The Nucleus of Women Entrepreneurs (Nume) is celebrating its 10th anniversary in San Jose, Greater Florianopolis. About 50 women participate in the group, implemented in 2012 to strengthen the female business class.

Core Women Members Participate in Learning and Develop Entrepreneurial Skills – Photo: AEMFLO/CDL-SJ/Disclosure/ND

According to data compiled by AEMFLO (Business Association of the Florianopolis Metropolitan Area) and CDL-SJ (House of Store Managers of San Jose), these organizations represent more than 43,000 women in the metropolitan area.

In addition to encouraging entrepreneurship, the center aims to help women entrepreneurs develop personally and professionally through representation, training and networking. The group is led by businesswoman Mauricia Mafra.

“I felt the need to be part of a group where I could openly share my daily life, my challenges and accomplishments, and the challenges we face as entrepreneurs. I searched for the core at a more convenient time for me,” he explains.

She also highlights access to credit as one of the benefits of working with AEMFLO and CDL-SJ. Mauricia had doubts about how to run the company during the pandemic and the core helped her when it decided to close its doors indefinitely.

“I decided to give all employees a vacation, I decapitalized, the bills were coming due and that’s where I got an email from AEMFLO saying they had an agreement with Sicredi for a working capital line,” he says.

Mauricia works in four different sectors and stresses that being in the core is essential for business improvement, profitability and sustainability. In 2019, the company won the Christmas Showcase in San Jose.

“From now on, we are always looking for the best suppliers to make Christmas more beautiful every year, offering variety and practicality in assembling Christmas trees,” he concludes.

About business centers

The first core was created in 2004, and today it is the Santa Catarina Heater Installers Business Association (AECIA). There are 14 companies that work together for the benefit of the sector itself.

“Through our participation in the centers, we have more access to methods, applications of acquired knowledge, products and systems, and we also find solutions to improve customer service,” says Deputy Financial Coordinator Carlinhos Berlatto.

Approximately 363 entrepreneurs participate in the AEMFLO and CDL-SJ business centers with the joint development of activities to improve the sectors in which they operate.

The core methodology is part of the Facisc (Santa Catarina Federation of Business Associations) Empreender program. It was brought from Germany, adapted to the realities of Brazilian companies, and today it is available in several countries around the world.