OpenGrants funding guide

Grants for Women-Owned Businesses

There is no federal grant for being a woman-owned business. What comes back every year is a set of private and corporate grant contests, pitch competitions, fellowships and accelerators, a few state and city funds, free advising from SBA-funded Women's Business Centers, and WOSB certification, which opens set-aside federal contracts rather than grants. Each card gives the money, the catch and the next window, so you can plan a year of applications.

Data refreshed: October 29, 2026 · Editorial verified: October 27, 2026 · 75 programs

27Grants

9Prizes

5Fellowships

19In-kind / lab access

15Other

72Equity-free

How to use this page

Three different things get called grants for women. Private contests and pitch competitions pay cash, are small and are heavily oversubscribed. Women's Business Centers give you an adviser's time, free, because SBA grants already paid for it. WOSB and EDWOSB certification lets you compete for federal contracts set aside for women-owned small businesses. Only the first is a grant; the section titles and the type on each card say which one you are looking at.
Apply to the recurring contests because they recur. Monthly and annual programs reward persistence: a short application that misses this round can go back in next round. Cards name the cycle, and when a window has passed they show the next expected one, so you can put it on a calendar now. Some programs have changed who can apply since 2024, after lawsuits, federal and state rule changes, or their own decisions; the box below lists the dated changes, and each affected card says what changed.
The larger money is usually not women-specific. If your business sells something government buys, certification and contracting outweigh any contest on this page. If it does genuine research and development, SBIR and STTR awards are open to you on the same terms as any small business and are far larger. A Women's Business Center adviser can tell you which state and local programs are open near you this month.

What's included: Programs a U.S. woman-owned business can apply to, that come back every year or keep a standing window: cash grants, pitch prizes, fellowships and accelerators (equity terms labeled), state and city funds, free advising, and contracting certifications (labeled as contracting, not grants). What's left out: One-off contests, programs that have not run since 2024, loans and equity investment outside a labeled accelerator, grants for nonprofits that serve women rather than for women-owned businesses, scholarships, and programs we could not confirm on their official page.

What changed for women-owned eligibility, 2024 to 2026

Federal contracting. The WOSB and EDWOSB programs are set by statute and still require a business to be at least 51% owned and controlled by women; nothing in 2025 or 2026 changed that. What changed is how prime contractors count you: under the FAR overhaul's Part 19, which DHS applied from November 28, 2025 and the Defense Department from February 1, 2026, a prime can count a women-owned subcontractor toward its goal only if SBA or an approved certifier has certified it. Separately, the Transportation Department's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program no longer presumes that women owners are disadvantaged: an interim rule took effect October 3, 2025, and the final rule kept the change on September 25, 2026. States must finish re-evaluating every certified DBE by December 24, 2026.

States. Texas limited its HUB program to service-disabled veterans under emergency rules effective December 2, 2025. North Carolina abolished its HUB office and repealed local MWBE participation laws on July 7, 2026, and Indiana suspended its MBE and WBE certifications on July 14, 2026 (IDOA). The state certifications carded below were still accepting women-owned firms when we checked.

Private programs. The Fearless Fund closed its grant contest for Black women-owned businesses in a September 2024 settlement with the American Alliance for Equal Rights. Since then several programs have widened who can apply without citing a lawsuit: Texas Woman's University's StartHER grant returned in 2026 as the StartUP Grant for any Texas startup, BMO's Celebrating Women grant now accepts any business that advances women, and IFundWomen's grant terms open its contests to any gender. Where a carded program changed, its card says so. WomensNet's Amber Grants are still for women owners, and they rose to $15,000 a month from the September 2026 round.

Women's Business Centers. Congress gave the centers $27 million for fiscal 2026 (P.L. 119-75), and SBA said on July 21, 2026 that all 138 current centers keep their base awards. The President's fiscal 2027 budget request funds the program at zero; that is a request to Congress, not an enacted cut, and agencies run at fiscal 2026 levels through December 11, 2026. This box was checked on October 27, 2026.

SearchSectionFunding typeIndustryStageNext deadline Equity-free only

Showing 75 of 75 programs

1. Women's Business Centers and free training (in-kind, not cash)

Women's Business Centers give you an adviser's time, not money. SBA funds about 138 nonprofit-run centers (Congress gave the program $27 million for fiscal 2026), and each offers one-on-one counseling, classes and help preparing loan, grant and certification applications, free or at low cost. There is no ownership test, no application and no deadline, and services are not limited to women. Alongside the centers sit free national courses from SBA, Goldman Sachs, Thunderbird and the Tory Burch Foundation that you can start tonight. Expect variation: one center charges a $100 yearly membership, another a pay-what-you-can fee, another nothing, and hours, languages and specialties differ by host. The federal money behind the network is also unsettled, with a fiscal 2027 budget request of zero and a stopgap budget through December 11, 2026. The common mistake is treating a center as a last resort. Book an adviser before you apply for a contest or a loan: advisers know which local grants are open this month and will read your application before a judge does.

10 programs

SBA Women's Business Centers (national network)

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Women's Business Ownership (Women's Business Center program)

In-kind only: free one-on-one counseling and free or low-cost training at about 138 SBA-funded centers; no cash goes to businesses (Congress gave the program $27 million for FY2026)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Free to low-cost, not always free: some centers charge a membership, a sliding fee or a fee for multi-session courses, and every center raises nonfederal match, so services, languages and hours vary widely. Federal funding is unsettled: the FY2027 budget request asks for no WBC funding, and FY2027 runs on a stopgap through December 11, 2026.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Book one-on-one advising, not just a workshop: advisers know which state, city and corporate programs are open locally and can read your application before you submit it. In Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia, SBA funded new statewide Lead Centers in October 2026, so recheck the locator if your area had no center.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: No ownership test and no application. SBA says the centers focus on women who want to start, grow or expand a small business, and the Association of Women's Business Centers notes services are not exclusive to women. Each center is run by a nonprofit host, and some limit services to U.S. citizens and legal residents.
How to apply: Direct application: search SBA's local assistance tool by ZIP code for the nearest Women's Business Center, then book an advising appointment or register for a class with that center.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None
Who wins: WBCs served 94,593 clients in 2024, 62,673 of them women (SBA-commissioned 2025 evaluation, cited in CRS IF13312, September 14, 2026).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

MySBA Learning (formerly SBA Ascent)

U.S. Small Business Administration — MySBA Learning (launched as Ascent in January 2021)

In-kind: free self-paced online courses (Journeys and Excursions); no cash

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: No fees, equity or reporting. It is self-study only, with no adviser or cohort, and since the rebrand the content is written for all small businesses rather than for women specifically.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Pick the Journey that matches a decision you face this quarter: Access to Capital before a loan or investor meeting, or Government Contracting and the SBA Mentor-Protégé tutorial before you pursue WOSB set-asides. Each excursion shows a time estimate, so you can plan it around your week.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Open to any entrepreneur. SBA launched Ascent on January 11, 2021 as a free e-learning platform for women entrepreneurs; ascent.sba.gov now redirects to MySBA Learning, which presents itself to all small businesses and keeps women-focused material such as the Economic Power of Women excursion.
How to apply: Direct application: go to learning.sba.gov (ascent.sba.gov redirects there) and start any Journey; there is no application or selection.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Maryland Women's Business Center (MWBC)

Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) — Maryland Women's Business Center

In-kind: one-on-one and group business counseling plus 100+ workshops and training programs; no cash award (fees not published)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Services are limited to U.S. citizens and legal residents. The specialized programs (the Founders Rising accelerator and the MWBC Shop Local retail incubator in Rockville Town Square) have their own intake, and MWBC is funded in part through an SBA cooperative agreement, so offerings can shift with federal funding.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: If you hold a day job, use the evening hours (5 to 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month). If you plan to sell to government, ask about the procurement training: MWBC counselors have helped clients through SBA 8(a) and Maryland MBE certification.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Pre-venture, start-up and existing businesses in Maryland's capital region, served from Rockville (Montgomery County), Bowie (Prince George's County) and Frederick. MWBC services are available only to U.S. citizens and legal residents.
How to apply: Direct application: call (301) 315-8091 to speak with a business consultant, or register for a workshop on marylandwbc.org.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) Women's Business Centers

Center for Women & Enterprise — Women's Business Centers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

In-kind: one-on-one counseling, live and on-demand classes, and WBENC and WOSB certification support; programs use a pay-what-you-can sliding fee

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Not free by default: CWE replaced scholarships with a sliding fee scale where you choose your ticket level, no questions asked. Start-ups get on-demand workshops and referrals rather than full counseling. Participants agree to keep peer information confidential and not to reuse course material commercially.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: If you want corporate or government buyers, use CWE for certification: it runs WBENC and WOSB certification support across New England, and its information sessions prepare clients for the WBENC conference.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs in New England, through five SBA-supported centers: Eastern Massachusetts (Boston), Central Massachusetts (Worcester), New Hampshire (Manchester), Rhode Island (Providence) and Vermont. CWE now focuses its services on established businesses in the growth phase; aspiring founders get on-demand workshops and referrals to community partners.
How to apply: Direct application: sign up for services on cweonline.org (a short self-assessment places you by business phase), then book counseling or register for classes with your regional center.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) — Chicago and Aurora Women's Business Centers

Women's Business Development Center — Women's Business Centers Chicago and Aurora (Illinois)

In-kind: free one-hour one-on-one advising appointments, workshops, cohort courses and access-to-capital help; no cash award

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Advising is free, but WBDC's intake form collects demographic information that it shares with funders. Cohort courses run on their own schedules, and the childcare-business program is a separate track.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Take the monthly Starting Your Business in Illinois workshop before your first advising hour: it covers an initial assessment, five basic startup steps and entity choice, so the advising session can go to your own questions.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Entrepreneurs in Illinois from the idea stage onward, through WBDC's Women's Business Centers in Chicago and Aurora; WBDC also runs a Small Business Development Center for emerging and established businesses, open to all legal residents and citizens.
How to apply: Direct application: schedule a free one-hour advising appointment through wbdc.org or call 312-853-3477 ext. 100; workshops and cohorts (Plan for Profit, Road to Success) are registered separately.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

California Women's Business Centers Network (CA WBC)

California Women's Business Centers Network — 21 centers funded by SBA, CalOSBA and GO-Biz

In-kind: no-cost advising, practical training, access-to-capital help and mentorship; no cash award from the network

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Services are no-cost, but there is no single statewide program: each of the 21 centers sets its own offerings, schedule and languages, and capacity depends on SBA and state (CalOSBA, GO-Biz) funding.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: If you run or plan a family childcare business, start here: the network reports 869 childcare businesses funded and 6,907 new childcare slots opened in 2025, so most centers have childcare-specific help.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs anywhere in California: the network's 21 centers serve 53 counties and 88% of rural ZIP codes, in person or online.
How to apply: Direct application: find the center that serves your county on californiawbc.org and contact it to book advising or join a training.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None
Who wins: In 2025 the network supported 17,000+ entrepreneurs, who accessed $53.2 million in capital; 869 childcare businesses were funded (CA WBC).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Women's Business Centers of Ohio (ECDI)

ECDI (Economic and Community Development Institute) — Women's Business Centers of Ohio

In-kind: one-on-one coaching, training, mentoring and networking through a $100-a-year membership; no cash award

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Core services sit behind a $100 yearly membership. Capital comes as loans through ECDI, a lender, not as grants.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Join before you need money: membership includes coaching and the Professional Advisory Network mentorship program, and members get access to ECDI loan capital, so an adviser who already knows the business can help with the loan application.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Entrepreneurs throughout Ohio and some counties in neighboring states, served from WBC offices in Columbus, Cleveland (Northern Ohio, including Akron, Canton and Toledo), Cincinnati, Dayton and Portsmouth (Central Appalachia). ECDI states services are provided without regard to gender.
How to apply: Direct application: attend a WBC orientation and buy a yearly membership on wbcohio.org, then book coaching with your regional adviser.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Online

Goldman Sachs — 10,000 Women (online courses on Coursera)

In-kind: free self-paced online business courses (10 core courses plus 3 electives); no cash

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: No fees or equity, but no adviser and no certificate for individual courses. The in-person 10,000 Women program (India) and the capital facility with the IFC (emerging markets) are not open to U.S. businesses.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Start with Grow Your Business (about four hours): it sets up the Business Growth Plan that every later course adds to, and finishing all ten core courses is what earns the alumni-community invitation.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Free to anyone worldwide, including U.S. women business owners; the curriculum was built for women entrepreneurs ready to grow an existing business. Eligible learners who finish all ten core courses are invited to the 10,000 Women global alumni community.
How to apply: Direct application: open the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women collection on Coursera and select Enroll for Free on any course; take any course or combination in any order.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

DreamBuilder: The Women's Business Creator

Freeport-McMoRan Foundation and Thunderbird School of Global Management (Arizona State University) — DreamBuilder

