Top 20 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Asia 2025
The entrepreneurial landscape for women in Asia is steadily improving, with numerous grants and funding opportunities designed to foster growth and empowerment. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the Top 20 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Asia for 2025, detailing each grant's purpose, funding, eligibility criteria, and more.
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1. Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2025
Description: This award supports women-led enterprises in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East that are developing innovative solutions in health or food security.
Funding: €25,000 cash support, a 6-month accelerator program, and access to global networks.
Eligibility: Women-led enterprises in specified regions focusing on health or food security solutions.
Deadline: February 18, 2025.
Additional Details: Partners with Impact Hub Network, which has 100+ local communities worldwide to foster social innovation.
2. The ASEAN-Australia Young Women Entrepreneurs' Exchange Program 2024-25
Description: A program supporting a 12-week mentoring and leadership program for women from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and Australia.
Funding: Grant to design and deliver the four-year exchange program, not direct funding to the participants.
Eligibility: Female-founded entities (majority owned and led by women). Applications with Southeast Asian partners are encouraged.
Timeline: Program runs from 2024-25 to 2027-28.
Additional Details: Focuses on mentoring and leadership development.
3. Asia Women Impact Fund (AWIF)
Description: Aims to empower women in Asia by investing in their ventures, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Funding: Plans to invest up to $100 million USD.
Focus: Supports women entrepreneurs across Asia.
Region: Emphasizes Southeast Asia.
Impact: Aims to create favorable outcomes for women through strategic investments.
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4. COVID-19 Relief for Women-Led Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Project (Vietnam)
Description: A grant to help women entrepreneurs in Vietnam maintain access to finance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding: $5,000,000 in grant funding.
Beneficiaries: Expected to help at least 500 women-led SMEs.
Implementation: In partnership with five leading Vietnamese banks.
Eligibility: SMEs that are at least 51% women-owned or meeting other criteria.
5. Advancing Women's Empowerment Fund (AWEF)
Description: Aims to identify strategies to put investment capital into the hands of women entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
Focus: Pilots, tests, and expands scalable solutions to address the financing gap for women-led SGBs.
Regions: South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa (Round I focused on Asia).
Funding Source: Supported by USAID and the Visa Foundation.
Goal: Generate learnings for the broader SGB sector about gender-inclusive investment.
6. Deutsche Bank - Empowering Women Social Entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific
Description: Partnership with the Social Impact Fund (SIF) to support women social entrepreneurs.
Funding: Provides grants to support sustainable businesses.
Focus: Supports women-led businesses addressing social challenges.
Impact: Creates economic opportunities for women through social entrepreneurship.
Region: Asia Pacific.
7. 100 x 100 Challenge: Unlocking US$100 million for 100,000 Women Entrepreneurs in Asia and the Pacific
Description: An SDG Acceleration Action initiative to empower women's entrepreneurship.
Funding: Aims to unlock $100 million in public and private financing.
Beneficiaries: Expected to benefit 100,000+ women entrepreneurs.
Focus: Provides innovative financing, ICT tools, and policy mechanisms.
Impact: Aims to catalyze women's entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
8. Women's Venture Competition 2025
Description: Open to women-led oncology companies worldwide.
Focus: Supports ventures in the oncology sector.
Deadline: March 15, 2025.
Global Reach: Open to women-led ventures worldwide.
Sector: Specifically focused on oncology.
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9. Malaysia Budget 2025 Allocations for Women Entrepreneurs
Description: Financing funds and business financing guarantees provided by the Malaysian government.
Funding: RM470 million allocated for financing funds and RM650 million to support women and youth in entrepreneurship.
Providers: SME Bank, BSN, Bank Rakyat, and MARA.
Focus: Supports women in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Purpose: Provides working capital and funds for asset purchases to increase business capacity.
10. The Bicester Collection's Unlock Her Future™ Prize 2025
Description: Prize to support the next wave of female social entrepreneurs, expanding to South Asia.
Funding: Grants totaling approximately $600,000.
Focus: Champions women changemakers with funding and support to address the gender funding gap.
Partnership: Supported by Ashoka, a leading organization in social innovation.
Impact: Aims to advance gender equality globally.
11. UNIDO Women Entrepreneurship Development Project
Description: Supports women's entrepreneurship development across Asia through capacity building and access to finance.
Funding: Involves technical assistance rather than grants directly.
Focus: Encourages sustainable enterprises and job creation through women-led businesses.
Region: Targeting emerging economies in Asia.
Impact: Aims to enhance women's contribution to the economy.
12. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative
Description: Global program aimed at fostering economic growth by providing women entrepreneurs with business and management education.
Funding: Offers scholarships for MBA programs and business education.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs across various sectors.
Region: Global but includes diverse Asian nations.
Impact: Enhances skills and capacities for women-led businesses.
