African Female Founders Can Now Apply for Cartier Women’s Initiative $100K Grant
Female startup founders across Africa have a fresh opportunity to access global funding, world-class training, and international visibility. The Cartier Women’s Initiative, which aims to empower women impact entrepreneurs, has opened applications for its 2027 edition and is offering prize money of up to $100,000.
What the Programme Offers
The Cartier Women’s Initiative Africa female founders opportunity is not just about cash. All 30 fellows selected will benefit from a year-long fellowship programme, media visibility, networking opportunities, and lifelong access to a vibrant global community. The fellowship includes leadership communications and media training workshops, an in-person INSEAD Women’s Impact Entrepreneurship Programme, individual business and leadership coaching, and a structured social capital component that bridges connections between women entrepreneurs and their supporters.
On the financial side, first-place awardees receive a $100,000 grant, second-place awardees receive $60,000, and third-place awardees receive $30,000. The 2027 edition covers nine regional awards, including dedicated categories for Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa and for Anglophone and Lusophone Africa.
To be eligible, a business must have generated annual revenue between $50,000 and $5 million in its last fiscal year, employ between 5 and 250 team members, and must not have raised more than $2 million in dilutive funding. The applicant must be a woman in a key leadership role such as CEO, COO, or CTO and part of the founding team.
Since its founding in 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has supported 330 impact entrepreneurs from 66 countries, built a network of over 520 active community members, and provided a total of $14.1 million in financial support. Some 82% of recent fellows report concrete outcomes including additional funding, partnerships, and expanded reach directly attributed to the programme.
Applications close on June 16, 2026, with first-round notifications expected in August 2026. African female founders can apply directly at the Cartier Women’s Initiative website.
