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Female entrepreneurs are a strong, tenacious group of women, but that doesn't mean they don't need help. Help could be financial support, networking, mentorship, or just good ol' simple motivation.
We know it all matters, and that's why we put together this comprehensive list of resources for female entrepreneurs. It contains everything a women business owner in the United States needs to startup and scale a business. We cover funding, mentorship, information, networks, and more.
Many of the organizations we mention offer a combination of resources for female entrepreneurs. Some target companies in particular growth stages, while others provide advice and support for women professionals at large. Whether you need financing, a community, or some practical advice, you'll find the help you need in one of these resources for female entrepreneurs.
Helps women start businesses and helps existing ones grow
Organized by WomensNet in 1998, the Amber Grant Foundation awards $10,000 to a female entrepreneur each month. The foundation awards one of the 12 grant winners an additional $25,000 each year. The application is effortless and requires just a $15 application fee. The foundation's advisory board looks for women with passion and a good story-if you have both, then take the time to apply.
A global community dedicated to the success of women-led, high-growth ventures
Astia is a nonprofit founded in 1999 that works to identify and invest in high-potential women-owned startups. It uses a review system based on personal referrals to find, prioritize, and reward the right female entrepreneurs. The organization operates globally with locations in SF, London, and NYC.
Supports leadership programs for women and girls, women-owned businesses, and local communities
Clothing retailer Eileen Fisher awards $100,000 to 5 to 10 women business owners each year. Eligible businesses must meet the following criteria:
Identifies a select group of high-potential women entrepreneurs whose businesses show real potential to scale-and then helps them do it
Ernst & Young's (EY) program helps women-owned businesses with $2M in revenue or above scale quickly. It is a national competition and executive leadership program that includes year-round education, networking, and events, including two mandatory meetings in California in the fall.
Broadening the on-ramp for women-run companies
MergeLane is a startup accelerator for companies with at least one woman in leadership. Headquartered in Boulder, CO, MergeLane's program runs from February to April and culminates in a final event that showcases participant companies to investors and the community. Applications open in the fall.
Where women raise money
Plum Alley Investments is a private membership that offers the opportunity to influence innovation and shape the future by investing in private companies. The goal is simple:
Plum Alley offers members selected equity and debt opportunities to invest in private companies. They also get custom experiences both online and offline to collaborate, imagine, and transform the world.
Investing in the exponential power of exceptional female talent
Female Founders Fund is an early-stage fund investing in companies led by women. The Fund focuses on e-commerce, web-enabled products and services, marketplaces, and platforms. Their portfolio companies all share one thing in common: talented female founders lead each with disruptive and innovative ideas that better serve their consumers.
Be Exceptional. Be Extraordinary. Be the Impact.
An unconventional accelerator in Silicon Valley, WSLab was founded by a Japanese entrepreneur in 2013. It offers two-week and two-month programs emphasizing coaching and leadership development in addition to company growth for all-female and mixed-gender startup teams. The on-site programs cost upward of $10K, but scholarship and matching programs may mitigate the cost.
Bringing Out Successful Sisters
BOSS® is a networking platform and membership organization for primarily African American women entrepreneurs and professionals. Forbes.com named the BOSS Network one of the Top 10 Entrepreneurial Websites for Women and 10 Best Career Sites for Women. Lifetime membership comes at a one-time cost of $299.
Empowering women in technology and business
The public face of Dell's program is organized around the LinkedIn group Women Powering Business Network, a community of over 5,000 members who keep up to date on local events. This is a powerful group of influential women who have game-changing advice and connections.
Invest in women
Ellevate is a national, membership-based network for women in business. It offers educational and career-building opportunities to members in the form of content, a social network, member directory, and local chapter events. Membership dues run between $10 and $100 per month.
The School for Women Entrepreneurs™
Hello Fearless is an educational platform that offers online courses, mentorship, and community among women business owners and supporters. Its educational arm, the exclusive Boss School, offers 90-day courses for accepted applicants.
