10/07/2026
Loden Entrepreneur Pema Lhadon Wins Prestigious Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2026
Thimphu, Bhutan – The Loden Foundation proudly announces that Pema Lhadon, founder of Shaoulee Food Products, has been named one of the 15 global winners of the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2026, in partnership with the Impact Hub Network.
Selected from a competitive pool of 1172 applicants across Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, Pema Lhadon’s recognition underscores her visionary leadership and the transformative impact of Shaoulee Food Products in revitalising Bhutan’s agricultural sector.
Founded in 2013, Shaoulee Food Products emerged in response to Bhutan’s growing reliance on imported grains and the declining viability of rural farming. What began as a modest processing unit has evolved into a socially driven enterprise that now supports more than 4,500 farmers nationwide, creates opportunities for vulnerable women, and strengthens national food security by providing locally produced food to Bhutanese consumers.
As part of the award, each winner receives a €25,000 cash prize to expand their operations, alongside a sixmonth Accelerator Programme focused on investor readiness and personalised mentorship from industry leaders. Winners will also connect with a global community of innovators and changemakers through the Bayer Foundation and Impact Hub Network ecosystems.
The journey will culminate in Amsterdam from 26–30 October 2026, where Pema Lhadon and fellow awardees will celebrate their achievements at the official award ceremony.
For further details, please visit the Bayer Foundation website at https://bayerfoundation-wea.com/2026/
