Female innovators can now apply for grants to help grow their businesses into national and global enterprises.
Opening today, the Fearless Innovator Grant Program will award grants to women-led businesses with high potential to scale into new markets through two streams:
- Accelerate – up to $10,000 to accelerate a business
- Scale Up – up to $30,000 to scale up a business
Recognising that women consistently report hardship in accessing the capital they need to start and scale their business, the South Australian Government has committed $110,000 from the Research and Innovation Fund to help bridge this gap.
The program also has a unique funding model that brings patrons on board to become part of a female founder’s success story.
The program will be facilitated by Women in Innovation (WINN) in partnership with the Fearless Females Network, with grants to be awarded to the successful women at the annual WINN Awards in November 2024.
WINN President Paula Turbill and Co-Chair of FFN Kelly Jamieson say this program is important because data shows that less than 2 per cent of early-stage capital flows to female founders.
“The response from our community to join as one of the first 100 Fearless Innovator Patron donors, and bridge this gap, has been incredible,” Ms Turbill and Ms Jamieson said.
“Less than 20 places remain to reach our goal of $50,000, which will be matched by the state government.”
Victoria Angove, Director of Angove Family Winemakers and Fearless Innovator Patron donor, believes that supporting female leaders and founders is incredibly important, and she was keen to get on board.
“I can’t wait to see the breadth and diversity of sectors that apply for grant funding now that applications are open,” Ms Angove said.