In-kind: free online training — the 13-course DreamBuilder program plus the Financing Your Dream and Dream Big courses; no cash

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: No fees or equity. The main program is long (13 courses, about 25 to 30 hours) and self-paced; facilitated support depends on a partner organization near you.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Finish the main program to get the personalized, editable business plan its built-in generator produces, then take Financing Your Dream (3 to 4 hours) to turn it into a Capital Action Plan before you meet a lender or a Women's Business Center adviser.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Designed for women who want to start or grow a small business; registration is free and open worldwide, in English and Spanish, and men also use it.
How to apply: Direct application: register free at dreambuilder.org and start any of the three programs; you can also take it with a group at a partner organization, which in the U.S. includes SBA Women's Business Centers.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Tory Burch Foundation Business Webinars

Tory Burch Foundation — Business Webinars

In-kind: free live webinars and an on-demand library; no cash

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: No fees or equity, and no individual advice: questions are taken at registration or live, with priority to the most frequently asked. The foundation's coaching and $2,000 education grant come only with its separate, competitive Fellows program.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: live sessions posted through the year, plus on-demand recordings

Applicant tip: Submit your question when you register, since experts shape sessions around registration questions and often share their slides afterward. The Business Plan Builder and Funding Finder on the same site are also free.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Free registration with no eligibility test; built for early-stage, women-led businesses in all industries (2024 launch announcement).
How to apply: Direct application: register for an upcoming session on toryburchfoundation.org (sessions are posted October 28 and November 11, 2026) or watch past sessions on demand.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

2. Recurring private and corporate grants

These are cash grants that companies, foundations and women's business networks give to women-owned businesses on a written application, with no pitch event and no equity taken. Most are small: $500 to $15,000 is typical, and only a few corporate rounds reach $25,000 to $50,000. The monthly contests, led by WomensNet's Amber Grants, close on the last day of every month and accept idea-stage and pre-revenue businesses. The annual corporate rounds from H&R Block, BMO and others usually ask for revenue history and come with reporting and publicity terms. Several programs charge a $15 to $25 application fee, and each card says so; a small disclosed fee is legal for a private contest, but no government grant charges one. A few programs now accept any business that serves women, or pick winners by random drawing, and those cards say that too. The most common mistake is a vague answer on how you will spend the money: almost every program here scores that answer directly.

20 programs

Amber Grant (monthly)

WomensNet — Amber Grant program

$15,000 each month to one business (from the September 2026 round; $10,000 through August 2026); every monthly winner is also considered for one of three $75,000 year-end grants

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $15 non-refundable application fee, which WomensNet waives if you email [email protected] before applying. Winners give permission to publish their name, business name and likeness, are featured in a recorded interview on the WomensNet site, and may have the business verified; the year-end pick also weighs public voting. The award is taxable income.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Monthly: applications close the last day of each month at 11:59 pm Eastern; winners announced by the 21st of the following month; three $75,000 year-end grants chosen in December and announced in January

Applicant tip: Your Amber Grant entry expires at the end of the month, but the same application stays in the running for your industry's Business Category Grant for up to 11 more months, so there is no reason to wait for your category's month. Judges score six criteria including use of funds; say exactly what the $15,000 buys and what it changes.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women 18 or older who own at least 50% of a business based in the United States or Canada, at any stage including idea-stage and pre-revenue. Revenue-generating nonprofits qualify if at least half of top leadership are women and the board president or CEO is a woman; nonprofits whose main activity is charitable giving do not.
How to apply: Direct application: one short online application at ambergrantsforwomen.com with a $15 fee; the same application is considered for that month's Amber Grant, Startup Grant and Business Category Grant.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: September 2026: Ebijou (Elma Glisson), the first $15,000 monthly award. August 2026 ($10,000): Mobile Tailor LA, a mobile tailoring business launched in April 2026.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

WomensNet Startup Grant (monthly)

WomensNet — Amber Grant program

$15,000 each month to one startup (from the September 2026 round); monthly Startup winners are considered for a $75,000 year-end grant

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $15 non-refundable fee (waivable if you email WomensNet before applying). A Startup Grant entry expires at the end of the calendar month in which it was submitted, so a new month means a new application and fee. Winners give publicity permission and the award is taxable.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Monthly: applications close the last day of each month at 11:59 pm Eastern; winners announced by the 21st of the following month

Applicant tip: Startups are also eligible for the main monthly Amber Grant, so one $15 application puts a pre-revenue business in two draws. Describe the first concrete milestone the money unlocks, such as a first production run, a license or a launch, rather than the long-term vision alone.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women 18 or older who own at least 50% of a U.S. or Canadian business that is still at the idea stage or has had less than $10,000 in gross sales.
How to apply: Direct application: there is no separate form; the monthly Amber Grant application ($15 fee) is automatically considered for that month's Startup Grant.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2026 Startup Grant winners include Babes Pickles (July), SheFlag.com (August) and The Caregiving Concierge (September).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

WomensNet Business Category Grant (rotating monthly category)

WomensNet — Amber Grant program

$15,000 each month to one business in that month's category (from the September 2026 round); category winners are considered for a $75,000 year-end grant

GrantEquity-freeconstruction & tradeshealth & life sciencesfood, beverage & agriculturesocial enterpriseprofessional servicesconsumer products & retailcreative, media & fashiontech & startups

The catch: $15 non-refundable fee (waivable on request before applying). Each category is awarded once a year, so a business competes in a single monthly round. Winners give publicity permission and the award is taxable.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Monthly, rotating category: January Skilled Trades, February Health & Fitness, March Food & Beverage, April Sustainability, May Mental & Emotional Support, June Business Support Services, July Animal Services, August Hair Care & Skincare, September Education & Child Care, October Creative Arts, November STEM, December Fashion & Interior Design; applications close the last day of each month

Applicant tip: An application stays eligible for any category grant you fit for up to 11 more months, so a STEM business applying in October is considered again in November's STEM round. If your business could fit two categories, make the one you want obvious in how you describe what you sell.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women 18 or older who own at least 50% of a U.S. or Canadian business that fits one of WomensNet's 12 categories: Skilled Trades; Health, Fitness & Wellness; Food & Beverage; Sustainability; Mental & Emotional Support; Business Support Services; Animal Services; Hair Care & Skincare; Education & Child Care; Creative Arts; STEM; Fashion & Interior Design.
How to apply: Direct application: no separate form; the monthly Amber Grant application ($15 fee) is considered for the category grant in the month your category comes up.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

HerRise MicroGrant

HerSuiteSpot — Yva Jourdan Foundation (HerRise MicroGrant)

$1,000 to one business each month

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $15 non-refundable administrative fee. Only winners are notified. You do not need to attend the mixer or be a paid HerSuiteSpot member to win.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Monthly: applications close the last day of each month at 11:59 pm Eastern; the winner is revealed at the next month's HerSuiteSpot First Friday Mixer

Applicant tip: An entry that arrives after the cutoff is simply moved to the next month's round, so focus on the two short answers rather than the date: name the problem your business solves and the specific purchase the $1,000 would make.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Businesses at least 51% owned by women, currently registered in the U.S., with under $1 million in gross revenue; the program is aimed at under-resourced women, including women of color, and HerSuiteSpot's FAQ still states the rule as 51% owned by women of color. Nonprofits, franchises, direct sellers, authorized resellers and independent consultants are not eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: short online application at hersuitespot.com with a $15 administrative fee.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Hey Helen Grant

Visionaries Media LLC — Hey Helen Grant

$10,000 unrestricted to at least one business each month

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $15 application fee. Winners must accept in writing within 10 days, submit marketing assets, record an interview for Visionaries' marketing, and sign a grant agreement covering use of funds, reporting and publicity. Funds arrive by ACH within about 30 days and are taxable.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Monthly: rounds close the last day of each month at 11:59 pm Eastern; each application is kept on file for 12 monthly rounds; winners announced mid-month from October 2026

Applicant tip: Selection weighs a plan for using the money within six months and evidence the business can build on it, so give a month-by-month spending plan and the result you expect. Scoring takes about 45 days, so the earliest decision on an application comes about six weeks after you submit it.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. residents 18 or older who identify as women (nonbinary applicants assigned female at birth or aligned with the grant's intent are welcome) and own 100% of the business or co-own one at least 50% owned by women. The business must be for-profit, registered in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, under $1 million in annual revenue (pre-revenue is welcome with proof of pre-launch activity) and have a U.S. business bank account. Nonprofits, cannabis, gambling, adult, MLM and holding companies are excluded, and past winners wait 12 months.
How to apply: Direct application: online entry form with three long-form answers and a $15 administrative fee.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Women Founders Grant

$5,000 each month, paid as a lump sum, plus mentoring and go-to-market support

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $25 non-refundable application fee, which the program says is its only fee. Not to be confused with the Women Founders Network pitch competition.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Monthly: applications close the last day of each month; shortlisted applicants are contacted on the 15th of the following month

Applicant tip: The founder asks applicants who are still unsuccessful after their third month to email [email protected] for guidance, so do that before paying for a fourth entry.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women 18 or older based in the U.S. with a business idea or an existing business that is at least 51% women-owned and operated, side hustle or full-time. Cannabis, vice and hate-based businesses are excluded.
How to apply: Direct application: answer two questions online at womenfoundersgrant.com and pay a $25 fee.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

The Hustle Grant

The Hustle Grant (Cecilia's House, LLC)

$1,000 each month plus one year of free marketing and brand exposure

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $15 non-refundable fee. Applications do not roll over, so each month needs a new entry and fee, and applications cannot be edited after submission.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Monthly: applications close the last day of each month; the winner is announced on the 15th of the following month

Applicant tip: The FAQ advises reapplying only after something material changes, and suggests waiting about three months; use the gap to make the spending plan more specific, since judges ask exactly where the money would go.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women 18 or older whose business is at least 50% women-owned and operates in the United States; nonprofits are eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: short online application at thehustlegrant.com with a $15 fee.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Big Idea Grant

Yippity Doo LLC — Big Idea Grant

$1,000 to one for-profit business each month (a separate $1,000 nonprofit grant is awarded every other month)

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $15 non-refundable fee; one application per business per month. Winners must accept within 7 business days and sign a grant agreement before the ACH payment. Applicants are offered a discounted paid listing in a business directory, which is optional.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Monthly: applications close the last day of each month at 11:59 pm Pacific; winners notified around the 15th of the following month

Applicant tip: Scoring is 40% vision, 40% passion and only 20% use of funds, so this one rewards the story behind the business more than most; explain why the idea matters to you before the budget.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. residents 18 or older whose for-profit business, operating or still at the idea stage, is at least 50% woman-owned and woman-run.
How to apply: Direct application: five-minute online application at yippitydoo.com with a $15 fee.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Galaxy Grant

Hidden Star — Galaxy of Stars (Galaxy Grants)

Varies — check official page (the current round is $2,500; past awards have ranged from $750 to $25,000)

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Free to enter. Hidden Star sells a paid Galaxy Plus+ membership that enters members in every round automatically; you do not need it to apply.

Next deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · Recurring rounds several times a year; the current round closes October 31, 2026 and winners are announced the following week

Applicant tip: Entry is free and takes 30 seconds, so enter every round; amounts change from round to round, so check the current figure rather than assuming $2,500.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women and minority business owners in the U.S., from aspiring to established; you need a free Galaxy account to enter.
How to apply: Direct application: free 30-second entry form on galaxyofstars.org; paid Galaxy Plus+ members are entered automatically.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Recent awards on the Galaxy page: $4,250 (July 2026), $3,500 (April 2026), two $1,000 grants (January 2026) and $25,000 (October 2025).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

IFundWomen Universal Funding and Grant Application

IFW by Honeycomb (IFundWomen) — sponsored grant programs

Varies by sponsored grant — check official page (recent rounds: the $5,000 IFW Startup Accelerator Grant, $25,000 BOTOX Cosmetic grants, and a $100,000 Poker Power grand prize in 2025)

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: The universal application is free and also routes you to IFW coaching, crowdfunding and Honeycomb funding offers. Each grant has its own terms; the Startup Accelerator Grant charges a $5 fee and requires the winner to sign an eligibility declaration, publicity release and W-9 within 7 days.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: the universal application is always open; sponsored grant windows vary by sponsor

Applicant tip: Sponsor grants are matched against profiles already in the database, so complete the universal application before a program you want is announced, then check the grants page for programs that need their own form, like the Startup Accelerator Grant closing November 30, 2026.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. businesses; each sponsored grant sets its own rules. IFundWomen markets to women-owned businesses, but its grant terms open contests to any person of any gender, and the current $5,000 Startup Accelerator Grant accepts any U.S. resident 18 or older who owns at least 50% of a U.S. business, including idea-stage.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the free Universal Funding and Grant Application once; IFW matches profiles to each sponsor's criteria and notifies matches. Some grants also have their own form, such as the Startup Accelerator Grant (open October 15 to November 30, 2026, $5 fee, waiver on request).
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Fund Her Future Grant

H&R Block (Block Advisors) — Fund Her Future, administered by Hello Alice

2026: four grants of $45,000 plus a year of H&R Block small business services valued at $5,000 (2025: one $50,000 and five $10,000 grants)

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Finalists must be available for a virtual interview. Part of the package is H&R Block's own tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll and entity-structure services. The cash award is taxable.