13. Asian Development Bank's Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi)
Description: A global initiative supporting women entrepreneurs in developing countries with access to finance.
Funding: Provides financial products tailored for women entrepreneurs.
Eligibility: Women-led businesses in ADB member countries, including Asia.
Impact: Aims to close the financial gap for women entrepreneurs.
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14. Stella McCartney Foundation Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
Description: Aimed at sustainable and ethical businesses, with grants for women-led companies.
Funding: Varies based on application and project needs.
Focus: Sustainable fashion and environmentally friendly initiatives.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs predominantly in the fashion industry.
Impact: Facilitates the growth of sustainable practices in business.
15. HerRise Fund
Description: Designed to support women entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas, through funding and mentorship programs.
Funding: Up to $10,000 per recipient.
Eligibility: Women-led startups in various sectors.
Focus: Enhancing women's participation in entrepreneurship.
Impact: Encourages innovation and sustainability among women entrepreneurs.
16. Women in Tech Asia Grants
Description: Aims to support women-led startups in technology and innovation sectors.
Funding: Grant ranges from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on the project.
Eligibility: Women-led tech startups and initiatives.
Region: Focus on Southeast Asia.
Impact: Encourages more women to enter the tech industry.
17. Innovate UK: Women in Innovation Awards
Description: Financial support provided for female entrepreneurs leading innovative projects.
Funding: Up to £50,000 to help develop their ideas and businesses.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs in innovative sectors.
Region: Open to international applications including from Asia.
Impact: Promotes women in STEM fields and innovative industries.
18. UN Women Asia-Pacific Program
Description: Supports women's economic empowerment in the Asia-Pacific region through various initiatives.
Funding: Varies based on program focus and initiatives.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs involved in local and regional development projects.
Impact: Aims at creating gender-inclusive economies.
19. IFC Women Entrepreneurs Fund
Description: The fund aims to support and empower women-led businesses in developing countries with capital and advisory services.
Funding: Provides financing solutions tailored for women entrepreneurs.
Eligibility: Women-owned or women-led enterprises in developing economies, including Asia.
Impact: Helps address gender disparities in business financing.
20. The Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress
Description: Focused on youth entrepreneurship, the program supports women-led initiatives that inspire youth participation in business.
Funding: Grant funding varies based on the project.
Eligibility: Women-led programs aimed at economic development for youth.
Focus: Job creation and economic engagement for young women.
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FAQ
Q: What is the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2025?
A: The Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award supports women-led enterprises in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East developing innovative solutions in health or food security. The funding includes €25,000 cash support and a 6-month accelerator program. Learn more about Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award.
Q: How does the ASEAN-Australia Young Women Entrepreneurs' Exchange Program support female entrepreneurs?
A: The ASEAN-Australia Young Women Entrepreneurs' Exchange Program provides a 12-week mentoring and leadership program aimed at supporting women-led entities from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and Australia. Discover the program details here.
Q: What is the Asia Women Impact Fund (AWIF)?
A: The Asia Women Impact Fund aims to empower women in Asia through investments in their ventures, particularly in Southeast Asia, with plans to invest up to $100 million USD. Find out more about AWIF.
Q: What does the COVID-19 Relief for Women-Led Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Project in Vietnam entail?
A: This project provides $5 million in grant funding to help women entrepreneurs in Vietnam maintain access to finance during the COVID-19 pandemic, benefitting at least 500 women-led SMEs. Learn more about this initiative.
Q: What is the Advancing Women's Empowerment Fund (AWEF)?
A: The AWEF aims to identify strategies to provide investment capital to women entrepreneurs in emerging markets, focusing on scaling solutions that address the financing gap for women-led small growth businesses. More information on AWEF can be found here.
Q: How does Deutsche Bank support women social entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific?
A: Deutsche Bank collaborates with the Social Impact Fund to grant funding for women social entrepreneurs, helping them address social challenges and generate economic opportunities. Explore more about this initiative.
Q: What is the 100 x 100 Challenge?
A: The 100 x 100 Challenge is an initiative aimed at empowering women's entrepreneurship by unlocking an additional US$100 million in financing, expected to benefit over 100,000 women entrepreneurs in Asia. Learn more about the challenge.
Q: What is the Women's Venture Competition 2025?
A: The Women's Venture Competition 2025 is open to women-led oncology companies globally, designed to support ventures within the oncology sector. Find additional details here.
Q: What funding is provided through Malaysia's Budget 2025 for women entrepreneurs?
A: Malaysia's Budget 2025 allocates RM470 million in financing funds and RM650 million to support women and youth entrepreneurship, focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprises. Read more about this allocation.
Q: What is The Bicester Collection's Unlock Her Future™ Prize 2025?
A: This prize offers grants of approximately US$600,000 to support female social entrepreneurs, particularly in South Asia, aimed at closing the gender funding gap. Discover the Unlock Her Future Prize details.
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.
