About

About Funding Organization: Established in 2006 by Cartier, the Cartier Women's Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs. The program 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. In addition to grant funding, fellows gain access to tailored mentoring and coaching, media visibility, networking opportunities, and educational courses from leading business schools. How to Apply: Interested applicants should apply through the official Cartier Women's Initiative website during the designated application period. The application process involves submitting an online application form, which includes detailed information about the business, its impact, and the entrepreneur's vision. Additional Benefits: Fellowship Program: Beyond financial support, awardees participate in a fellowship program that offers peer learning, industry-based educational programming, and leadership development. Community Access: Fellows gain lifelong access to a vibrant community of impact leaders, creating opportunities for engagement, relationship-building, and the development of social capital. Insights and Research: The program provides access to curated content and research partnerships aimed at driving active conversations about women impact entrepreneurs.

Eligibility

• Leadership: The applicant must be a woman and she must fill one of the main leadership positions, for example as CEO, COO, CTO, General Manager, or Managing Director of the business
• Ownership: The business must be majority owned by its founders and team members at the time of application. A woman must own a share greater than or equal to co-founders
• For-profit: Must be a registered for-profit business (not non-profit)
• Early-stage: The business should have a proven business model and be in the initial phase of its development and growth (between 1 and 6 years of licenced/registered operations as of the date of application). For 2026, must have been incorporated between June 2019-June 2024
• Revenue: The business should be generating revenue from the sales of its products and/or services for at least 1 year as of the date of application
• Fundraising limit: The business should not have raised more than US$2 million in dilutive or potentially dilutive funding
• Impact: Business must contribute to UN SDGs
• Age: Applicant must be at least 18 years old
• Language: English proficiency is required at Common European Framework of Reference Level B2 or above
• Commitment: The applicant must commit to participating in the fellowship programme from January 2026 to March 2027, dedicating 1 to 3 hours per week, and attending one week of in-person events in May 2026
• Leadership: The business must be led and owned by a woman.
• Stage: The company should be in its early stages, typically between one to six years of operation.
• Impact: The business must demonstrate a sustainable social and/or environmental impact.
• Language: A good command of English is required, as the program includes English-language training and coaching sessions.