Next deadline: Expected: September 2027 · Annual: rounds in 2024, 2025 (April 28 to May 30) and 2026 (September 1 to 22); recipients notified about a month after the window closes

Applicant tip: Judges score how you would use both the cash and the bookkeeping, tax and payroll help, so name the back-office problem the services would fix alongside your growth plan.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Owners 18 or older (19 in Alabama and Nebraska) of a U.S. for-profit business, full- or part-time, sole proprietor or with employees, with at least $20,000 in revenue in the prior year; nonprofits are excluded. H&R Block presents the program as a grant for women-owned businesses, but the published eligibility list does not itself require woman ownership.
How to apply: Direct application: online application through Hello Alice during the annual window; a group of applicants is interviewed before the recipients are chosen.
Stage fit: revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2025 grand prize ($50,000): Rebel Nell, a Detroit jewelry company that employs women facing barriers to employment.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

The Breakthrough Grant

Her Agenda — Breakthrough Grant

$5,000 to one entrepreneur per volume

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $25 application fee ($12.50 for paid INSIDER members), and an active newsletter subscription is mandatory. The grant is community-funded from fees and donations.

Next deadline: Jan 19, 2027 · Annual, one award per volume: Volume III ran January 18 to September 18, 2026; Volume IV closes January 19, 2027 with the winner announced in March 2027

Applicant tip: Subscribe to the Her Agenda newsletter before you apply, since an active subscription is a condition of consideration; with a single award per volume and about a thousand entries, make the one breakthrough the $5,000 unlocks the center of your answer.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Entrepreneurs with a currently operating business, in any industry or stage, who subscribe to the Her Agenda newsletter. Her Agenda presents it as a grant for women entrepreneurs, though the published requirements do not list gender.
How to apply: Direct application: online application at grant.heragenda.com with a $25 fee ($12.50 for Her Agenda INSIDER members).
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Volume II: Offline Wine (Emily Mack), chosen from about 1,000 applications. Volume I: FWIN Productions (Ugenia Stokes), chosen from 203.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Entreprenista Evolve Grant

Entreprenista Media — Evolve Grant (current round sponsored by IT Cosmetics)

$5,000 to one business per round

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: No fee. The official rules make this a random-drawing sweepstakes, not a judged contest. Entrants consent to marketing use of their information by Entreprenista and the sponsor; the winner returns a W-9 and may receive a 1099.

Next deadline: Nov 30, 2026 · Seasonal rounds several times a year, each with a sponsor; the current round runs July 1 to November 30, 2026, with the winner drawn around December 10, 2026

Applicant tip: Because the winner is drawn at random, what matters is passing every eligibility test: a registered entity (not a sole proprietorship), a real U.S. street address rather than a P.O. box or virtual office, and a business email address, which the rules require.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S.-registered corporations, LLCs or LPs (nonprofits welcome; sole proprietorships excluded) with a woman founder or co-founder, at least $100,000 in annual revenue, at least 12 months of operation and a physical U.S. address, and no Entreprenista grant in the past 12 months. Entrants must be 18 or older and in the 50 states or D.C. Selection is a random drawing under the 2026 official rules.
How to apply: Direct application: free online entry form with company details and average revenue; the winner is drawn at random from eligible entries.
Stage fit: revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

EmpowHer Grant

Boundless Futures Foundation — EmpowHer Grants

Up to $50,000, paid as reimbursement of business expenses, plus up to $2,500 Learning Grant within a year of the award

GrantEquity-freesocial enterprise

The catch: The grant is paid only as reimbursement against proof of payment, so you spend first. Applicants must self-report a credit score and agree to a third-party background check before funding.

Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · Twice a year: spring cycle opens May 1 (grants awarded in the fall) and fall cycle opens November 1 (grants awarded the following spring)

Applicant tip: Plan cash flow around reimbursement: pick first purchases you can cover yourself and claim back, and tie each budget line to the social issue your business addresses, since the issue fit is a gate, not a bonus.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Female founders 22 or older whose for-profit business is registered and operating in the U.S., earning revenue, and no more than five years old (counted from state registration), and whose product or business model addresses poverty, hunger or humanitarian aid, or sustainability and the environment.
How to apply: Direct application: Submittable application with a business plan and detailed budget while a cycle is open.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Kitty Fund Mom Business Grant

Founders First CDC — Kitty Fund

$1,000 micro-grant plus free access to Passport Community or Zebra Leadership (valued at $1,499 to $1,699) for each of 20 finalists ($20,000 total)

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: The cash is $1,000; most of the package's value is a Founders First business program (Passport or Zebra Leadership) that finalists join. Solo founders are not eligible because of the two-employee minimum.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Annual (spring, around Mother's Day): application opens in March; 20 finalists announced at a virtual press event

Applicant tip: Check the two-employee minimum before you apply, and subscribe to Founders First's newsletter for the launch date, since the application is open only for a few weeks in spring.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Mothers who are the CEO, president or owner of an active U.S. business with 2 to 100 employees, at least one year in business and annual revenue of $5 million or less.
How to apply: Direct application: full online application on foundersfirstcdc.org during the spring window; semifinalists are chosen, then 20 finalists announced at a virtual press event.
Stage fit: revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Makers Mindset Grant

Makers Mindset (Nancy Twine) — Makers Mindset Grant

$10,000 to each of three businesses per seasonal round (five $10,000 grants in the fall 2026 round with The Equity Studio)

GrantEquity-freeconsumer products & retailfood, beverage & agriculture

The catch: Grant money may be spent only on marketing, manufacturing or research and development, and recipients must file regular progress reports with itemized spending and measurable outcomes. Awardees must confirm within 48 hours.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Several seasonal rounds a year: spring 2026 closed April 20, summer 2026 awardees chosen in June, and the Makers Mindset x The Equity Studio round closed October 13, 2026

Applicant tip: Build your use-of-funds answer around one of the three allowed uses (marketing, manufacturing or R&D) with a number you can report back on, because spending outside them is not permitted.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S.-registered consumer packaged goods businesses in beauty, food, beverage, pet, tech goods or home goods that are at least 51% women-owned, with annual revenue over $50,000 and up to $1 million (up to $2 million and no more than 10 employees in the beauty and wellness round with The Equity Studio), and at least one full year of revenue (the spring 2026 terms required two). Founders must be 18 or older.
How to apply: Direct application: free online application during each round; create a Makers Mindset profile to hear when the next one opens.
Stage fit: revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Summer 2026: LEIƏR, Sourmilk Yogurt and Romero Cookies.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program

BMO Bank — Celebrating Women Grant Program (with Deloitte)

$10,000 to each of 15 businesses (2026), plus an hour of coaching, possible advisory-board membership and a profile on BMO channels

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Recipients sign a grant agreement with reporting and spending requirements and must take part in BMO publicity. Applicants grant BMO a perpetual license to use their submitted materials. No BMO account is required.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Annual: 2026 window April 2 to April 23 (earlier rounds in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025); recipients selected about three months later

Applicant tip: The application must connect the business to the advancement of women (products for women or girls, health or safety outcomes, mentorship or training) as well as describe a growth plan; a strong growth plan without that link does not fit the brief.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit businesses that have sold a product or service for at least two years, with $50 million or less in revenue, located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin or Wyoming, or in Michigan or Texas within 100 miles of a BMO branch; past recipients are excluded. Each business must show how its work advances women. Changed by 2026: the 2022 U.S. round was for women-owned businesses, while the 2026 terms open it to any eligible small business that advances women.
How to apply: Direct application: online application at bmo.com/grantprogram during the spring window; 75 semifinalists and 45 finalists are selected before the 15 recipients.
Stage fit: revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None
Who wins: BMO reports that 1.02% of complete applications won in 2025 and 0.67% in 2024.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms

The Mama Ladder — HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms (title sponsor U.S. Bank)

Varies — check official page (every one of eight finalists receives a grant check; $115,500 awarded since 2018)

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Applying requires a public social media post about your business, and finalists' placing depends on a public vote (one vote per device). Earlier rounds charged an application fee ($50 in 2020) that went into the grant pool; the program page does not state the 2026 fee.

Next deadline: Expected: September 2027 · Annual: applications September 1–30; judging in early October; public voting in late October; winners announced at the end of October

Applicant tip: The final ranking is a public vote, so plan how you will rally your audience before you apply; in 2026 finalists had one week (October 19–26) to collect votes.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Mothers (including first-time expecting moms, stepmoms and foster moms) who own at least 50% of a for-profit product or service business headquartered in the U.S. or Canada, with verifiable revenue of $10,000 to $500,000 in the past 12 months.
How to apply: Direct application: online application in September plus a public social media post sharing your business's 'why', tagging @usbank and @highfivegrant with #highfivegrant; judges pick eight finalists and a public vote ranks them.
Stage fit: revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Giving Joy Microgrant

Giving Joy — microgrants for women entrepreneurs

Up to $500 one-time, with the amount set by Giving Joy; about 10 grants per cycle (10 in spring 2026)

GrantEquity-freesocial enterprise

The catch: The project must be carried out within six months under a signed grant agreement with set deliverables. Funds cannot go to inventory for resale, advertising or marketing, or personal expenses unconnected to community impact. Only shortlisted applicants are contacted.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Twice a year: spring cycle in April and fall cycle in September, each open for the month

Applicant tip: Giving Joy funds impact beyond your own business growth, so say how many women or families benefit and itemize what the $500 buys; marketing spend and resale inventory will not be funded.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women 18 or older in any country (global program; U.S. applicants eligible), with or without an existing business; the business, nonprofit or project must create economic or social benefit for women, girls or families in the community. Past winners cannot reapply.
How to apply: Direct application: online form only (email proposals are not considered), in any language Google Translate can handle.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Spring 2026: 10 microgrants from 6,423 applications. The September 2026 round drew about 19,000 applications from more than 160 countries.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Enthuse Foundation Grant Program

Enthuse Foundation — Grant Program

2026: seven $2,500 grants (business insurance, business tools, digital marketing, healthcare, retirement, personal investment account, professional services) plus a $5,000 Planet & Purpose grant; 2025: eight grants totaling $37,000

GrantEquity-freefood, beverage & agricultureconsumer products & retail

The catch: You must prove how the money was used, and recipients submit vendor forms. The Planet & Purpose winner must send two product samples, attend an April webinar, spend the funds between May and September and document use and impact by October 1.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Annual (spring): 2026 applications March 9 to April 27, recipients notified in June; Planet & Purpose ran February 17 to March 23, 2026

Applicant tip: Each grant is earmarked for one expense (insurance, software, marketing, health, retirement and so on), so apply for the one whose cost you can document most precisely; the separate Planet & Purpose grant opens about a month earlier.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. citizens who identify as women running an established consumer packaged goods business as their full-time job, with demonstrated financial need; past Enthuse grant or pitch winners are excluded. The Planet & Purpose grant also requires 51% ownership, six months in business, $5,000 in revenue and an environmental commitment built into the brand.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online for each named grant during the spring window; finalists are interviewed.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2025 recipients included Beyond the Bib, ChiChi Foods, Caribbrew, Stursi, Layermor Fragrance, WellCapped and Josephine's Baking Co.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

3. Pitch competitions and prizes

Pitch competitions pay cash for a few minutes on stage, usually after an application, a video round and a stretch of coaching. The recurring ones open to women-owned businesses fall into three groups: national contests in any industry, such as Women Founders Network's Fast Pitch and TiE Women's global competition; contests tied to a sector or a certification, such as WBENCPitch for WBENC-certified firms and the Women in Cleantech & Sustainability competition; and big-city rounds in Washington, DC and Chicago. Most top cash prizes run from $10,000 to $25,000, one pays its champion in services rather than cash, and one entry, the Pipeline Angels Pitch Summit, is angel investment rather than a prize, so its card spells out the equity terms. Most open once a year and take three to six months from application to final. What applicants most often get wrong is the attendance rule: many finals are in person, travel is usually at your own expense, and missing a required rehearsal or the live event can cost you the prize.

9 programs

Fast Pitch Competition

Women Founders Network — Fast Pitch Competition

$25,000 to the first-place winner in each of two tracks (Tech/Tech-enabled and Consumer/CPG/Other Non-Tech) plus a $5,000 Junior VC award; $55,000 in cash grants in total

PrizeEquity-freetech & startupsconsumer products & retailfood, beverage & agriculturecreative, media & fashion

The catch: $50 application fee, and the application does not go to judges until it is paid. Finalists must join a virtual feedback event in August and a VIP rehearsal in Los Angeles in late September (in person or virtual), and must attend the October final at UCLA in person, with travel at their own expense. An application without the financial model is disqualified.

