Top 25 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs in North America in 2025
In recent years, the momentum of female entrepreneurs has been steadily rising, and 2025 promises a plethora of opportunities for women-led startups. With numerous competitions offering substantial funding and support, female entrepreneurs in North America are positioned to make significant strides in their ventures. Here's a comprehensive guide to the most prestigious and promising startup competitions specifically for female entrepreneurs in North America in 2025.
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1. Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition
Description: An annual pitch competition for U.S.-based women-led businesses. Eligibility: Businesses must be U.S.-based, women-founded, and have raised less than $750,000. Prizes: Winners receive $25,000 grants. Application Period: April 1 to May 31, 2025. Format: In-person pitch event Learn more about Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition
2. Amber Grant Foundation
Description: Provides multiple grants monthly to women-owned businesses. Eligibility: Must be 18 years of age, 50% women-owned and operate in the US or Canada. Prizes: Three $10,000 grants monthly and three $25,000 year-end grants. Application: Ongoing, multiple opportunities with one application. Focus: Various grants, including industry-specific awards. Discover Amber Grant Foundation
3. BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program
Description: A grant program supporting women-owned small businesses in the US and Canada. Eligibility: Businesses must be at least 51% women-owned, for-profit, operating in the U.S. or Canada, and have been in operation for at least two years with annual revenues not exceeding $5 million. Prizes: $10,000 grants will be awarded to 15 women entrepreneurs. Focus: Businesses demonstrating innovation and growth plans. Partners: Collaboration between BMO Bank and Deloitte. (Learn more about BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program through BMO's website for updates.)
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4. Cartier Women's Initiative Awards
Description: Global awards program supporting early-stage women-led businesses with social, economic, or environmental impact. Eligibility: Early-stage businesses focusing on social, economic, and environmental development. Prizes: First place - $100,000 grant, second place - $60,000, and third place - $30,000. Support: Includes executive coaching and media visibility. Global Reach: Awards are given in nine different regions around the world. Explore Cartier Women's Initiative Awards
5. EmpowHER Grants
Description: Grants from Boundless Futures Foundation for female small-business owners. Eligibility: Must be 22 or older, have a business established within the last three years, and address societal issues like poverty, sustainability, or community development. Prizes: Up to $25,000 for reimbursement of business expenses. Application: Quarterly, next deadline is February 15, 2025. Focus: Businesses with a social impact. (Check the Boundless Futures Foundation website for program updates.)
6. SCORE Women's Pitch Contest (Washington District)
Description: A pitch competition for women entrepreneurs in the Washington area. Eligibility: Businesses must be at least 51% women-owned, managed by women, U.S. citizens, and based in Washington, Alaska, or northern Idaho. Prizes: $35,000 in cash prizes, plus being featured at the Washington Small Business Awards Gala. Mentorship: Includes training, one-on-one mentoring, and pitch development. Format: Pitch Competition Learn more about SCORE Women's Pitch Contest
7. MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program (WEP)
Description: A new program by the Minority Business Development Agency to address barriers for women entrepreneurs. Focus: Increase capacity for MBEs to launch, sustain, and obtain capital, with a focus on addressing barriers traditionally experienced by women entrepreneurs. Funding: $2 million in FY 2025 with annual renewals through 2029. Support: Provides access to capital, training, and entry into STEM and federal contracting. Eligibility: Socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and business owners with a focus on women-led businesses. (Check the MBDA website for application details when available.)
8. Fund Her Future Grant
Description: Grant by Block Advisors by H&R Block to support women-owned businesses, particularly those making a community impact. Eligibility: U.S.-based, women-owned businesses. Prizes: One $50,000 grant and four $12,500 grants. Focus: Businesses focused on making a difference in their community. Commitment: Part of H&R Block’s commitment to support 500,000 small businesses by 2025. (Check H&R Block/Block Advisors for details and updates.)
9. Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants
Description: Provides funding, technology, and mentorship to small businesses. Eligibility: Businesses located in North America (excluding Quebec) with annual revenues under $7.5 million and 75 or fewer employees. Prizes: $25,000 cash grant, an AI technology package valued at $10,000, and access to mentorship programs. Focus: Business development and AI implementation. Mentorship: Access to Goodie Nation and Chantel Cohen mentorship programs. Explore Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants
10. Michigan Women Forward - WomanUp & Pitch Competition
Description: Pitch competition for women entrepreneurs across Michigan. Eligibility: Women-led businesses in Michigan are eligible, including both startups and established businesses. Prizes: First place wins $10,000, second place wins $5,000, third place wins $2,500, and audience choice awards $1,000 in each competition category. Format: Virtual and In-person pitch competitions are organized based on region and type of business. Judging: 60% of the score is based on the business plan, and 40% on the pitch itself. Learn more about Michigan Women Forward - WomanUp & Pitch Competition
(Note: Application deadlines and specific eligibility criteria may change. Please refer to the official websites for the most up-to-date information. Some of the grant programs have not announced their 2025 details yet, so keeping an eye on their websites is crucial for accurate application information.)
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FAQ
Q: What is the Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition?
A: The Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition is an annual U.S.-based event for women-led businesses, providing winners with $25,000 grants and in-person pitching opportunities. Learn more about Women Founders Network Fast Pitch.
Q: Which grant program provides multiple grants monthly to women-owned businesses?
A: The Amber Grant Foundation offers various grants monthly, including three $10,000 grants and three $25,000 year-end grants, supporting women-owned businesses in the U.S. and Canada. Discover Amber Grant Foundation.
Q: What eligibility criteria are required for the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program?
A: The BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program requires businesses to be at least 51% women-owned, for-profit, operating in the U.S. or Canada, and have been in operation for at least two years with annual revenues not exceeding $5 million.
Q: What are the prize details for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards?
A: The Cartier Women's Initiative Awards provide first place with a $100,000 grant, second place with $60,000, and third place with $30,000, along with executive coaching and media visibility. Check Cartier Women's Initiative Awards.
Q: What are the EmpowHER Grants focusing on?
A: EmpowHER Grants from Boundless Futures Foundation focus on businesses addressing societal issues like poverty, sustainability, or community development, providing up to $25,000 for business expenses.
Q: Are there mentorship opportunities available with competitions?
A: Yes, the SCORE Women's Pitch Contest includes mentorship, training, and one-on-one pitch development, along with cash prizes. Learn more about SCORE Women's Pitch Contest.
Q: What is the focus of the MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program (WEP)?
A: The MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program (WEP) focuses on increasing the capacity of minority business enterprises to launch, sustain, and obtain capital, specifically addressing barriers experienced by women entrepreneurs. Discover MBDA Women's Entrepreneurship Program.
Q: Which grant supports women-owned businesses making a community impact?
A: The Fund Her Future Grant by H&R Block's Block Advisors supports women-owned businesses making a community impact with one $50,000 grant and four $12,500 grants.
Q: What does the Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants offer?
A: The Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants provides $25,000 cash grants, an AI technology package valued at $10,000, and access to mentorship programs. Explore Lenovo Evolve Small Initiative Grants.
Q: Which competition is available for women-led businesses in Michigan?
A: The Michigan Women Forward - WomanUp & Pitch Competition is available for women-led businesses in Michigan, offering various cash prizes and combining virtual and in-person pitch formats. Learn more about WomanUp & Pitch Competition.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
