Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Deadline
- 5/1/2027
In short
The Cartier Women's Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program empowering women-run and women-owned impact businesses from any country and sector, offering grants up to $100,000 USD and a comprehensive fellowship.
Cartier Women’s Initiative
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 5/1/2027274 days left
$100,000 USD
Top Grant Prize
30
Fellows per year (9 Regional, 1 Thematic)
500+
Active Community Members
12-month
Fellowship Program
17
UN Sustainable Development Goals Focus
Overview
The Cartier Women's Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program established in 2006 to empower women impact entrepreneurs globally. It supports women-run and women-owned businesses across various countries and sectors that are committed to creating a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact. The program offers both regional and thematic awards, recognizing talented impact entrepreneurs who leverage business as a force for good. Beyond financial grants, fellows receive extensive human capital support through a structured fellowship program, which includes educational programming, skills development, leadership coaching, and business growth support. The initiative also fosters a vibrant community for lifelong access to a network of impact leaders, promoting engagement, relationship-building, and the development of social capital. In addition to the awards and fellowship, the Cartier Women's Initiative is dedicated to fostering meaningful conversations through storytelling, data sharing, and research partnerships. It aims to highlight the social and environmental impact created by its fellows, bridge connections, and provide ongoing support for the development of their impact businesses. The program has supported 330 entrepreneurs from 66 countries since 2006, providing over $14.1 million in financial support. The 2026 fellows were announced in March 2026, with an awards ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 10, 2026. The program continues to seek and empower women who are igniting change and lighting the path to a brighter future through their innovative and impactful businesses.
Prizes
First-place awardee
Grant funding plus human and social capital support through the fellowship program.
$100,000 USD
Second-place awardee
Grant funding plus human and social capital support through the fellowship program.
$60,000 USD
Third-place awardee
Grant funding plus human and social capital support through the fellowship program.
$30,000 USD
Key dates
- Application Period OpenApril 16, 2026
- Application DeadlineJune 16, 2026 at 2pm Central European Summer Time (CEST)
- First Round Notification EmailsAugust 2026
- All Applicants NotifiedDecember 2026
- Fellowship Program Phase 1: Communication and StanceJanuary 2027 to May 2027
- Fellowship Program Phase 2: Celebrate and Connect (INSEAD program, Awards Week, Ceremony)May 2027 / June 2027
- Fellowship Program Phase 3: Skills and LeadershipJune 2027 to December 2027
- 2026 Awards CeremonyJune 10, 2026
- 2026 Fellows AnnouncementMarch 26, 2026
Eligibility
The Cartier Women's Initiative is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact. Applicants must identify as a woman, be part of the business's founding team, and fill one of the main leadership positions (e.g., CEO, COO, CTO, General Manager, or Managing Director). The applicant must also own a share of the business greater than or equal to that of each co-founder(s) and be at least 18 years of age on the application deadline (June 16, 2026). A good command of the English language (B2 level CEFR or above) is required. Applicants must commit to participating in the fellowship program from January 2027 to December 2027 and report on their impact for three years post-fellowship. Only one application per business per year is accepted, and businesses that have formerly participated or whose co-founders have participated in other Cartier entrepreneurship programs are ineligible. The business must be for-profit, an independent entity (not a spin-off or franchise of an existing concept, with exceptions for university/research spin-offs for the Science & Technology Pioneer Award), and incorporated and majority-owned by its founders and team members. For Regional Awards, the business must have generated between $50,000 USD and $5 million USD in annual revenue in its last fiscal year and employ between 5 and 250 team members. It must not have raised more than $2 million USD in dilutive or potentially dilutive funding. For the Science & Technology Pioneer Award, the business must be at least TRL4, not have been commercializing its final product/service for more than 5 years, and not have raised a Series A round.
How to enter
- Complete the online application form while logged into your Submittable account.
- Ensure you use an active email address for communication and safelist notification emails from Submittable.
- Save drafts of your application work regularly.
- Submit the application before the deadline of June 16, 2026, 2 PM CEST.
- If revisions are needed after submission but before the deadline, request to edit the submission (may take up to 2 business days).
- If the wrong application form was filled, withdraw the submission and resubmit.
- Ensure all compulsory supporting documents are provided with the online application; they cannot be sent separately.
Submission requirements
- A one-minute video answering: What is your motivation behind solving the identified problem? What impact do you wish to create? What do you wish to gain from and contribute to the Cartier Women’s Initiative community?
- Your resume.
- Your company registration document.
- Your company capitalization table.
- Professionally prepared or audited financial statements from your most recent two fiscal years.
- Your pitch deck (around 15 pages, accurately describing company impact).
- Optional: Your company’s competitive landscape.
- Optional: Three additional attachments (e.g., theory of change/impact framework, impact report, product image, brochure, press article, research).
Judging criteria
- Technological innovation (for Science & Technology Pioneer Award): Disruption, uniqueness, sophistication, and industry impact (20%).