Next deadline: May 31, 2027 · Annual: applications open April 1 and close May 31 (midnight Pacific); finalists named in early July; final in person at UCLA in Los Angeles in October

Applicant tip: WFN hosts the application on Sparkxyz, which makes your venture profile visible to other programs on the platform unless you choose Private, so pick that if you do not want the deck circulating. Consumer products that are mostly software (WFN cites Nest and Oura Ring) belong in the Tech track, and WFN may ask you to reapply if you choose the wrong one.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S.-based business whose founder, co-founder or CEO is a woman, or that is majority-owned by a woman. It may have raised no more than $750,000 in outside funding, counting the founders' own cash (research grants and other non-dilutive grants do not count). Pre-revenue companies must show customer interest such as sign-ups, surveys or letters of intent. Nonprofits, life sciences companies and cannabis/CBD companies cannot apply.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to one track through WFN's application on the Sparkxyz platform (venture profile, pitch deck, five-year financial model) between April 1 and May 31. Judges pick 25 semifinalists per track, who answer supplemental questions and send a 2-minute pitch video; five finalists per track go on to the October final.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None (WFN describes the prizes as non-dilutive cash grants)
Who wins: 2026 (14th annual final, October 21, 2026): Tech track, Hilary Taylor of WattsUp (EV-charging reliability software); Consumer track, Chiara Munzi and Izzy Gorton of ChiChi Foods; Junior VC award, Chantel Powell of Play Pits.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

BGV Pitch and Pull Up & Pitch

BGV Foundation (formerly Black Girl Ventures) — BGV Pitch

Up to $15,000 in prizes per BGV Pitch city round in 2025, plus audience dollars raised during the event; Pull Up & Pitch events advertised up to $30,000 in cash and prizes in 2026

PrizeEquity-freeany industry

The catch: The crowd, not a panel, picks the BGV Pitch winner, so placing depends on who you bring to the room. Selected founders must take part in coaching and pitch live in their city. At the 2026 DC Pull Up & Pitch a guaranteed place in the pitch line came with a $50 priority pass; the free ticket was first come, first served.

Next deadline: Varies by city round — no call open; see BGV's Submittable page · Several city rounds a year, announced on BGV's Submittable page (2025 BGV Pitch rounds: Austin, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles); Pull Up & Pitch events run through the year, the last 2026 one at BGV Homecoming in Washington, DC on September 12

Applicant tip: Line up supporters to attend and vote before the event, since the audience decides the winner. Rounds are local and calls are posted on BGV's Submittable page, so check it from spring onward (2025 rounds ran from spring through summer).

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Rules are set in each city call on BGV's Submittable page, and no call is open. BGV says it funds early-stage, revenue-generating businesses with under $1 million in revenue. In 2026 the organization, renamed BGV Foundation, describes its mission as fueling under-resourced multicultural entrepreneurs, and its program pages no longer say the pitch is limited to women, so read the eligibility in the next call before applying.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to a city round through BGV's Submittable page when a call opens; selected founders are coached, then pitch for 3 minutes with 2 minutes of audience Q&A at a live crowdfunded event. Pull Up & Pitch is a walk-up format: register for the event and pitch for 60 seconds.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Pipeline Angels Pitch Summit

Pipeline Angels (a support organization of IFEL) — Pitch Summit

Varies — check official page (each angel in a class of 5 to 10 commits to invest at least $5,000; companies the class selects can also pitch the 500+ member community, which may join the syndicate)

OtherEquity: see termsany industrysocial enterprise

The catch: This is equity money, not a prize: you sell a stake through a SAFE or convertible note and investors sign directly on your cap table. Presenting does not guarantee an investment; the angels decide after due diligence, and IFEL, which administers the program, does not invest.
Equity: Equity investment: angels typically invest through a SAFE or convertible debt and sign directly on your cap table (an SPV only if both sides agree, at extra cost)

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · Twice a year: spring and fall virtual Pitch Summits (Spring 2027: East class April 17, West class April 18, 2027)

Applicant tip: State your instrument and terms in your dealroom as soon as you are selected, since the angels expect them there. Fill in the interest form on the founders page now to be told when the Spring 2027 application opens.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit company duly organized and existing in a U.S. state. Women and non-binary founders, and companies with a social or environmental mission, are strongly encouraged to apply; the application page says Pipeline Angels does not discriminate by gender in applications to its programs, so gender is an encouragement, not a requirement.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply online; angels-in-training screen the applications and choose which companies present at the virtual Pitch Summit (10-minute pitch, 10-minute Q&A), then run due diligence and negotiate terms with the companies they want to fund.
Stage fit: early-stage, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: Equity investment: angels typically invest through a SAFE or convertible debt and sign directly on your cap table (an SPV only if both sides agree, at extra cost)

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

TiE Women Global Pitch Competition

TiE Global — TiE Women

$100,000+ in equity-free cash prizes across the 2026 program (the split is not published; the program page also lists $50,000 under participant benefits)

PrizeEquity-freeany industry

The catch: TiE Women charges no application or participation fee and warns that any request for payment is unauthorized, though its FAQ says individual chapters may charge for chapter-level accelerator programs. The 2026 global final is a live event at the TiE Global Summit in Indore, India on December 14-15, and the page does not say whether travel is covered. Women co-founders must hold at least 33% of the equity.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · Annual: applications open in March and close June 30; chapter mentoring and finals late June to August; semi-finals in September; global final in December at the TiE Global Summit

Applicant tip: Get to know your chapter early: U.S. chapters (Dallas, Tampa Bay and New Jersey ran 2026 rounds) select their own finalists and mentor them between late June and August, and only the chapter winner advances. TiE accepts one application per startup worldwide, so pick the chapter nearest your registered address.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Startups founded or co-founded by women, with women co-founders holding at least 33% of the equity; only a woman founder may pitch. For 2026 the company had to be registered on or after January 1, 2019, idea-stage startups did not qualify, and startups raising funds got preference. The program is global; U.S. companies enter through the TiE chapter closest to their registered address.
How to apply: Direct application: one free central application per startup through tiewomen.org; chapters run mentoring and chapter finals, chapter winners go to regional semi-finals (North America and Europe hosted by TiE Los Angeles in 2026), and the top founders pitch at the global final.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None (TiE Women advertises equity-free cash prizes)

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

WBENCPitch (2026: WBENCPitch IMPACT)

Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) — WBENCPitch

$20,000 to the first-place winner in each of two divisions (Product and Services); runners-up receive complimentary 2027 WBENC National Conference admission. Some regional qualifiers add small prizes (WBEC-ORV 2026: $1,000 to first place in each division).

PrizeEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Only WBENC-certified businesses can enter, and certification is a separate application with its own fee and review. Some regional qualifiers require a paid ticket to the regional event where the pitch is held (WBEC-ORV's 2026 Catch the Wave qualifier did), while others, such as WBEC Florida, charge nothing to enter. The 2026 round judged impact, so the pitch must show measurable results from a product or service already selling.

Next deadline: Expected: August 2027 · Annual: regional qualifiers take video pitches in summer (2026 deadlines ran July 17 to August 31); national semi-finals and finals are held virtually in November (2026: November 2-3 and November 16)

Applicant tip: Each Regional Partner Organization sets its own window and format, so check yours in early summer: WBEC Florida took 2026 videos July 31 to August 31, the Women's Business Council - Southwest until August 23. Build the 60-second video around one concrete, measurable result, since 2026 semi-finalists were asked to pitch metric-driven or mission-driven impact.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: WBENC-certified women's business enterprises in good standing. The person pitching must be a female primary owner, and the pitch must be for a product or service already in market or ready for market, not a future venture seeking investment. Entry is only through your WBENC Regional Partner Organization's qualifier.
How to apply: Pitch gate: send a video pitch of 60 seconds or less to your Regional Partner Organization's qualifier; each region's top pitches (four in 2026) advance to WBENC's virtual national semi-finals and finals.
Stage fit: revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2025 WBENCPitch ACCELERATE first place: Posie Pots (self-watering planters).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Women's Fast Pitch

Women's Venture Summit — Women's Fast Pitch

No cash prize in 2026: the champion receives a growth package valued at $45,000+ ($25,000 in pro bono legal services from Cooley, $10,000 in marketing support, $10,000 in business advisory services and a Marble Collective spotlight)

PrizeEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Applicants must be open to equity crowdfunding, and the $50,000 Wefunder campaign is a chance to raise money, not an award. Founders who advance must be available for the Women's Venture Summit in San Diego. The 2026 champion's package is services, not cash.

Next deadline: Expected: September 2027 · Annual: 2026 applications closed September 16, national virtual pitch October 1, final at the Women's Venture Summit November 2-5 in San Diego (the 2025 cycle ran in spring, with regional pitches in May)

Applicant tip: Apply in the region where your business is based, because each region sends its own finalists: 2026 named six semifinalists per region plus one wildcard. Ask early what a Wefunder campaign would require of your cap table, since willingness to crowdfund is an entry condition.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Registered U.S. business entity that is more than 50% woman-owned and woman-led, at pre-seed through seed stage, in any industry. The founder must be 18 or older and based in the U.S. region she applies for, and the company must be open to raising capital through an equity crowdfunding platform such as Wefunder.
How to apply: Direct application: free online application; organizers pick founders from five U.S. regions plus a wildcard for a coached national virtual pitch (3-minute pitch, 3 minutes of investor Q&A), and regional finalists advance to the live final at the Women's Venture Summit in San Diego.
Stage fit: early-stage, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None taken by the organizer; finalists may launch a $50,000 Wefunder equity-crowdfunding campaign, which sells shares to investors

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Women-Led Startups Pitch Competition

Women in Cleantech & Sustainability (WCS) — Pitch Competition

Varies — check official page (WCS describes a 'large prize pool' but does not publish amounts)

PrizeEquity-freetech & startups

The catch: Selected founders pitch in person in San Francisco, and WCS does not say whether it covers travel. WCS publishes no prize amount, entry fee or prize terms on its competition page, so ask before you plan around the money.

Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · Annual (spring): applications close in late February or March; finals during San Francisco Climate Week in April

Applicant tip: Pitch an operating company, not an idea: the 2026 call wanted products in market or ready to deploy and companies between seed and closed Series A. The 2026 call opened in mid-February and closed March 10 after an extension from February 27, so the window is about a month long.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Cleantech and sustainability startups led by women as CEO or in the C-suite, from anywhere in the world. WCS's 2026 call asked for seed-stage through closed Series A companies with hardware or software products in market or ready for deployment.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online by the winter deadline; selected startups give a 5-minute pitch and take 3 minutes of judges' questions on stage in San Francisco during SF Climate Week.
Stage fit: early-stage, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2025: Karen Baert, Ammobia (clean ammonia production); 2024: Sophia Wennstedt, Blip Energy.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Agora Venture Competition

The Agora Initiative — Venture Competition

$10,000 non-dilutive grant to one winner per competition; all applicants are eligible for additional cash and in-kind prizes

PrizeEquity-freetech & startups

The catch: Finalists must pitch live in Washington, DC on the evening of the showcase to be eligible to win. Co-founders may join on stage only if they too identify as female or non-binary. The competition is judged by investors as a venture pitch, so it suits companies planning to raise equity.

Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · Twice a year (spring and fall, per Agora); the 2026 spring competition took applications March 9-31, with the Venture Showcase on May 13

Applicant tip: Agora offers feedback to every applicant, so an early application is useful even if you do not reach the showcase. No fall 2026 round is posted, so plan on the March window.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Founders who self-identify as female or non-binary, based in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia, who hold at least 25% equity and a C-suite role in a for-profit, venture-scale company that has raised less than $1,000,000 in equity funding. Consultancies and other businesses that are not venture-scale do not fit.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply online; at least two members of a 30-plus member investor committee review each eligible application, the committee picks finalists, and finalists pitch live at the Venture Showcase in Washington, DC.
Stage fit: early-stage, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Women's Small Business Cohort Pitch Competition

Chicago Sky Foundation — Women's Small Business Cohort (WSBC)

Four $20,000 grants ($80,000 in total) in 2026, awarded at the cohort's closing pitch competition

PrizeEquity-freeany industry

The catch: You must be chosen for the 12-member cohort and complete the four-week program before you can pitch, and only four of the 12 win grants. The application window is short (11 days in 2026).