Advisors to the President, Congress, and the SBA
The NWBC is a nonpartisan federal advisory council that advocates in government, publishes research, and holds events in its DC headquarters and online around important topics to women business owners. In addition to its interesting fact sheets, NWBC published its 2015 annual report, 10 Million Strong: The Tipping Point for Women's Entrepreneurship. The report provides 48 pages of data and insights on the current state of female entrepreneurship, primarily based on a comprehensive 2012 study.
Success + Community + Life
Savor the Success is a division of the Savor lifestyle brand that provides an online business school, community center, and wellness lifestyle hub for women entrepreneurs, makers, and creators. Basic membership is free, while additional features require a premium membership.
To enable and empower women entrepreneurs through advocacy, outreach, education, and support
In addition to the InnovateHER annual competition, the Small Business Administration's OWBO (founded in 1979) offers resources like a national Women's Business Centers Directory and government procurement opportunities and training.
Connecting women's enterprises with market opportunity
WEConnect International is a global, membership-based nonprofit that connects women-owned businesses (from suppliers to retailers) worldwide. It has over 5,000 members in almost 100 countries. Annual membership fees range from $5K to $35K.
The Voice for Women in Business in our Nation's Capital
WIPP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization focused on advancing the causes of women and minorities in business in government. It also serves to educate women about legislation affecting their businesses. Recent programs include Export NOW (New Opportunities Worldwide), a program that encourages small businesses to export, and ChallengeHER, a program focused on federal contracting. Annual membership fees run between $125 and $1,000.
Understands and leverages the unique value proposition that women provide
The Vinetta Project supports high-growth tech companies founded by women via the Vinetta Collective, the first talent agency dedicated to the rise of tech's top female founders, and Vinetta Chapters, 7 centers across the US and Canada that offer education, networking, and funding events.
Career – Lifestyle – Wellness – Connections
BusinessWoman Magazine is a monthly lifestyle and business magazine for “educated and established professional women." Recent online editions are available for free-an annual subscription costs $14.
An online platform for female entrepreneurs
ChicCEO is a multi-functional online resource for women business owners that includes a free 3-day email course, blog, podcast, and useful templates for business.
Leadership empowerment for women who mean business
Diversity Woman has a membership forum, annual conference, and magazine focused on diverse and multicultural women in business. The group advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all in the business world.
The voice of women entrepreneurs
Enterprising Women Magazine is funded by the Enterprising Women Foundation (EWOF), a nonprofit aiming to support women entrepreneurship, mainly through mentorship. A sample issue of the magazine is $5-subscriptions vary between $15 and $25.
Resources for business owners and entrepreneurs
Ladies Who Launch is a website with free resources for women entrepreneurs. The website includes professional templates, inspirational stories, and how-to information on everything from marketing your business to nailing your big pitch.
The digital magazine for female entrepreneurs
Lioness Magazine exists to help female entrepreneurs launch and grow startups. It publishes articles online about leadership, lifestyle, marketing, money, news, and technology.
Helping women find MORE
Savvy Network Marketing Women is a digital lifestyle and business publication website that provides content to help women find "more time, more freedom, more income, more flexibility, more opportunities to make a difference, and more quality of life."
Celebrating, supporting & connecting women entrepreneurs
She Owns It is a free blog and event listing site for women entrepreneurs. It encourages guest posts and advertising from among the community. The site serves as an aggregate for female startup stories, seeking to inspire up-and-coming women-owned businesses so they can add their success stories to the community.
WE Inspire. WE Promote. WE Inform.
WE Magazine for Women is a digital business and lifestyle magazine founded in 2006 that offers business and lifestyle tips for women entrepreneurs and business owners.
We Tell Your StoryWE USA is a print and digital publication that supports the national Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) supplier development initiative. It was founded in 1992 and won an award in 2002 from Women's Business Enterprise National Council.
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