- Impact intentionality and embeddedness: Motivation behind starting the business, creation intent, and whether positive impact is integral to the business model (5% for Regional, 15% for S&T Pioneer).
- Impact objectives and measurement: Contribution to UN SDGs, magnitude of impact (breadth/depth), impact tracking and optimization, and realized/potential impact (20% for Regional, 15% for S&T Pioneer).
- Market analysis and fit: Evidence of market, clear long-term defensible competitive advantage, growth opportunity, and product-market fit (10% for Regional, 15% for S&T Pioneer).
- Sustainable business and financial model: Financial return potential, scalability, customer loyalty, and well thought-out expectations and models (25% for Regional, 15% for S&T Pioneer).
- Strategy and execution: Clear growth strategy, risk assessment and mitigation, and dynamic monitoring systems (10% for Regional).
- Team: Diversity and complementarity (2-4 members), relevant technical/leadership skills and experience, track record of execution, and relevant networks/advisors (10% for Regional, 15% for S&T Pioneer).
- Leadership character of the applicant: Entrepreneurial spirit (integrity, motivation, high energy), alignment with Cartier values (Curiosity, Open-mindedness, Generosity, Sharing, Respect, Rigor, Independence), and commitment to the Cartier Women’s Initiative vision (20%).
Sponsors & partners
CartierINSEADThe Women’s Impact Alliance
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Can exceptions be made to the eligibility criteria?
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No, to ensure fairness, no exceptions are made to the eligibility criteria. Applicants not meeting criteria will be disqualified.
What defines a 'for-profit' business for the initiative?
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A 'for-profit' business generates sufficient revenue to sustain and grow its activity. Non-profit enterprises are not eligible. Businesses that give back a portion of revenues to charities or are structured as B corps/Community Interest Companies (CIC) are accepted, provided they are not dominantly reliant on donations/grants (more than 30% financing from donations/grants or perpetual need for them will likely result in disqualification).
What are the specific stage and funding requirements for Regional Awards vs. Science & Technology Pioneer Award?
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For Regional Awards, the business should have generated annual revenue between $50,000 USD and $5 million USD in its last fiscal year and employ 5-250 team members, and not have raised more than $2 million USD in dilutive or potentially dilutive funding. For the Science & Technology Pioneer Award, the business should be at least TRL4, not have commercialized its final product/service for more than 5 years, and not have raised a Series A round. Deep tech innovations typically take at least 2 years to develop from idea (TRL1) to commercialization (TRL9).
What is an impact-driven business?
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An impact-driven business seeks to create strong, sustainable, and measurable social and/or environmental impact, aligning with at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What is a deep tech innovation and what is typically not eligible for the Science & Technology Pioneer Award?
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Deep tech innovations are disruptive solutions built around unique, protected, and hard-to-reproduce technological or scientific advances, often with a strong research base and patent portfolio. Typically, combinations of existing technologies, productivity tools, consumer software applications, and products/services using someone else’s AI model/infrastructure are not eligible.
Do you accept applications from businesses with multiple co-founders?
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Yes, provided the applicant's share of the business is greater than or equal to that of her co-founder(s).
Do you accept applications from businesses affiliated with established corporations or other women's initiative programs?
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No, only businesses registered as independent entities, not affiliated with established corporations or similar women's initiative programs, are accepted.
Are spin-offs, subsidiaries, or franchises eligible to apply?
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No, the business must be an original creation and a completely new concept. Exceptions apply for University or research spin-offs for the Science & Technology Pioneer Award, and holding company-subsidiary structures where the subsidiary is a new concept and the sole holding.
Is there a minimum team size requirement?
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For Regional Awards, the business needs at least 5 team members (full-time, part-time, seasonal, contractors). This ensures sufficient traction and human resources for scaling.
Can multiple founders from the same business apply?
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No, only one founder per business can apply, and she must meet all eligibility criteria.
What is the requirement for women in leadership and ownership?
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A woman must fill one of the main leadership positions (e.g., CEO, COO, CTO) and own a share of the business greater than or equal to that of each co-founder(s).
What about quasi-equity funding (e.g., SAFE and Convertible Notes)?
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Applicants with quasi-equity funding will be asked to provide estimates of a fully diluted cap table.
Are sole proprietorships eligible?
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No, sole proprietorships are not eligible as there must be a legal distinction between the owner and the business entity, and the business's finances must be independent from the founder(s).
Is the program open to projects that are not new concepts?
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No, the program is for original impact businesses developing a completely new concept.
Are holding companies eligible?
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Yes, if the business is set up as a holding company-subsidiary structure where the holding company's sole purpose is to hold the subsidiary, and the subsidiary is a completely new concept and its only holding.
Can businesses that have formerly participated in the program apply again?
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No, businesses and co-founders who have participated as fellows or in any other Cartier entrepreneurship programs are ineligible to apply again.