Next deadline: Expected: May 2027 · Annual: applications open in early May for about two weeks (2026: May 4-15, participants announced May 30); four-week cohort in June and July; pitch competition in late July

Applicant tip: Have your application ready by late April: the 2026 window opened May 4 and closed May 15, and the program is announced only shortly before it opens. The cohort's four workshop topics are what judges see in the final pitch, so be ready to show numbers on finances and customer acquisition.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women-owned small businesses in the Chicagoland area. The foundation's announcement does not publish revenue, age or ownership-percentage rules, so check the application form.
How to apply: Direct application: apply for the cohort in May; 12 selected owners complete a four-week program (financial infrastructure, marketing and customer acquisition, team building, operational capacity) and then pitch to a judges panel for the grants.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2026 grant winners: Pooch Town, La Juicy Jars, Erin's Cup and ¡Viva! Los Libros (announced July 25, 2026).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

4. Fellowships and accelerators (equity terms labeled)

Fellowships and accelerators ask for a competitive application and give you a season or a year of structured help: coaching, a cohort of peers, introductions and sometimes cash. The cash is modest. Tory Burch Fellows get a $2,000 education grant, Village Capital gives $25,000 to two founders its cohort picks, and Cartier's global awards pay $30,000 to $100,000 to three women in each region. Most of the rest, from the James Beard Foundation's program for restaurant owners to V-WISE for women veterans and military spouses, give expertise instead of money. Nearly all open one window a year, so a missed deadline usually means waiting a year. Only HearstLab invests for equity, and its card says so. The most common mistake is applying at the wrong stage. These programs set hard floors and ceilings, from Tory Burch's $75,000 revenue minimum to Cartier's $2 million cap on equity raised, and screen out applications that miss them. Several former women-only accelerators now accept all founders, so check the current rules before you apply.

9 programs

Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program

Tory Burch Foundation — Fellows Program

$2,000 education grant per Fellow (about 160 Fellows), plus coaching, an advisor network, workshops and a Founder's Circle event whose registration and certain travel costs the Foundation covers in year one

FellowshipEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Selected Fellows must sign a Fellows Program Agreement and an affidavit of eligibility within five days, may be subject to a criminal background check, and agree to participate actively. Profiles and photos are posted publicly for promotion, and Fellows pay their own program costs except year-one Founder's Circle registration and certain travel.

Next deadline: Nov 17, 2026 · Annual: applications open in late September and close in mid-November; Fellows are contacted around April and announced in May.

Applicant tip: The committee selects on the personal and company statements, the video introduction and corporate social responsibility, so spend your effort on showing the impact your business creates and the obstacles you have overcome. Keep the video under two minutes and photo files under 2MB in total, because non-compliant applications are voided.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs who are 21 or older on November 17, 2026, proficient in English and legal residents of the United States, own the largest or an equal-largest stake in the business and manage it day to day. The business must be for-profit, at least 51% owned and controlled by women, formed under U.S. law and operating in the U.S., and generating at least $75,000 a year (there is no maximum). Idea-stage ventures, nonprofits and subsidiaries do not qualify, and only one entrepreneur per business may apply.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the online application on toryburchfoundation.org between September 22 and November 17, 2026 (11:59:59 p.m. ET), with personal and company statements, a photo and a video of no more than two minutes. Applying is free.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Cartier Women's Initiative Regional Awards (North America)

Cartier Women's Initiative — Regional Awards

$100,000 first place, $60,000 second place, $30,000 third place in each of nine regions, plus a year-long fellowship with an INSEAD program and executive coaching

FellowshipEquity-freesocial enterprise

The catch: Fellows commit to the fellowship from January to December of the award year: two days of on-site filming, about 20 hours of group workshops, a 2.5-day in-person INSEAD program plus Awards Week in May or June, and about 28 hours of coaching. Fellows must report on their impact for three years after the fellowship.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · Annual: applications open in mid-April and close in mid-June; fellows are announced the following spring.

Applicant tip: Cartier scores impact intentionality, impact measurement, market fit and the financial model, so show how impact is locked into the business model and how you track it. If more than 30% of your financing comes from grants or donations, the FAQ says you are unlikely to pass preliminary screening.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Global program; U.S. businesses compete in the North America region. The applicant must be a woman in a main leadership role (CEO, COO, CTO or similar), part of the founding team, owning a share at least equal to each co-founder's. The for-profit business must contribute to at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal, have had $50,000 to $5 million in revenue in its last closed fiscal year, employ 5 to 250 team members, have raised no more than $2 million in dilutive or potentially dilutive funding, and be an independent, original company (no sole proprietorships, spin-offs, subsidiaries or franchises). Applicants must be 18 or older with B2-level English; businesses that were fellows before cannot reapply.
How to apply: Direct application: online application during the annual window (2027 edition: April 16 to June 16, 2026, 2 p.m. CEST) with a one-minute video, resume, company registration, cap table, two years of professionally prepared or audited financial statements and a pitch deck.
Stage fit: revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: The 2026 edition named 30 fellows (announced March 26, 2026): the top three businesses in each of nine regions plus three Science & Technology Pioneer awardees.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Cartier Women's Initiative Science & Technology Pioneer Award

Cartier Women's Initiative — Science & Technology Pioneer Award

$100,000 first place, $60,000 second place, $30,000 third place (three awardees worldwide), plus the year-long fellowship

FellowshipEquity-freetech & startupshealth & life sciences

The catch: Same commitment as the Regional Awards: participation from January to December of the award year, including in-person weeks in May or June, and impact reporting for three years after the fellowship.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · Annual: applications open in mid-April and close in mid-June; fellows are announced the following spring.

Applicant tip: Cartier expects development from idea to commercialization to take at least two years and looks for a strong research base and patents, so document your readiness level with evidence such as lab validation results. Companies with revenue but no deep-tech core should apply to the Regional Awards instead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Global; open to U.S. founders. Women-led, for-profit deep-tech companies built on protected, hard-to-reproduce scientific or technical advances, at technology readiness level 4 (lab-validated prototype) or higher, that have not been commercializing their final product for more than five years and have not raised a Series A. University and research spin-offs may apply. The applicant must hold a main leadership role and own a share at least equal to each co-founder's, be 18 or older, and have B2-level English. Combinations of existing technologies, productivity tools, consumer apps and products built on another company's AI model are typically ineligible.
How to apply: Direct application: online application during the annual Cartier Women's Initiative window (2027 edition: April 16 to June 16, 2026, 2 p.m. CEST).
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) Program

James Beard Foundation — Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL)

No cash award: an 11-week virtual leadership and business program for a cohort of up to 20, taught by JBF staff, Cornell faculty and industry professionals

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freefood, beverage & agriculture

The catch: Attendance at every scheduled session is mandatory (Mondays, 2 to 4 p.m. ET, for 11 weeks), along with active cohort engagement and JBF follow-up surveys. The program gives training and network, not money; the page lists no tuition or fee.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · Annual: applications open in late April and close June 1; applicants hear in August and the cohort runs mid-September to early December.

Applicant tip: The $1 million revenue floor is a minimum, not the typical profile: sample cohorts averaged $2.5 million to $3.3 million and a decade in business, so lead with your multi-unit or growth plans. If you co-own the business, decide who applies, because JBF will not take two applicants from the same business.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women and nonbinary owners or co-owners, 21 or older and living in the United States or its territories, of one or more food or beverage businesses with a brick-and-mortar location and at least $1 million in annual revenue. Only one applicant per business; applicants with at least two years of revenue, and those who have not taken part in a JBF program in the past 12 months, may be prioritized.
How to apply: Direct application: online application during the spring window (2026 cohort: April 27 to June 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT); a committee of industry leaders, WEL alumnae and JBF staff selects up to 20.
Stage fit: revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: JBF's sample cohorts averaged over $2.5 million to $3.3 million in annual revenue, about 10 to 11 years in business and 50 to 65 employees.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Springboard Women's Health Accelerator

Springboard Enterprises — Women's Health Accelerator

No cash award or investment: a personal advisory team, events and workshops, investor and strategic-partner introductions, and a Demo Day

In-kind / lab accessEquity: see termshealth & life sciences

The catch: Built for companies raising growth funding at late seed to Series B, so earlier-stage companies are not a fit. Springboard's program page does not publish application or program fees; ask before applying.
Equity: Not published: Springboard (a 501(c)(3)) lists no equity, warrant or fee terms on its program page, and other organizations' posts describe an optional warrant contribution, so confirm terms in the participation agreement

Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · Annual: applications in January; the program runs through spring and ends with a Demo Day in June.

Applicant tip: Join the 2027 waitlist on the program page now: the 2026 call was announced in mid-January and closed about a week later, on January 23. Name the women's health area your product addresses and the unmet need in it, since that is the program's stated focus.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women-led companies, with a woman in senior leadership holding a significant equity stake, at late seed or Series A to Series B stage with a record of hitting milestones, whose core product, service or technology addresses an unmet need in conditions that solely, predominantly or differently affect women (cognitive and brain, cardiovascular, reproductive, gynecological and sexual, aging and bone health, oncology, autoimmune).
How to apply: Direct application: online application when Springboard opens its annual call (the 2026 call opened in mid-January and closed January 23, 2026); a waitlist for the 2027 accelerator is open on the program page.
Stage fit: scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: Not published: Springboard (a 501(c)(3)) lists no equity, warrant or fee terms on its program page, and other organizations' posts describe an optional warrant contribution, so confirm terms in the participation agreement
Who wins: Springboard held its third annual Women's Health Accelerator Demo Day in June 2026; more than 65 women-led companies have been through its women's health programs.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

US Women in Tech Accelerator

Village Capital — US Women in Tech Accelerator (with Standard Chartered Foundation)

Two startups per cohort, chosen by their peers, receive $25,000 grants; all 10 to 12 startups get coaching, four workshops and an in-person summit with travel stipends

FellowshipEquity-freetech & startupssocial enterprise

The catch: A $500 deposit is required and refunded at the end of the program. One founder or C-suite member must attend every activity of all four multi-day workshops (mostly virtual) and the August 2026 summit, for which stipends cover travel. Only two of the 10 to 12 startups receive the $25,000 grants, ranked by their cohort peers.

Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · Annual since 2025: applications open in early December and close at the end of January; workshops run April to July with a summit in August.

Applicant tip: Check the ceilings before applying: revenue above $100,000, 10 or more employees or $1.5 million raised rules you out. The grants are decided by the other founders through Village Capital's peer review, so treat your cohort as the audience you must convince.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Legally registered, U.S.-based for-profit startups with fewer than 10 employees, led by at least one full-time founder who identifies as a woman (cisgender, transgender and nonbinary founders included). Companies must be revenue-generating with under $100,000 in annual revenue, have a minimum viable product and customer or business validation, and have raised under $1.5 million in equity. The product must be tech-based or tech-enabled and improve economic mobility or access to essential services such as health care, care work, education, employment and financial health.
How to apply: Direct application: online application during the winter window (2026 cohort: December 8, 2025 to January 30, 2026).
Stage fit: early-stage
Equity taken: None (Village Capital states it takes no equity; a $500 program deposit is returned at the end)

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

V-WISE (Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship)

Syracuse University — D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (V-WISE)

No cash: a four-week online business course and a three-day in-person capstone conference; the $75 registration fee covers the course, two nights of lodging and most meals

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $75 registration fee, and you pay your own travel to the capstone city, which changes each cohort. The online course takes 3 to 5 hours a week for four weeks and must be finished before the capstone; you can attend only your own cohort's capstone, and applications expire after one year.

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · One to two cohorts a year; the 2027 cohort runs online March 15 to April 9, 2027, with the capstone April 16 to 18 in Atlanta.

Applicant tip: Choose a cohort whose capstone city you can reach (2027 is Atlanta), because you cannot finish the coursework now and attend a later capstone. Have documents proving your service or your spouse's or partner's ready, since IVMF verifies military affiliation during review.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women who are serving on active duty in any branch (including the National Guard and Reserves), honorably discharged veterans, or military spouses or partners (including widowed spouses and partners), with a new business idea or a recently started business. Each person may attend V-WISE only once.
How to apply: Direct application: submit an application, which the IVMF team reviews and uses to confirm your military affiliation; for 2027, fill out the interest form on the program page to be told when applications open.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Military Founders Lab (Women Founders track)

Syracuse University — D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (Military Founders Lab)

No cash: a free 10-week virtual program with a weekly expert speaker series and track-specific Founders Exchange sessions (Women Founders track capped at 30)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Expect 5 to 8 hours a week: the Monday speaker series (live or by recording), weekly assignments, at least five live Women Founders Exchange sessions (Tuesdays at 11 a.m. ET, not recorded) and participant surveys. There are no fees.

Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · Three cohorts a year beginning in winter, spring and fall (2026 cohorts began January 26, April 20 and September 14).

