Call for Applications: SPARK Women in Business Grants 2026 – $5,000 & $10,000 Quarterly Funding for Women Led Businesses

Application Deadlines: February 28, May 31, August 31, November 30, 2026

About the Grants

Every quarter, SPARK is dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of women entrepreneurs within our community by awarding a total of $15,000 in cash grants. This initiative is more than just a financial boost; it’s a powerful statement against the persistent underfunding of women-led businesses worldwide. These grants are designed to provide real, actionable support that helps women entrepreneurs overcome the funding gaps that have historically limited their growth and success. The stark reality is that women in business continue to face systemic challenges in securing funding. According to recent data, women-founded startups received only 1.9% of all venture capital funds globally in 2022. In Australia, the situation was equally concerning, with only 2% of total venture capital invested in all-women-founded startups in 2025. These figures highlight a troubling trend of gender disparity in access to capital, which often hampers innovation, scalability, and the ability of women entrepreneurs to realize their full potential. Recognizing this urgent issue, SPARK established the Women in Business Grants program to actively address this funding gap. The program offers quarterly grants, ensuring consistent support throughout the year. Each quarter, a total of $15,000 is awarded to women-led businesses, divided into a $10,000 top grant and a $5,000 runner-up grant. This structure allows SPARK to support multiple businesses at different stages of growth, providing both a significant financial boost and recognition of promising women-led startups. The grants are aimed at entrepreneurs who are ready to take their businesses to the next level whether that means expanding operations, developing new products, hiring additional staff, or investing in marketing and infrastructure. By providing these funds, SPARK hopes to empower women founders to turn their ideas into reality, scale their businesses, and compete more effectively in their respective markets. This initiative also serves as a broader movement to challenge gender bias in venture funding and to create a more equitable entrepreneurial landscape. SPARK believes that the success of women-led businesses benefits the entire community by fostering innovation, creating jobs, and promoting diverse leadership. Through this program, they are not just offering financial support they are advocating for a cultural shift that recognizes and values women’s contributions to business and economic growth. SPARK’s Women in Business Grants program is a committed effort to close the funding gap faced by women entrepreneurs. With quarterly grants of $10,000 and $5,000, the program provides consistent, tangible support to help women-led businesses thrive. SPARK is proud to be part of a movement that champions gender equity in entrepreneurship, proving that when women succeed, everyone benefits.

Grant Award

• Top Grant: $10,000
• Runner-up: $5,000
• Total Quarterly Awards: $15,000
• Already Funded: $160,000 awarded to SPARK members to date

Why This Matters

• 1.9% of all U.S. VC funding reached women-only founding teams in 2022
• 2% of Australian VC capital went to all-women-founded startups in 2025
• 24% of AU VC capital reached startups with at least one female co-founder
• $15,000 awarded by SPARK every single quarter to change this

Eligibility Criteria

Three simple requirements:

1. Identify as female: We support women-identifying founders across all industries, product or service based, for-profit or not-for-profit. Male co-founders are welcome too.

2. Business registered for 12+ months
Counted from your business number date, not your revenue start date.

3. SPARK member or alumni: Join for $39/month or save with an annual plan. Use code GRANT100YEAR for $100 off annual.

No industry restrictions. For-profit or not-for-profit. Products or services.

Grant funds must be spent within 6 months and used for activities that directly contribute to the growth of your profit or impact.

Why This Grant Matters

Women-led businesses are systematically underfunded. Only 1.9% of US venture capital goes to women-only founding teams. In Australia, the figure is just 2%. Yet research consistently shows that women-led businesses deliver strong returns and create significant social and economic impact.

SPARK’s Women in Business Grants directly address this funding gap by providing:

• Real, no-strings-attached cash grants – Not loans, not equity
• Quarterly opportunities – Four chances to win each year
• Simple, transparent eligibility – No industry restrictions, for-profit or not-for-profit
• Fast application process – Around 60 minutes plus a smartphone video
• No catch – Retain full IP ownership, just spend the funds within 6 months

Since launching, SPARK has awarded $160,000 to members. For a woman-led business ready to scale, $5,000 or $10,000 can be transformative funding marketing campaigns, product development, hiring, or new equipment.