Can businesses that were not selected in prior editions apply again?
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Yes, provided they still fit all eligibility criteria. Fellows or participants in other Cartier programs are ineligible for future editions.
What is the application deadline?
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The deadline is June 16, 2026, 2 PM (CEST / GMT+2). The portal will not accept late submissions.
If my business fits several award categories, can I apply to all of them?
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No, you may only apply to one award category per program edition.
Can I send my application by mail/email?
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No, only online applications submitted through the application platform in the appropriate format are accepted.
Can I submit product samples?
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No, product samples are not accepted during the call for applications, but photos can be included.
Are applications accepted in languages other than English?
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No, only applications in English are accepted. A good command of English (CEFR B2 or above) is required to benefit from the program.
Can I submit multiple applications for different businesses?
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No, applicants may only enter one business in the program. Multiple application forms will not be accepted.
How do I choose between the Regional Awards and the Science & Technology Pioneer Award?
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Regional Awards are for early-stage impact businesses with traction, validating product/market fit, and generating revenue, often innovating on business models. The Science & Technology Pioneer Award is for businesses commercializing science-based innovations, pioneering new technology from R&D, engineering, or scientific discovery. If your company applies existing technology in a novel way, Regional Awards are recommended.
How will I know if my application was received?
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You will receive an automatic confirmation email after submission. Ensure to safelist emails from the application platform.
What if I experience technical issues while filling out the form?
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Refresh the page, sign back in if needed. Save drafts manually using 'Save Draft'. Use the most updated Google Chrome and write answers offline before copying to the form.
Are there file size limits for attachments?
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Yes, 400MB per file and 800MB per submission. Attachments sent by email are not accepted. Compress large files using tools like Adobe Acrobat.
Can I make changes to my application after submission?
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Once submitted, changes cannot be made directly. You may request permission from the administrator to edit the form if submitted before the deadline (allow 48 business hours for requests to be granted).
How can I view or download my submission?
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Follow the instructions provided by Submittable to consult and/or download your submission.
Whom should I contact for inquiries or technical issues?
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For inquiries, contact applicants@cartierwomensinitiative.com. For technical issues with the online platform, contact Submittable Help Desk.
When will I be notified of my application status?
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Applicants will be notified by December 2026. Fellows will be publicly announced in Spring 2027.
What is the selection process?
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The selection process includes shortlisting, in-depth due diligence on the top five applicants in each region, and presentation before a jury. The jury selects and ranks the top three applicants who become fellows. Applications are evaluated against published selection criteria and scoring rubrics.
What does the due diligence process entail?
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Due diligence is conducted in two phases with an external partner: initial due diligence involves additional information requests from top applicants, secondary research, and exploratory calls. Re-evaluation against selection criteria follows to confirm eligibility.
Resources
- Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship (Acumen Academy)
- Social Impact Analysis (Acumen Academy)
- Lean Startup Principles Social Sector (Acumen Academy)
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women 10-course collection (Coursera)
- Value Proposition Canvas (Strategyzer)
- Introduction to Value Proposition Canvas (Video)
- The Value Proposition Canvas Instruction Manual (PDF)
- UN Sustainable Development Goals
- IRIS+ site (Impact Themes & Metrics)
- Business Model Canvas (Strategyzer)
- Business Model Canvas Explained (Video)
- The Business Model Canvas Instruction Manual (PDF)
- PATRI framework for scaling impact (PDF)
- Scaling Impact (Video)
- Don’t give away your board seat (Article)
- Primer for Building an Effective Board (Kauffman Foundation PDF)
- Building great founding teams (Article)
- How to make executive hires at your startup (Article)
- #TheGapTable (Article)
- The Golden Circle by Simon Sineck (Video)
- 2027 Science & Technology Pioneer Award - Selection Criteria and Scoring Rubric (PDF)
- 2027 Science & Technology Pioneer Award - Applicant Guide (PDF)
- 2027 Cartier Women's Initiative - Terms and Conditions (PDF)
- 2027 Regional Awards - Selection Criteria and Scoring Rubric (PDF)
- 2027 Regional Awards - Applicant Guide (PDF)
- External Programs and Funding Opportunities (Airtable)
- External Programs and Funding Opportunities (Google Sheet)
- TRL description (BCG-x-HT From Tech to Deep Tech - Page 50)
- Medical Device TRLs (PDF)
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
- What is a cap table (AngelList Article)
- How can I safelist notification emails from Submittable (Submittable Help)
- How can I edit my submission (Submittable Help)
- How can I view a submission that I've made (Submittable Help)
- Submittable Help Desk
- Cartier Women's Initiative FAQ
- Cartier Women's Initiative Awards
- Cartier Women's Initiative Fellowship
- Cartier Women's Initiative Regional Awards
- Cartier Women's Initiative Science & Technology Pioneer Award