Applicant tip: Founders Exchange sessions are not recorded and you must attend at least five live, so check the Women Founders slot (Tuesdays 11 a.m. ET) against your schedule before choosing the track. A business partner who wants to take part must apply and be accepted separately.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Active-duty service members, veterans, reservists and Guard members, and military or veteran spouses, life partners, adult dependents and caregivers, with documentation of honorable service. The business must be registered, worked on for at least six months, and either generating under $250,000 in revenue over the last 12 months or pre-revenue with capital committed. The program serves all eligible founders; the Women Founders track groups women founders in their own weekly Founders Exchange.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online for a cohort and choose the Women Founders track (if you qualify for more than one track, IVMF makes the final placement).
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

HearstLab

Hearst — HearstLab

Varies — check official page (equity investments in seed and Series A companies; HearstLab's September 2023 description cites cash investments of up to $1 million, plus services)

OtherEquity: see termstech & startups

The catch: This is venture investment, not a grant: HearstLab takes equity, and any investment depends on due diligence and agreed terms. In return portfolio companies get business-development, marketing, data, engineering, finance and legal support and office space at the Hearst Tower in New York.
Equity: Takes equity: HearstLab invests cash in exchange for equity in seed and Series A companies (up to $1 million per its September 2023 'Who We Are' post); terms are set company by company after due diligence

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: applications accepted year-round.

Applicant tip: A connection to Hearst is a stated criterion, so name the Hearst business (media, data, fintech, healthcare or transportation) your product could serve. Companies that hold inventory are screened out regardless of traction.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women-led companies, meaning a female founder is a decision maker with equal or majority founder equity, with a tech-enabled B2B or B2B2C model, a working product and market validation, solving a problem tied to Hearst's businesses (enterprise technology, data and analytics, fintech, healthcare, transportation, media). It does not invest in companies that make or sell physical products (inventory on the balance sheet) or develop therapeutics, medical devices or Software as a Medical Device. Applications are taken for the U.S., Europe, Japan and the Gulf; the full support-services package is limited to U.S.-based companies.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the 'Apply US' form on hearstlab.com at any time of year; companies are vetted by the HearstLab team and Hearst's Scout Network of executives.
Stage fit: early-stage, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: Takes equity: HearstLab invests cash in exchange for equity in seed and Series A companies (up to $1 million per its September 2023 'Who We Are' post); terms are set company by company after due diligence

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

5. State and city programs for women-owned businesses

Government money aimed at women-owned businesses is real but local, and most of it is small. Cities run grants restricted to minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBE), usually $1,500 to $25,000 and often paid from federal block-grant or settlement money. Connecticut and Michigan route state-backed money through women's business funds, and New York City, Atlanta and Boston offer free coaching, accelerators and events instead of cash. Two larger state programs give women owners an edge rather than a set-aside: Minnesota's Job Creation Fund lowers its job and investment thresholds, and New Jersey's Innovation Fellows adds $50,000 per woman founder. Windows open once a year or stay open until the money runs out, and almost all require the business to be located in that city, county or state. Since 2025 several cities have suspended minority- and women-owned preferences, so confirm a program is still open before planning around it. The usual mistake is weak proof of ownership: have formation documents showing 51% woman ownership ready before the window opens.

14 programs

Massachusetts

MWBE Construction Advancement Grant

Massachusetts — City of Worcester, Business & Community Development Division

$10,000 to $25,000 per business, capped at 25% of the business's yearly expenses

GrantEquity-freeconstruction & trades

The catch: Certification comes first: an uncertified business cannot apply. Grantees must report how the money was spent, with supporting documents. The pool is settlement money from the Attorney General's False Claims Division, so the window closes when it runs out rather than on a date.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: applications accepted since September 22, 2025 until program funds are exhausted

Applicant tip: Size the request to your expense base: awards are capped at 25% of yearly business expenses, so a firm with $60,000 in annual expenses tops out at $15,000. Bonding, insurance and apprenticeship costs are eligible uses, which makes the grant most useful just before bidding on a first public job.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Worcester-based, for-profit businesses in construction or construction-related sectors that are certified as minority- or women-owned by the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) or a recognized third-party certifier, and are in good standing with the Commonwealth and the City of Worcester.
How to apply: Direct application: email the fillable PDF application, the budget workbook and a W-9 to [email protected].
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

New York

City of Utica MWBE Microenterprise Grant Program

New York — City of Utica, Department of Urban and Economic Development

$5,000 to $15,000 per business

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: You must put in at least 10% cash equity, and business skills training or counseling must be finished before funds are released. The grant is papered with a loan agreement, promissory note and security agreement, so a business that breaks program terms or moves out of Utica during the grant period repays it. The city runs an annual financial review of every grantee and federal job-creation rules apply.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Annual (late winter to spring): the 2026-2027 program accepted applications February 26 to April 3, 2026, with decisions by May 4

Applicant tip: Check the income test before you apply: with no new hire, the owner must qualify as low- or moderate-income under HUD limits. Applications are reviewed first come, first served, so submit early in the window with the one-page plan already done; MVCC's thINCubator helps with it at no charge.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Existing or start-up minority- and/or women-owned commercial enterprises located in the City of Utica with ten or fewer employees, counting the owner(s). Because the money is federal CDBG, the business must create at least one job available to low- or moderate-income people, or, if it will not hire, the owner must be low- or moderate-income. So-called sin businesses (alcohol or cannabis stores, gambling and similar) are excluded.
How to apply: Direct application: get the packet from the Department of Urban and Economic Development, then submit the application, employment plan, personal financial statement, employee questionnaires, a one-page business plan and formation documents by mail, drop-off at City Hall or email (PDF).
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Ohio

Economic Development Grant Program: Women-Owned and Minority-Owned Business Grants

Ohio — City of Huber Heights, Economic Development Department

Varies — check official page ($25,000 category pool in 2026; 2025 women- and minority-owned awards were $12,500 each)

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: The women- and minority-owned category held only $25,000 for 2026, awarded until exhausted or the deadline. A final report is due within 60 days of project completion, and missing it bars you from future city grants. Costs incurred before approval are not reimbursed unless the city authorizes them, and future rounds depend on each year's council budget.

Next deadline: Expected: October 2027 · Annual (late summer to fall): the 2026 window ran August 14 to October 16, 2026; funding is set each year in the city budget

Applicant tip: Apply in every category you qualify for: a woman-owned business with fewer than 50 employees and under $5 million in revenue can also apply to the $25,000 small business pool, and one that already won a county or State of Ohio grant can use the $50,000 partnership pool. Measurable economic impact carries 30 of 100 points, so quantify jobs, investment or revenue.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women (or by members of a federally recognized minority group) that are located in, expanding within or relocating to Huber Heights, Ohio, and are in good standing on zoning, licensing and city taxes. Applicants show proof of ownership and, where applicable, certification, and the project must deliver a measurable economic benefit to the city.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the online application on the city's Business Grants page during the window; a committee of the City Manager, an Assistant City Manager and a council member scores it.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2025, the program's first year: the women- and minority-owned awards were $12,500 each.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

New York

Women Entrepreneurs NYC (WE NYC)

New York — NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)

Free services; no cash award (workshops, up to three one-on-one financial counseling sessions, business coaching, mentoring and legal consultations)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: No money changes hands: this is training and advice, not a grant. Sessions are scheduled by SBS and its partners, so what is available varies by month and by language.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: workshops, coaching and mentor sessions run year-round

Applicant tip: Book WE Master: Credit before you apply for a loan or a credit-checked grant: it includes up to three one-on-one sessions with a certified financial counselor. WE Legal's one-on-one consultations with private law firms are a free way to get a lease or contract question answered.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs in all five boroughs, from pre-startup to established businesses. SBS states that its programs are open to anyone regardless of sex or other protected class, so the services are women-focused rather than women-only.
How to apply: Direct application: call 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692), weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and ask for WE NYC, or sign up for sessions through we.nyc.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Georgia

Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) Ignite Accelerator

Georgia — Invest Atlanta (City of Atlanta), Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative

Varies — check official page (nine-month accelerator with mentoring and investor access; no cash award stated)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: It costs time rather than equity: nine months of live sessions, one-on-one mentoring and deliverables across a nine-module curriculum, with sessions held at coworking spaces around Atlanta. WEI offers capital strategy and introductions to capital partners, not funding.

Next deadline: Next cohort not yet announced · Cohort-based: the seventh cohort launched in October 2025 for nine months and ends with a 2026 Demo Day; Invest Atlanta announces each new cohort

Applicant tip: WEI's curriculum separates guidance for early- and growth-stage founders and leads to an investor showcase, so apply with real revenue figures and a specific capital question you want answered by the end. Cohorts open only when Invest Atlanta announces them, so use the contact form on weiatlanta.com to be told when the next one is recruiting.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women founders of early- and growth-stage businesses in the City of Atlanta. The seventh cohort (October 2025) took 15 founders in technology, consumer goods, healthcare and education.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online when Invest Atlanta opens a cohort; founders are selected for fit, business stage and growth readiness.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Seventh cohort (October 2025): 15 Atlanta women founders in technology, consumer goods, healthcare and education.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Maryland

BRIDGE Program

Maryland — Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence (IWEE), a TEDCO affiliate

Varies — check official page (eight-week capital-readiness cohort; cost and any cash support not stated)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Eight weeks of weekly commitments: three hours of workshops and one to two hours of mentoring a week, plus assignments such as drafting a loan application or revising projections. Sessions are hybrid with in-person meetings at the host campus. It prepares you to raise debt or equity; it does not provide capital.

Next deadline: Next cohort not yet announced · Cohort-based: the first cohort ran March 23 to May 11, 2026 (applications closed March 20, 2026); IWEE announces future cohorts

Applicant tip: Bring current financial statements: the assignments revise your projections and draft a real loan application, so you finish with a lender-ready package. Ask [email protected] which HBCU campus hosts the next cohort, because part of each week is in person.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Socially and economically disadvantaged (SEDI) entrepreneurs, with IWEE's focus on Maryland women business owners; the first cohort (spring 2026, hosted at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore) was made up of women entrepreneurs.
How to apply: Direct application: complete IWEE's online application form; selected applicants are notified and then onboarded.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

New Jersey

New Jersey Innovation Fellows Program (Cohort III)

New Jersey — New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)

$200,000 base grant per team; plus $50,000 for each of up to three leaders who self-certify as a woman or minority (or graduated from a New Jersey college) and $50,000 if a leader lives in an Opportunity Zone; up to $400,000, paid quarterly over two years

FellowshipEquity-freetech & startupshealth & life sciencesprofessional servicescreative, media & fashionfood, beverage & agriculture

The catch: Every leader must work full time on the venture (35 hours a week, no more than 20 hours of outside work) for two years, keep paying New Jersey income tax and attend NJII or Rowan mentorship throughout. Money arrives in eight quarterly, milestone-based payments that require financial statements and payroll proof, and there is a $250 application fee.

Next deadline: Dec 4, 2026 · Periodic rounds: Round II closed July 15, 2024; Cohort III applications open September 9 to December 4, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Applicant tip: Count the bonuses before you finalize the team: each leader who self-certifies as a woman or minority adds $50,000, up to three, so three women co-founders reach $350,000 before any Opportunity Zone bonus. First-time founders must have left their job no more than 60 days before applying, so time resignations to the window.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams of at least three full-time entrepreneurs, at least half of them first-time founders, holding majority equity in a venture in one of New Jersey's targeted industries with a registered address in an eligible municipality. Recipients must have paid New Jersey gross income tax. Each leader who self-certifies as a woman earns the team a $50,000 bonus (up to three bonus awards).
How to apply: Direct application: apply online to NJEDA with a business plan in presentation format during the Cohort III window; a $250 application fee applies.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Uplift Mentorship Program

New Jersey — TechUnited:NJ (state-funded through NJEDA)

Free ten-week mentorship; no cash award

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industrytech & startups

The catch: No equity and no fee, but you must stay engaged for all ten weeks, log at least 3 hours of one-on-one mentoring and 1.5 hours of educational programming, and attend TechUnited:NJ's OverdriveAI summit in person in Newark.

Next deadline: Next cohort not yet announced · Cohort-based: the fall 2026 cohort started September 9, 2026 and ran ten weeks (priority matching closed September 1)

Applicant tip: Apply before the priority-matching date, since later applicants are matched only if mentors remain. The program includes a one-year TechUnited:NJ membership, which keeps you in its founder and investor events after the ten weeks end.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: New Jersey residents who are founders, aspiring founders, CEOs or small business owners. The program is open to all, but applications from women and minority founders get priority, and there is no requirement to be incorporated or funded.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online; applications in before the priority date go into priority mentor matching.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Connecticut

Ignite Grant

Connecticut — Women's Business Development Council (WBDC), funded in part by the State of Connecticut

$2,500 to $10,000 per project

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: The grant cannot pay operating costs such as inventory, marketing or salaries, real estate improvements, past purchases, debt or a grant writer. You must have put at least $2,500 into the business in the last 12 months unless it is in a distressed municipality, and a business can win an Ignite (or Equity Match or Municipal) grant only once.

Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · Rounds about twice a year: Round 13 ran August 5 to September 13, 2026; the next round opens in early 2027

Applicant tip: Build the request around one measurable project and show the revenue math in your three-year projections, which the application asks for explicitly. Businesses under two years old should look instead at WBDC's Launch Pad grants of up to $2,500.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Connecticut for-profit businesses at least 51% owned by a woman 18 or older who is a Connecticut resident, headquartered and registered in Connecticut, in business at least two years with $25,000 to $2,000,000 in revenue in the last 12 months, a business bank account and digital bookkeeping. Sole proprietorships, nonprofits, childcare businesses and past WBDC grant recipients cannot apply.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through WBDC's online portal while a round is open; an independent expert panel reviews applications.
Stage fit: revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Since 2020 the program (first called the Equity Match Grant) has awarded more than $4.8 million to 519 Connecticut women-owned businesses; the round before Round 13 funded 50 grants totaling $476,787.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Accelerate Grant

Connecticut — Women's Business Development Council (WBDC), funded in part by the State of Connecticut

$25,000 per business

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Only past WBDC grantees qualify and only a few are funded. The money cannot cover operating expenses, past purchases or debt, and the application requires a full business plan, historical financials and projections.

Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · Rounds opened by WBDC; the next round opens in early 2027

Applicant tip: Document the revenue lift from your earlier WBDC grant now, with before-and-after sales tied to the funded project: demonstrated growth from that grant is an eligibility test, not only a scoring factor.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Connecticut businesses at least 51% woman-owned that received a WBDC Equity Match, Ignite or Municipal grant at least 12 months ago and can show revenue growth from it, with $100,000 to $2,500,000 in revenue in the last 12 months, headquartered and registered in Connecticut and owned by a Connecticut resident. Sole proprietorships, nonprofits and real estate agencies are ineligible.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply online; a select number of applicants pitch at an event, and an external committee chooses the recipients.
Stage fit: revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Michigan

WomanUp & Pitch Business Plan and Pitch Competition

Michigan — Michigan Women Forward (MWF)

In each of five competitions and each category (Startup and Established): $10,000 first, $5,000 second, $2,500 third, $1,000 audience choice; the other top-50 finalists get $500 ($180,000 awarded in 2026)

PrizeEquity-freeany industryfood, beverage & agriculture

The catch: There is a $20 application fee. Finalists must attend mandatory virtual pitch-preparation workshops in early December, and food finalists pitch in person in Southeast Michigan with about 80 samples and need a food-service license or Cottage Food status. The written business plan is 60% of the score.

Next deadline: Expected: October 2027 · Annual: applications open in August and close in early October; the regional and food pitch competitions run February to March

Applicant tip: The business plan counts for 60% of the score and the pitch for 40%, so use the coaching period to tighten the plan's numbers rather than the slides. A licensed food or Cottage Food business can enter the statewide food competition, which is judged in person on samples.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Michigan-based, for-profit businesses at least 51% woman-owned, in two categories: Idea/Startup (under three years in business and under $150,000 in revenue) and Established/Growth (three years or more and/or over $150,000). Cannabis, weapons and adult entertainment businesses are excluded, and past finalists who did not win must wait one year.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit a two-page concept paper with a $20 fee; ten finalists per competition get coaching, then pitch live online (the statewide food competition is in person with samples).
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2026 competitions: $180,000 in cash prizes, sponsored by the Consumers Energy Foundation, Comerica Bank and Schoolcraft College.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Pennsylvania

BLOOM Grant for Woman-owned Small Businesses

Pennsylvania — York County Economic Alliance (BLOOM Business Empowerment Center)

Up to $1,500 per business

GrantEquity-freeany industry

The catch: You must show a 10% contribution of the grant's value and spend the award within six months on the approved project, and the business must stay located and operating in York County for two years. No payroll, rent, utilities, taxes or debt payments, and consumables need a replenishment plan.

Next deadline: Nov 11, 2026 · Annual (fall): the 2026 round opened October 19 and closes November 11, 2026 at 5 p.m., with finalist pitches December 8

Applicant tip: Ask for a concrete purchase with quotes, such as an oven, a POS system or a website build: tangible upgrades, technology, marketing and training are the eligible uses, and finalists defend the project in a live pitch. Use BLOOM's budget template exactly and attach the quotes, because the budget is checked line by line against the 10% contribution.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit small businesses at least 51% woman-owned, located and operating in York County, Pennsylvania, already generating revenue, with no more than 50 full- or part-time employees. Businesses that won any BLOOM grant in 2024, 2025 or 2026, nonprofits, and elected or appointed officials cannot apply.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit the online application with an itemized budget on BLOOM's template, state registration, a 2026 profit and loss statement and the 2025 tax return; finalists pitch live at the Women's Business Center luncheon on December 8, 2026.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Minnesota

Minnesota Job Creation Fund (lower thresholds for women-owned businesses)

Minnesota — Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)

Up to $1,000,000 for most projects (job creation award plus capital investment rebate); up to $2,000,000 for projects with 100+ jobs and $25 million in the Twin Cities or 50+ jobs and $10 million in Greater Minnesota. Women-owned (targeted population) projects earn $2,000 to $5,000 per new job per year

GrantEquity-freetech & startupsprofessional servicesconsumer products & retail

The catch: Benefits are paid only after you meet the job and investment goals in a binding business subsidy agreement, over five years in the Twin Cities or seven in Greater Minnesota. Prevailing wage applies once benefits reach $200,000, jobs moved from another Minnesota site do not count, and you cannot lay off staff to hit hiring goals.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: applications accepted year-round through local governments

Applicant tip: Line up the city or county before anything else: the application goes through the local government, and DEED weighs local financial contributions. Apply before signing a construction contract, permit or purchase agreement, because a project that has already started is ineligible.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Businesses in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, information technology, finance, insurance or professional and technical services (not retail, hospitality or professional services by attorneys, accountants, consultants or physicians) whose project could locate outside Minnesota. A business at least 51% cumulatively owned by women (or minorities, veterans or people with disabilities) counts as a targeted population and needs only $250,000 in real property investment and five new full-time jobs paying at least $17.01 an hour, instead of $500,000 and ten jobs in the Twin Cities.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the city or county where the project will be, which submits it to DEED for designation before the project starts (no signed contracts, permits, bids or construction).
Stage fit: revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Massachusetts

Women Entrepreneurs Boston (WE BOS) Summit and events

Massachusetts — City of Boston, Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement

Free; no cash award (summit sessions, City of Boston department office hours, a resource and vendor hall, and quarterly events)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany industry

The catch: It is a one-day summit and periodic events, not a grant or a cohort, and lunch at the summit is self-paid.

Next deadline: Varies by event — see listing · Annual summit plus quarterly events; the 2026 summit was held March 14, 2026 at Roxbury Community College

Applicant tip: Use the City of Boston Corner office hours to get Licensing, Permitting, Procurement, Supplier Diversity and Boston Local Development Corporation staff in one visit instead of chasing each department separately.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women business owners in Greater Boston at any stage, from side businesses and pre-launch ideas to established companies, across all industries.
How to apply: Direct application: register free online when the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement opens summit or event registration.
Stage fit: idea / pre-revenue, early-stage, revenue-generating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

6. WOSB, EDWOSB and women-owned certifications (contracting, not grants)

Certification is not money. It lets a woman-owned business compete for contracts that are set aside for, or measured against goals for, women-owned firms. The largest is the SBA's WOSB program: federal agencies aim to send 5% of prime contract dollars to women-owned small businesses, and certified firms can win set-asides in eligible industries and sole-source awards of up to $5.5 million ($8.5 million in manufacturing). EDWOSB status opens more industries to owners under SBA's wealth limits. SBA certifies free; WBENC and the other approved certifiers charge fees but also open corporate supplier diversity programs, and states and big cities certify for their own contracts. Every program here is rolling: apply any time, then renew on its schedule. The common mistake is treating certification as a win. It is a ticket to compete, worth something only if government or large companies buy what you sell. Rules are moving: DOT ended the presumption that women owners are disadvantaged for DBE certification in 2025, and Texas, North Carolina and Indiana dropped women-owned state certification in 2025 and 2026.

13 programs

Federal

Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program

Federal — U.S. Small Business Administration (Office of Government Contracting & Business Development, WOSB Program)

Not a grant: eligibility for federal WOSB set-aside contracts and sole-source awards up to $5.5 million ($8.5 million for manufacturing), including options, in the 626 NAICS industries SBA has designated for WOSBs; agencies' governmentwide goal is 5% of prime contract dollars to women-owned small businesses

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: No money changes hands: certification only lets you compete for set-asides, and you must still win the contract and meet the limitations on subcontracting (13 CFR 125.6). A program examination is due every three years; you must recertify, or report a third-party examination, within 90 days of the end of your eligibility period or SBA decertifies you, and changes in ownership, structure or management must be reported within 30 days. SBA says the annual attestation is currently in abeyance.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Check SBA's eligible-NAICS list first: WOSB set-asides exist only in the 626 industries where SBA found women-owned firms substantially underrepresented (107 more are EDWOSB-only), so list the codes agencies actually buy under in SAM. Large primes now ask for SBA-certified status because the FAR overhaul's text of clause 52.219-9, adopted by agency class deviations from late 2025 (at DoD from February 1, 2026), counts only SBA-certified WOSBs toward a prime's women-owned subcontracting goal.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A small business under SBA size standards for a NAICS code in its SAM profile, at least 51% unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens and live in the United States; women must manage day-to-day operations and make long-term decisions. A firm or principal with unresolved federal tax liens or defaulted federal loans is ineligible. Since October 15, 2020 a firm must be certified (by SBA or an approved third-party certifier) to win a WOSB set-aside or sole-source award; other women-owned firms may still self-certify for awards outside the program and count toward agency goals.
How to apply: Direct application: register in SAM.gov, then apply free through MySBA Certifications (certifications.sba.gov); SBA aims to decide within 90 calendar days of a complete application. Firms certified by WBENC, NWBOC, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce or the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce upload that WOSB certificate and proof of citizenship to the same portal before bidding.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Certification

Federal — U.S. Small Business Administration (WOSB Program, EDWOSB certification)

Not a grant: eligibility for EDWOSB-only set-asides in 107 more NAICS industries as well as every WOSB set-aside (733 industries in all), and EDWOSB sole-source awards up to $5.5 million ($8.5 million for manufacturing), including options

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: The same obligations as WOSB certification (a program examination every three years, 30 days to report material changes, limitations on subcontracting), plus personal financial disclosure for every qualifying owner and, if married, her spouse. An owner whose net worth, income or assets rise past the limits no longer counts as economically disadvantaged.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: If you meet the limits, apply as an EDWOSB rather than a WOSB: an EDWOSB automatically counts as a WOSB, so it can bid on both kinds of set-aside. If one recent year of income was unusually high, document why it will not recur, because SBA lets you rebut the $400,000 income presumption that way.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Must meet every WOSB requirement, and each woman whose ownership counts must be economically disadvantaged: personal net worth under $850,000 (excluding her stake in the business and equity in her primary residence; retirement accounts are excluded), adjusted gross income averaging $400,000 or less over the three prior years (a rebuttable presumption), and fair market value of all assets, including home and business, of $6.5 million or less. SBA may consider a spouse's finances, and assets transferred within two years can be counted. A women-owned 8(a) participant qualifies as an EDWOSB.
How to apply: Direct application: apply free through MySBA Certifications (certifications.sba.gov) with personal financial information for each qualifying owner, and separate financial information for a spouse; women-owned 8(a) firms can submit their latest 8(a) annual review or acceptance letter. EDWOSB certificates from SBA-approved third-party certifiers must also be uploaded to SBA.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program (49 CFR Part 26)

Federal — U.S. Department of Transportation (DBE program, certified by each state's Unified Certification Program)

Not a grant: certification that lets a firm count toward DBE contract goals on DOT-assisted highway, transit and airport contracts, mostly as a subcontractor; no award amount

OtherEquity-freeconstruction & tradesprofessional services

The catch: Firms certified before October 3, 2025, including women-owned DBEs, must be reevaluated: each UCP must finish by December 24, 2026 (one 90-day extension allowed), and a firm that has not filed its narrative and net-worth statement by then gets a notice of nonresponse and has until March 24, 2027 before it is disqualified automatically. Until a state's UCP finishes, recipients cannot set DBE contract goals or count DBE participation. A certifier can also find an owner below the net-worth cap not economically disadvantaged in fact, based on income, assets and access to credit.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Build the personal narrative around specific, documented incidents (a denied loan, lost bids, blocked advancement) and the dollar harm each caused, because being a woman no longer establishes disadvantage on its own. If your firm was certified before October 3, 2025 and has not filed, file now rather than waiting for the March 24, 2027 cutoff.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A small, independent, for-profit firm at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; within SBA size standards and the program's gross-receipts cap ($30.72 million as of March 1, 2024, adjusted annually); each qualifying owner's personal net worth no more than $2,047,000. Changed October 3, 2025: DOT's interim final rule removed the presumption that women owners (and racial and ethnic minorities) are disadvantaged (Federal Register 2025-19460); the final rule published and effective September 25, 2026 kept that change (Federal Register 2026-19688). Every owner now has to prove disadvantage individually.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to the Unified Certification Program in your home state (usually the state department of transportation) with the certification application, a Personal Narrative that identifies at least one objective distinguishing feature and the economic harm it caused, and a current Personal Net Worth statement.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