2026 Grant Schedule

Round Eleven (February) – AWARDED

• Applications: 1–28 February 2026
• Judging: 1–31 March 2026
• Grants awarded: 10 April 2026

Round Twelve (May) – CLOSED – In Judging

• Applications: 1–31 May 2026
• Judging: 1–30 June 2026
• Grants awarded: 10 July 2026

Round Thirteen (August)

• Applications: 1–31 August 2026
• Judging: 1–30 September 2026
• Grants awarded: 10 October 2026

Round Fourteen (November)

• Applications: 1–30 November 2026
• Judging: 1–31 December 2026
• Grants awarded: 10 January 2027

Previous Winners

Round Eleven (February 2026):

• $10,000: Allison Marron – Bartender’s Daughter
• $5,000: Jariah Kaissis – Nagula Psychology

Round Ten:

• $10,000: Mary Tapsell – Reti Skin
• $5,000: Catherine Ashton – Critical Info

Round Nine:

• $10,000: Fiona Wainscott – Winnow Technology
• $5,000: Stephanie Bofinger – Fempro Armour

Round Eight:

• $10,000: Lisa Erhart – Funding4Growth
• $5,000: Clare Willenberg – The Happy Hive Co

Round Seven:

• $10,000: Vanessa Murillo – I Am Grounded
• $5,000: Fairina Cheng – Fairina Cheng Jewellery

Round Six:

• $10,000: Dr Phillipa Lewis & Dr Rowena Lalji – Blissfeeds
• $5,000: Kelly Stubbs – Wagtail Natives

Round Five:

• $5,000: Nisha Abeyasekera – Abey Print Studio
• $5,000: Phoebe Cole – Pilates Mini
• $5,000: Lynette & Kirra Brown – Broadwater Hotel

Round Four:

• $10,000: Courtney Avery – Sacral Body Design
• $5,000: Alicia Nagle – Zonely

Round Three:

• $10,000: Jeevita Pillai – Afrowithjeevi (AWJ)
• $5,000: Leanne Savage – Acala Stem

Round Two:

• $10,000: Jaymee Watkin – The Buttery Music School
• $5,000: Peta-Gai McLaughlin – Iridis Cosmetics

Round One:

• $10,000: Kathryn Walsh – Practice Studio

SPARK Membership Pricing

Monthly: $39 AUD / month

• Full SPARK CEO Operating System
• All 5 growth hubs
• Live networking & accountability
• Promotional opportunities
• Cancel anytime

Yearly (Most Popular): $365 AUD / year

• Everything in monthly
• 4 grant application opportunities
• Save $103 per year
• Only $1 per day!

Lifetime: $999 AUD once

• Everything, forever
• 1-hour sales coaching with Danielle
• VIP welcome gift
• Best value if you plan on growing your biz for 3+ years

New to SPARK? Use code GRANT100YEAR for $100 off an annual plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can the funding be used for?
Activities that directly contribute to the growth of your profit or impact. You’ll state this in your application the judges want to see a clear, specific plan for how you’ll use the funds.

How long do I have to spend the grant?
Grant funds must be spent within 6 months of funding. We want you to take action and start growing your business!

How long does the application take?
Around 60 minutes. You’ll need a 1–2-minute video pitch filmed on your smartphone – no fancy production needed, just show your personality to the judges.

Can I see the questions before I start?
Yes! There’s a Google Doc with all questions so you can make a copy and write your draft answers at your own pace before filling in the form. There’s also an example application to help!

How is the grant assessed and awarded?
Two grants are awarded to two separate businesses each round by a guest judge from the business community.

Can I apply more than once?
Absolutely, as many rounds as you like. Many winners entered multiple times before they were successful. But you can only win once, so we can share the love with as many businesses as possible.

What does “registered for 12 months” mean?
Your business needs to be registered for at least 12 months, counted from your business number date (ABN or equivalent). You don’t need to have been operational or making revenue for 12 months.

Do I keep my IP if I win?
Yes, always. The successful grant winner retains full IP ownership. There are no strings attached to the funding beyond the reporting requirements.

What are the reporting requirements?
Winners are required to provide proof of expenditure within 6 months, and we’d love you to participate in a post-grant interview to share how it impacted your business.

What’s the catch?
There isn’t one. Part of why we launched our own grant is to get more money into the hands of women-led businesses without making it hard.

Questions? Email danielle@sparkbusiness.global or book a time to speak with Danielle directly.

Ready to apply? Round Thirteen opens 1 August 2026. Join SPARK now to be ready when applications open.

How to Apply

Application Link: Click here to apply