Women-led Balcony Solar Businesses Incubation Program

Introduction

Viet Nam is witnessing rapid urbanization, resulting in increasing energy demand and limited access to large-scale renewable energy for urban households. Solar balcony systems, a decentralized and compact renewable energy solution, provide a unique opportunity to utilize underutilized spaces in urban residential buildings. These systems are cost-efficient, scalable, and align with Viet Nam’s commitment to increasing renewable energy deployment to reduce carbon emissions. However, the adoption of such systems remains low due to a lack of awareness, research, and affordable, locally tailored solutions.

The Women-led Balcony Solar Businesses Incubation Program funded by the project Promoting the Energy Transition in Viet Nam and implemented by GIZ in collaboration with the Women in Energy Network (WEVN) aims to empower women with entrepreneurship in Vietnam by providing 3-month capacity building training to support the development of solar balcony systems (BSS) business models in Viet Nam. The program will select 10 women who demonstrate entrepreneurial potential and whose households meet specific criteria to ensure the viability and impact of the solar systems.

Benefits of participating in the program

Participants will have access to:

Training in entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership and business model development.

Tailor-made coaching and mentorship to fine-tune business models.

Pitching with potential investors.

Opportunities to be given a free-of-charge plug-in solar kit for installation and use.

Networking with peers and industry stakeholders.

Responsibilities of participants

Commit to participate in all the training sessions.

Submit their self-developed business models after the general training.

Selected business models will participate in tailor-made coaching and mentoring to fine-tune their business models for pitching to potential investors.

The program will select 03 participants to give free solar kits for installation and use at their residence. Participants must commit to supporting the project’s communication activities. These may include taking photos, filming, interviewing, and documenting their experience with the balcony solar system. They will also host a BSS party, inviting neighbors and friends to introduce the system and share their insights.

Program components

Capacity Building: Training sessions on business model canvas, entrepreneurship, innovation, business management & leadership skills and other relevant topics will be organized for all program participants.
Submission of business models: After the general training, participants will develop their business models and submit to the program for evaluation.
Coaching and mentoring: 3 most potential business models will receive further coaching and mentoring support to fine-tune their business models.
Pitching and networking: The program will connect the 03 selected participants with potential investors and stakeholders for final pitching and potential partnership.

Timeline

Launch the application call: 28 May 2025

Information day (webinar): 5 June 2025

Submission: Applicants must submit a completed application form and a preliminary business idea for solar balcony systems.

Deadline for submissions: 27 June 2025

Selection & announcement: 30/6-10/7

General training program: Mid July – mid August.

Coaching and pitching: Participants with the most potential business models will attend coaching sessions and pitching event from mid August – September.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

Vietnamese women from 25 years old.

Having an entrepreneurial spirit with innovative business idea centered around solar balcony systems. This can range from design and assembly to installation, services, or related solutions.