her role as inventor and CSO of H2GO Power, a spin-out from the Department of Chemistry.
H2GO offers a safe method for hydrogen production and storage, developed by Enass through her work in the Scherman research group. H2GO aims to develop technologies that produce clean, high efficiency feedstock for fuel cells with 5 times the energy capacity of current battery technologies. H2GO is promoting this new technology in a wide range of applications, from mobile phone chargers through electric cars and aircraft.
The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards encourage women entrepreneurs in start-up businesses. They aim to identify and support initial-phase women entrepreneurs through funding and coaching, to celebrate women role models in entrepreneurship, and to create an international network of women entrepreneurs.
Projects must be an original for-profit business creation in the initial phase (1-3 years old) led by a woman, and are evaluated based on creativity, sustainability (potential for growth) and impact.
As one of 18 finalists from all over the world, Enass will receive coaching and mentoring from experienced businesspeople. For the final round of the competition, she must submit a detailed business plan and present her project in front of a jury composed of 30 high profile individuals chosen on the basis of their entrepreneurial experience, their business achievements and their commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs.
One Laureate for each of six world-wide regions will be selected, who will receive US$20 thousand of funding, one year of coaching, networking opportunities and media exposure. The announcement of the Laureates will take place in October at the Annual Global Meeting of the Women’s Forum in Deauville, France. 