At Lunr Capital, we recognize the pivotal role that women entrepreneurs and founders play in the vibrant landscape of consumer brands. As a company committed to democratizing consumer products by empowering brands on the cusp of major growth, Lunr Capital is dedicated to supporting underrepresented founders, with over 50% of our portfolio brands being BIPOC and women-led businesses. By empowering these entrepreneurs, we fuel the expansion of diverse products and perspectives in retail.
To support women founders, we've curated a guide featuring three sets of resources:
- Helpful resources for female entrepreneurs
- Financial resources and grants for female entrepreneurs
- Accelerators and programs for women entrepreneurs
There are a number of excellent women business resources and resources for female entrepreneurs to support the growth and success of female entrepreneurs. These business resources for women offer a wealth of tools, networks, and opportunities tailored to the unique needs of women in the business world:
Helpful Resources for Female Entrepreneurs
- Association of Women's Business Centers: Supports entrepreneurial development among women through a network of Women's Business Centers across the U.S.
- Aviatra Accelerator: A network of programs and resources to help women who want to start or grow their own businesses.
- Center for Women & Enterprise: Provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses through training, counseling, and networking.
- International Association of Women (IAW): A global network connecting women to opportunities, resources, and a supportive community to help them achieve personal and professional success.
- Ladies Who Launch: Offers resources, tools, and a supportive community for women entrepreneurs at all stages of business development.
- National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): Represents women entrepreneurs across all industries and provides advocacy, networking, and resources to support their success.
- Project Entrepreneur by UBS: A hub for UBS sponsored accelerators and programs for minority and women-owned startups, including the free online resource Hello Alice.
- SCORE for Women Entrepreneurs: Offers mentoring, workshops, and resources for female entrepreneurs specifically tailored to support women entrepreneurs in starting and growing their businesses.
- Stella.co: Helps women founders and investors find the right resource at the right time in their journeys.
- U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce: Advocates for women-owned businesses and provides resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy at the national level.
- Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): Certifies women-owned businesses and connects them with corporate supplier diversity programs to facilitate business growth.
In addition to the resources mentioned above, there are also a number of business grants and fundraising opportunities available for women founders to help access the capital they need to grow their businesses:
Financial Resources and Grants for Female Entrepreneurs
- Amber Grants: Monthly grants for women-owned businesses in the U.S.
- Backing the B.A.R. Grant: Black female owners of bars, lounges, restaurants and liquor stores are eligible for a $10,000 grant, mentorship and educational support.
- Cartier Women’s Initiative: Funding of up to $100,000 for women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact.
- Enthuse Foundation: Designed to support women entrepreneurs in the food, beverage or CPG industry with grants up to $10,000.
- Fearless Strivers Grant: Awarded to four black women-owned small businesses annually: grants up to $20,000 as well as digital tools and mentorship.
- Grantify’s hub for SBIR Grants: A resource to research grant funding programs designed to support women-owned small businesses in the United States.
- High Five Grants for Moms: Grants of up to $10,000 for women caregivers to secure funding to grow and expand their businesses.
- IFundWomen: Funding marketplace for women-owned businesses.
- NASE Growth Grants: Awards up to $4,000 per business for members of the organization.
- Nixon Gwilt Law’s VC List: Extensive list of venture capital funds specializing in female-founded companies.
- The Capital Network: An inclusive and accessible funding ecosystem to support female and other first-time founders of early stage startups.
- SBA Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program: Provides contracting assistance to women-owned small businesses seeking federal contracts.
- SoGal Black Founder Startup Grants: This program supports Black women entrepreneurs with cash grants to scale their businesses.
- Women Who Tech Startup Grants: Connects women founders with investors and mentorship while providing capital, guidance and other resources.
- Women of Color Grant Program: 75 grants awarded annually up to $20,000 for businesses between one and five years old and generating $100k+ annually.
- Women’s Capital Connection: A group of accredited angel investors who work together to find and fund the most promising new companies.
In addition to the financial resources mentioned above, there are numerous accelerators and programs for women entrepreneurs that provide targeted support, mentorship, and networking opportunities. These programs are designed to empower women founders and help them navigate the unique challenges they face in the business world:
Accelerators and Programs for Women Entrepreneurs
- ATHENA Women's Entrepreneurship Summit: An inspiring congregation hosted by USC Marshall, focusing on leveling the entrepreneurial playing field for women.
- Bridge for Billions: Democratizing entrepreneurship support, with a focus on women entrepreneurs through collaborative programs.
- digitalundivided (DID): Empowering Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs with training programs and leadership coaching.
- EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™: A program aimed at providing advice, resources and access to unlock the full potential of female entrepreneurs.
- Female Founder Program by the Founder Institute: Tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs, this women entrepreneurship program offers crucial industry mentorship and networking opportunities.
- Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders: A 10-week accelerator program for high potential Seed to Series A tech startups based in the U.S. and Canada.
- Hatch Female Founders: Offering practical support for female entrepreneurs and programs tailored for women in business, ensuring success and scalability.
- Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab: An accelerator focused on early stage technology for multicultural and women-led startups.
- New York Fashion Tech Lab: Supports women-led companies that have developed innovations at the intersection of fashion, retail, and technology.
- Prosper Women Entrepreneurs (PWE) Startup Accelerator: Enhancing women entrepreneurs' access to growth capital and fostering investment acumen.
- Step FWD: Catering to tech startups with diverse teams, this pre-accelerator boosts growth for companies with inclusive visions.
- Target Takeoff: Offering a robust accelerator program for consumer product businesses, with a dedicated focus on supporting underrepresented founders.
- Women's Startup Lab: A Silicon Valley-based accelerator empowering women entrepreneurs to lead and innovate.
Lunr Capital is committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative, and supportive business ecosystem by highlighting opportunities that align with our values. These programs and business resources all exist to provide support for female entrepreneurs and create avenues for women entrepreneurship programs.
If you are a founder growing a consumer packaged goods (CPG) business, we invite you to reach out to Lunr Capital to learn more about how we can provide the guidance and capital needed to take your venture to the next level. Together, let's shatter glass ceilings and build a more diverse and thriving CPG industry.
