Blog | Lunr Capital

2026 Resources, Grants and Programs for Women Entrepreneurs

Written by Maggie | Feb 9, 2026 7:46:45 PM

Women founders continue to shape the future of consumer brands, from early-stage innovation to category-defining growth. As the funding and resource landscape evolves in 2026, knowing where to look and which programs are worth your time is critical. Lunr Capital partners with emerging consumer brands at key growth inflection points, including brands led by women and underrepresented founders. Supporting these businesses helps expand access, representation, and opportunity across retail.

Many of these resources are especially relevant for women building consumer and CPG brands navigating retail growth, inventory needs, and capital timing.

This guide brings together a curated list of resources for women entrepreneurs, organized into five areas:

  • Networking and community building resources for women entrepreneurs 
  • Funding and business grants for female founders 
  • Accelerators and high-impact programs for female entrepreneurs
  • Government and institutional resources for women founders
  • Where to find new grant opportunities throughout 2026

There are many strong resources available to support women entrepreneurs at different stages of growth. Together, they offer practical tools, networks, and opportunities designed to help founders build and scale sustainable businesses.

 

Networking and Community Building Resources for Women Entrepreneurs

Female Founders

A global community supporting women entrepreneurs through events, education, mentorship, and access to investor networks, with a strong presence in Europe and the U.S. Explore Female Founders

Hello Alice

A free online platform that helps entrepreneurs access funding opportunities, expert advice, and community support, with a strong focus on women-owned and underrepresented businesses. Explore Hello Alice

Ladies Who Launch

A membership-based community offering education, peer connection, and programming designed to help women founders grow and scale consumer and lifestyle brands. Check out Ladies Who Launch

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

A national advocacy organization providing education, networking, and policy support for women business owners across industries and stages. Learn more about National Association of Women Business Owners

SCORE for Women Entrepreneurs

A nonprofit resource partner of the SBA offering free mentorship, workshops, and business tools, including tailored support for women entrepreneurs. Explore SCORE

Stella.co

A platform designed to connect women founders with vetted funding opportunities and capital providers, while offering guidance on fundraising readiness. Learn about Stella.co

The Well Work

A leadership and professional development platform focused on helping women build sustainable, purpose-driven careers and businesses. Explore The Well Work

Women Founder's Network

A nonprofit organization supporting women-led businesses through education, mentorship, and pitch competitions, with an emphasis on early-stage growth. Explore Women Founder's Network

 

Funding and Business Grants for Female Founders

Amber Grant for Women

A long-running grant program awarding $10,000 every month to women-owned businesses, plus a $25,000 year-end grant. Open to founders at any stage with a simple application process. Apply for the Amber Grant (WomensNet)

Fearless Fund

An investment and grant organization focused on supporting women of color entrepreneurs through capital, resources, and ecosystem access. Check out Fearless Fund

Female Founders Fund

An early-stage venture capital firm that invests in women-led companies, primarily in consumer, fintech, and enterprise technology. Explore Female Founders Fund

IFundWomen Grants

IFundWomen connects female founders to multiple partner-funded grant opportunities through a single universal application, along with coaching and fundraising tools. Apply for IFundWomen Grants

Galaxy of Stars

Galaxy Grants offer small, accessible grants for women and minority entrepreneurs, often paired with education and networking resources. Apply for Galaxy Grants

HerSuiteSpot

Through its HerRise MicroGrant program, HerSuiteSpot awards monthly ~$1,000 grants to women entrepreneurs, with a strong focus on under-resourced founders and women of color. Learn more about HerRise MicroGrants

SkinnyDipped Female Founder Fund

SkinnyDipped, a female-founded snack brand, is launching the Female Founder Fund, a $25,000 grant plus six months of mentorship for women-owned food businesses with $150K+ in annual revenue. Apply to the Female Founder Fund

SoGal Ventures

SoGal provides $5,000-$10,000 non-dilutive grants to Black women and nonbinary founders building early-stage, scalable businesses. Explore SoGal Ventures

 

Accelerators and High-Impact Programs for Female Entrepreneurs

Aviatra Accelerators

A regional accelerator providing education, mentorship, and capital access for women entrepreneurs, with a focus on scalable businesses in the Midwest. Learn more about Aviatra Accelerators

Cartier Women's Initiative

A global program supporting women-led, impact-driven businesses with up to $100,000 in funding, mentorship, and access to an international founder network. Learn more about Cartier Women's Initiative

digitalundivided

A nonprofit focused on supporting Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs through programs that provide capital access, training, and growth support. Explore digitalundivided

EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program

A selective executive-level program designed to help women founders scale established businesses through mentorship, education, and access to EY’s global network. Learn more about EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women

Inclusive Ventures Lab

Morgan Stanley’s accelerator program supporting high-growth startups led by women and underrepresented founders with mentorship, capital access, and industry connections. Check out Morgan Stanley's Inclusive Ventures Lab

Springboard Enterprises

Springboard offers several programs and accelerators designed to accelerate the growth of women-owned businesses through access to essential resources and a global network of entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors. Explore Female Founders Bootcamp

Women's Capital Connection

A nonprofit organization helping women entrepreneurs access capital through investor introductions, pitch coaching, and financial readiness support. Explore Women's Capital Connection

 

Government and Institutional Resources for Women Founders

U.S. Small Business Administration

The SBA offers free and low-cost training, counseling, certification programs, and access to capital resources specifically for women-owned businesses. Access SBA resources for women-owned businesses

Minority Business Development Agency

MBDA supports minority-owned businesses through business centers, capital access programs, and connections to federal contracts and funding opportunities. Explore MBDA grants and resources

 

Where to Find New Grant Opportunities Throughout 2026

GrantWatch

A searchable database of active grants for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including many opportunities for women and minority founders. Search current grants on GrantWatch

Grants.gov

The official U.S. government portal for federal funding opportunities. While many listings are institutional, it's an important place to monitor business-related grants. Browse active federal grants

State and Local MWBE Programs

Most states and major cities operate Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) programs that provide access to grants, contracts, and technical assistance. Find your state or local MWBE program

 

This guide is intended to help women entrepreneurs navigate the growing landscape of resources available in 2026. For founders building consumer and CPG brands, Lunr Capital partners with companies at critical growth stages to support sustainable scale.

If you’re growing a CPG business and want to learn more about how Lunr works with brands, you can explore our approach here or connect with our team.

 

Last Updated: February 2026