National

WBENC Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification

National — Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Not a grant: access to corporate supplier diversity programs at WBENC corporate members and some government agencies; SBA-approved WOSB third-party certification is included at no extra charge when requested with a WBE application

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Non-refundable processing fee by gross revenue, charged again at every annual recertification: $350 (under $1 million), $500 ($1 million to under $5 million), $750 ($5 million to under $10 million), $1,000 ($10 million to under $50 million), $1,250 ($50 million and up); since July 1, 2026 card payments add a 3% processing fee. Certification lasts one year, renewal is not automatic, and site visits recur at least every three years. A WBENC WOSB certificate still has to be uploaded to MySBA Certifications before you can bid on federal set-asides.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Ask for the WOSB certificate in the same WBENC application, since it costs nothing extra there, and start recertification at least 90 days before expiry because the WOSB certificate expires with the WBE certificate. WBENC says its certification is aimed mainly at major corporations; for state contracts you may still need the state's own certification.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A business at least 51% owned, controlled, operated and managed by one or more women, who must have unrestricted control, manage day-to-day operations and have made a proportionate investment of capital or expertise; owners prove gender and citizenship with a birth certificate or passport. For the WOSB certificate WBENC applies SBA's rules: women owners who are U.S. citizens living in the U.S., small in the primary NAICS code, registered in SAM, with the highest-ranking woman working full time.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online in WBENCLink2.0; one of WBENC's 14 Regional Partner Organizations reviews the documents and conducts a site visit with the woman owner, generally within 90 days of a complete application.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

NWBOC WOSB/EDWOSB Third-Party Certification (and WBE certification)

National — National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC)

Not a grant: SBA-approved third-party WOSB or EDWOSB certification, accepted for federal set-asides once uploaded to SBA, plus optional WBE certification for corporate and government buyers

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: $400 non-refundable application fee ($700 if combined with WBE certification), plus occasional site-visit travel costs. Certification must be renewed every year: $200 if gross sales are under $2 million, $300 if over, with a $100 reinstatement fee if late and removal from the active list 30 days after the renewal date. SBA certifies WOSBs and EDWOSBs at no cost, and NWBOC's application says so.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Apply for WOSB and WBE together to save $100, then upload the WOSB/EDWOSB certificate, not the WBE certificate, to MySBA Certifications, because SBA only accepts the federal certificate for set-aside eligibility.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: The woman owner must be a U.S. citizen, hold the CEO or equivalent position and be active in daily management, and the firm must meet SBA's WOSB or EDWOSB standards in 13 CFR Part 127. NWBOC's FAQ still quotes older EDWOSB limits ($750,000 net worth, $350,000 income, $6 million assets); SBA's current limits are $850,000, $400,000 and $6.5 million.
How to apply: Direct application: download the WOSB/EDWOSB application from nwboc.org and mail it with the sworn affidavit, supporting documents and fee to NWBOC in Wichita, Kansas; a site visit may follow.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce WOSB/EDWOSB Third-Party Certification

National — U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce (USWCC)

Not a grant: SBA-approved third-party WOSB or EDWOSB certification for federal set-asides; the same fee also covers USWCC's own NWBE and IWBE certifications if the federal one is completed first

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Non-refundable fee of $275 for USWCC Business and Supplier members and $350 for non-members (the same for renewals); optional Certification Assist ($225 to $276) and CertificationPlus+ filing help ($36 to $76) cost extra. An application left incomplete or slow to answer queries is deemed abandoned and must restart, and most communication is in writing.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Apply for only one of WOSB or EDWOSB, choosing EDWOSB if you meet SBA's financial limits, since it covers both set-aside types. Fill in a printed copy first: the online application must be completed and signed in a single session or you start over.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens, reviewed strictly under SBA's WOSB/EDWOSB rules; EDWOSB applicants also complete personal financial disclosures and an SBA Form 413 for each owner and, separately, each spouse.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the online Preliminary Acknowledgements, pay, complete and e-sign the WOSB or EDWOSB application in one sitting, upload the supporting documents and notify USWCC; review takes 30 to 45 business days after document verification.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce WOSB/EDWOSB Third-Party Certification

National — El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (EPHCC)

Not a grant: SBA-approved third-party WOSB or EDWOSB certification for federal set-asides

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: The fee for WOSB certification is not clearly published: EPHCC's certifications page lists a $500 processing and certification cost under federal certifications without naming WOSB, so confirm before paying; SBA certifies for free. Expedited processing is described as a membership benefit, and the certificate must still be uploaded to MySBA Certifications before bidding.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: EPHCC's business assistance is available regardless of gender, race or membership, so its Women's Border Business Center can help you assemble documents even if you then apply to SBA directly at no cost.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Women-owned small businesses that meet SBA's WOSB or EDWOSB rules (at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens; EDWOSB owners within SBA's financial limits). EPHCC is one of the four certifiers on SBA's approved list and also runs the Women's Border Business Center, which helps women-owned firms through WOSB and EDWOSB verification.
How to apply: Direct application: contact EPHCC (915-566-4066, 4141 Pinnacle St., Suite 120, El Paso, Texas) to start a WOSB or EDWOSB certification; EPHCC says member applications can often be processed in about 10 business days.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

New York

New York State MWBE Certification (Executive Law Article 15-A)

New York — Empire State Development (Division of Minority and Women's Business Development)

Not a grant: counts toward MWBE participation goals on New York State agency and authority contracts, and MWBE prime contractors get a 10% bid credit on low-bid public building construction contracts up to $1.4 million

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Certification lasts five years. You need Authority to do Business in New York from the Department of State before applying, and certification guarantees no work: agencies set MWBE goals contract by contract. ESD took public comment until June 29, 2026 on proposed 2026 amendments to the MWBE regulations, so check the final rules before you file.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: File complete tax returns with every schedule for each woman owner you rely on, since the ownership, control and net-worth review is built on them. If you also want New York City certification, get the state certificate first: the city's FastTrack application accepts ESD certification.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A for-profit business at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by women (or minority group members) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with real, substantial and continuing ownership and independent control of day-to-day decisions; each qualifying owner's personal net worth no more than $15 million, inflation-adjusted (excluding the business, primary residence, an equipment-leasing holding company and up to $750,000 in retirement savings); 300 or fewer employees; generally in operation at least one year; authorized to do business in New York. Out-of-state applicants should first be certified in their home state.
How to apply: Direct application: check eligibility with ESD's certification assessment tool, then apply through the Empire State MWBE Hub with each woman owner's personal and business federal and state tax returns and the notarized personal net worth affidavit.
Stage fit: revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

New York City M/WBE Certification

New York — NYC Department of Small Business Services (M/WBE Program)

Not a grant: counts toward New York City's M/WBE participation goals and lists the firm in the city's directory used by agencies and prime contractors; the city spends up to $17 billion a year on goods and services

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Free. Certification lasts five years, but you must file a no-change confirmation every year through SBS Connect. You need a lease or deed valid at least six months past the application date, plus signed contracts or invoices with proof of payment for work in the New York City market during the past year.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Line up a paid New York City invoice from the last 12 months before you apply, since it is a required document, and use FastTrack if you already hold state MWBE certification.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A business legally allowed to operate in New York State, selling goods or services for at least one year, at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are women and/or members of designated minority groups; main office in the five boroughs or in Bergen, Hudson, Nassau, Passaic, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk or Westchester County, or proof of a substantial presence in the New York City market. Nonprofits are not eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: register as a city vendor in the Payee Information Portal and in PASSPort, then apply free through SBS Connect; firms already certified by Empire State Development, the School Construction Authority, the Port Authority, the NY & NJ Minority Supplier Development Council or WPEO can use the FastTrack application.
Stage fit: revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Illinois

Illinois Business Enterprise Program (BEP) Certification

Illinois — Commission on Equity and Inclusion (Business Enterprise Program)

Not a grant: counts toward the State of Illinois goal of awarding 30% of State contracts to BEP-certified businesses owned by minorities, women and persons with disabilities

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Full certification lasts seven years but requires a no-change affidavit every year (six in all) to stay active. Only certified firms count toward agency goals, and certification does not guarantee a contract.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: If you already hold a Chicago, Cook County, Illinois UCP or WBDC certificate, answer the checklist questions about it before starting, since that changes which application you file; a woman of color who owns the firm can choose to certify it as women-owned or minority-owned.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: At least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women (or minorities or persons with disabilities) who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, with annual gross sales under $150 million. Ownership that reaches 51% only through a combination of women, minorities and persons with disabilities also qualifies, certified under the group with the largest share.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to the Commission on Equity and Inclusion's BEP certification unit; its eligibility checklist routes firms already holding a current City of Chicago, Cook County or Illinois UCP certificate, or a WBDC or CMSDC certificate, to separate application tracks. Decisions typically take 60 days after a complete application.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

California

CPUC Supplier Clearinghouse Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification (General Order 156)

California — Public Utilities Commission (Supplier Clearinghouse, General Order 156)

Not a grant: listing in the Supplier Clearinghouse database that California's regulated utilities and other covered entities use to find and count women-owned suppliers under the CPUC's General Order 156 supplier diversity program

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Free. Review takes about 45 to 90 days after all documents arrive and may include a site visit (a phone interview for firms outside California). Certification is valid for up to three years and must be re-verified; it does not guarantee utility contracts.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: If you already hold WBENC certification, ask for reciprocal certification instead of a full review: it stays valid in the Clearinghouse for as long as your WBENC certificate is current.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A business at least 51% owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with management and daily operations controlled by women. Businesses anywhere in the United States may apply, and there is no minimum time in business, but a start-up must already be operating.
How to apply: Direct application: apply or renew online at thesupplierclearinghouse.com using the firm's Federal Employer Identification Number, submitting a complete, signed and notarized verification application with the required documents; WBENC-certified firms can be recognized reciprocally.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Florida

Florida Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) Certification, Woman-Owned

Florida — Department of Management Services (Office of Supplier Development)

Not a grant: state-certified woman-owned small businesses are the first tier referred to Florida agencies seeking supplier development in purchase orders and contracts, and are listed in the MyFloridaMarketPlace vendor directory used by agencies, universities and local governments

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: Certification lasts two years; recertify in VIP at least two weeks before it expires (OSD reviews within 30 days). Florida residency and a Florida base are required, so out-of-state women-owned firms cannot use it. The DMS site now calls the unit the Office of Supplier Development, while section 287.09451 of the 2026 Florida Statutes still establishes it as the Office of Supplier Diversity.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Move any required professional license into the woman owner's name before applying, since OSD requires it to be held by the woman, veteran or minority owner.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A for-profit business registered with the Florida Department of State, based in Florida and owned and managed by Florida residents; at least 51% owned and managed by a woman who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; currently doing business; registered in MyFloridaMarketPlace; net worth under $5 million; 200 or fewer full-time permanent employees; any professional license the industry requires held in the woman owner's name.
How to apply: Direct application: register as a vendor in MyFloridaMarketPlace (VIP), open the Certified Business Enterprise section of the Company Information tab, select the woman-owned designation and upload the required documents for review.
Stage fit: revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Maryland

Maryland Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification (women-owned firms included)

Maryland — Department of Social and Economic Mobility (Office of Minority Business Enterprise)

Not a grant: MBE-certified firms can fulfill minority business participation goals on Maryland State-funded contracts and on county and city contracts that accept the certification

OtherEquity-freeany industry

The catch: The process takes several months after a complete package, and incomplete packages are delayed. The state MBE program is separate from the federal DBE program: DoSEM says DOT's October 3, 2025 rule and September 25, 2026 final rule do not affect MBE certification, but a woman-owned firm that also wants DBE status must file a personal narrative. A denied firm may appeal or reapply after five months.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Applicant tip: Get into good standing with SDAT before you apply and leave nothing blank on the application (write N/A with a short reason), since incomplete packages are what slow certification down.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: At least 51% owned by one or more women (whom Maryland's MBE program presumes to be a minority), minorities or persons with disabilities, who control the firm and have managerial and technical competence in its line of business; each owner's personal net worth below $2,192,035 (the cap from January 1, 2026, excluding the owner's interest in the firm and primary-residence equity); within SBA small business size standards; registered and in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
How to apply: Direct application: download the MBE Only application and the Personal Net Worth form from MDOT's certification pages and submit them, with all documents in PDF, to the Office of Minority Business Enterprise, now part of the Department of Social and Economic Mobility; an investigator reviews the file and makes an on-site or job-site visit.
Stage fit: early-stage, revenue-generating, scaling / venture-track
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

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