WomensNet Startup Grant

The WomensNet Startup Grant is a monthly funding opportunity aimed at supporting early-stage, women-owned businesses across the United States. It is administered by WomensNet, the organization behind the well-established Amber Grant. With a mission to empower female entrepreneurs and address funding gaps for startups in their initial or idea-phase, the Startup Grant was created as a supplementary initiative to the Amber Grant to ensure focused support for businesses with limited operational history or sales under $10,000. Eligible applicants for the Startup Grant include any women-owned startup that has either not yet launched commercially or has generated minimal revenue. Applicants are not required to submit a separate application for the Startup Grant. Instead, submitting a single application for the Amber Grant automatically qualifies a business for the Startup Grant in the same month, along with other WomensNet grants such as the Business Category Grants and the Year-End Grants. This streamlined application process reflects WomensNet’s intent to minimize administrative burden and maximize access to capital for women entrepreneurs. Each month, one Startup Grant recipient is awarded $10,000. The Startup Grant is just one of several concurrent opportunities. For example, the organization also offers monthly $10,000 Business Category Grants, which rotate across industry focuses such as Food & Beverage, Sustainability, STEM, and Fashion & Interior Design, depending on the calendar month. All monthly winners, including those from the Startup and Business Category Grants, are then considered for one of three $50,000 Year-End Grants, offering a pathway to a potential total of $60,000 in funding from a single application. There are no strict restrictions on the use of funds, provided they support the growth and development of the applicant’s business. Typical allowable uses may include product development, marketing, hiring, or acquiring essential tools and materials. The flexible nature of the grant aligns with its startup-oriented purpose, accommodating the diverse and evolving needs of early-stage businesses. There is no matching funds requirement, and no pre-application process or documents beyond the main Amber Grant application form are required. The selection process is managed internally by the WomensNet Advisory Board. While the criteria used to select winners are not fully detailed in public materials, factors likely include business potential, mission alignment, clarity of vision, and the entrepreneurial drive of the applicant. Applicants are encouraged to share their personal story and business purpose when applying, as the program’s origins are rooted in honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of Amber, a young woman who passed away before fulfilling her business dreams. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis each month, with one winner announced monthly. The fund has a long track record, with recipients going back to 2021. This consistency supports its classification as a recurring grant. As of January 2026, the most recent known winner is Shellf Life. Given this pattern, the next application deadline is expected to fall at the end of March 2026, with future monthly cycles continuing thereafter.