Small business

Small business training and support in partnership with local organisations in Brazil, Cambodia and the UK. One-to-one support and mentoring. Training on financial management and setting up small businesses, including preparing a business plan.

Small business training and support

MRIF partners with local organisations including in Brazil, Cambodia and the UK to provide:

  • one-to-one support and mentoring to those who want to set up an income generating activity to step out of poverty. For an example of this work, read Kuy Thida’s story;
  • a seven-week training on financial management and setting up small businesses, including preparing a business plan. See how you could benefit from this training;

Over the last three years we have trained more than 150 LGBTI people and facilitated the opening of dozens of new small businesses. MRIF’s training module can be adapted and replicated in several countries.

Latest updates

Economic empowerment & advocacy

10th training for low-income LGBTQI entrepreneurs in Brazil

Learn about the impacts of the training in the lives and businesses of our beneficiaries and how we facilitated the participation of many LGBTQI entrepreneurs in small business fairs throughout the country.

Economic empowerment & advocacy

Ian’s story

Ian is a trans entrepreneur from Brazil who joined our training during the pandemic in the hopes of improving his business skills. Find out how he managed to expand his business, open his own vegan restaurant and increase his income more than 10 times in less than a year.

Macuco's story
Economic empowerment & advocacy

Macuco’s story

Macuco, a lesbian craft beer business from the south of Brazil which managed to overcome the damages of the pandemic, boost their sales and expand their brand after attending our first Business Acceleration Programme, in partnership with Meta and Aliança Nacional LGBTI+.

Accelerating LGBTQI businesses in Brazil
Economic empowerment & advocacy

Accelerating LGBTQI businesses in Brazil

Between September 2021 and April 2022, we held our first Business Acceleration Programme for LGBTQI entrepreneurs in Brazil, in partnership with Meta and Aliança Nacional LGBTI.

9th small business training
Economic empowerment & advocacy

9th small business training for low-income LGBTQI+ entrepreneurs in Brazil

On May 2022, we started our 9th small business training for low-income LGBTQI people in Brazil. Find out how the selection process went and how we hope to support 42 entrepreneurs across all regions of the country, including the most vulnerable members of our community, in the development of their small businesses and improvement of livelihoods.

Wanessa with her make-up
Economic empowerment & advocacy

Wanessa’s story

Wanessa is a trans woman living in poverty in Rio de Janeiro. After undertaking MRIF’s small business training in 2020, her life changed completely. Training enabled her to improve her skills, increase her income and overcome barriers and fears.

8th small business training
Economic empowerment & advocacy

Giving hope to LGBTI entrepreneurs in Brazil amid the pandemic

MRIF held its eighth training for low-income LGBTI entrepreneurs in Brazil between April and July 2021. Giving hope to our beneficiaries amid the pandemic and increased support networks for LGBTI entrepreneurs across the country.

6th Course Students
Economic empowerment & advocacy

Supporting LGBTI entrepreneurs amid Brazil’s crisis

The impact of MRIF’s 6th small-business course for LGBTI entrepreneurs in Rio de Janeiro and how it contributed to their socio-economic empowerment amid Brazil’s crisis.

LGBTI economic empowerment in rural Cambodia
Economic empowerment & advocacy

LGBTI economic empowerment in rural Cambodia

MRI visited and consulted with the LGBTI community in Somroung Yong district, which is part of the Takeo Province to tackle poverty of LGBTI people by providing technical support and financial assistance.