Cartier Women’s Initiative 2027 – Up to $100,000 Grant and Executive Fellowship – Apply Now

Application Deadline: June 16, 2026 (2:00 PM CEST)

About the Program

Official applications for the Cartier Women’s Initiative 2027 are now being accepted. More than a simple grant, this is a year-long fellowship aimed at helping women-led, for-profit businesses scale their social or environmental impact. A comprehensive package of financial capital, human capital support, and social capital access is offered by the program. Beyond the prize money, leadership training, executive education, coaching, and lifelong access to a global community of women impact entrepreneurs are received by selected fellows.

Prize Amounts (Per Region – Top 3 Winners)

• 1st Place: $100,000
• 2nd Place: $60,000
• 3rd Place: $30,000

Additional Benefits for All Winners:

• Leadership and media training
• INSEAD Women’s Impact Entrepreneurship Program (in-person)
• 1:1 executive leadership coaching
• Lifelong access to a community of 500+ women entrepreneurs
• International media visibility
• Ongoing mentorship

Who Can Apply (Regional Awards)

Eligibility Criteria:

• Impact-driven businesses that are women-owned and women-led are eligible
• For-profit status is required (non-profits are not eligible)
• Incorporation between June 2019 – June 2024 (1 to 6 years old)
• A minimum of 1 year of revenue is required (as of June 2024)
• Less than US$2 million in equity or dilutive funding must have been raised
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old, with a woman in a leadership role (CEO, COO, Managing Director, etc.)
• English proficiency at B2 level or above is required

Science & Technology Pioneer Award:

Women-led deep-tech startups with significant R&D and longer commercialization cycles are also targeted by a thematic Science & Technology Pioneer Award.

Regions (9):

• Latin America & Caribbean
• North America
• Europe
• Francophone Africa
• Anglophone & Lusophone Africa
• MENA (Middle East and North Africa)
• East Asia
• South & Central Asia
• Oceania

Application Requirements (Compulsory Documents)

• A one-minute video in which the following questions are answered:

• What is your motivation?
• What impact do you wish to create?
• What do you want from the fellowship?

• Your resume (CV)
• Business registration document
• Cap table (capitalization table showing ownership structure)
• Pitch deck (max 15 pages) an existing investor presentation that accurately describes your impact should be used
• Professionally prepared or audited financial statements for the most recent two fiscal years (required for the Tech award)

Optional Documents:

• Competitive landscape
• Theory of change/impact framework
• Impact report
• Product images, brochures, press articles, etc.

Selection Process

Shortlisting is followed by in-depth due diligence (top 5 per region), then a jury presentation, after which the top 3 fellows are selected.

Time Commitment:

• 1–3 hours per week during the fellowship
• One week of in-person events
• 2 days of on-site filming

Reporting:

• For 3 years after the fellowship ends, impact must be reported by fellows

Important:

• Only one application is permitted – disqualification will result from submitting to multiple categories

Key Dates

• Applications Open: April 16, 2026
• Application Deadline: June 16, 2026 (2:00 PM CEST)
• Fellowship Period: January – December 2027

Tips for a Strong Application

1. Start with the Application Guide & Scoring Rubric: Exactly what the jury values is told to you by the guide. The six selection criteria are embedded positive impact, market analysis & fit, sustainable business model, strategy & execution, team, and leadership.

2. Prove Your Impact Intentionally: Impact that is locked into your business model (embeddedness), not an afterthought, is what the jury looks for. Quantify what you’ve already achieved and what will grow as you scale.

3. Show Your Competitive Moat: Your defensible advantage (IP, network effects, proprietary data, etc.) and your path to profitability should be crystal clear.

4. Demonstrate a Strong, Complementary Team: 2–4 team members with skills that fill each other’s gaps, a solid track record, and relevant advisors are shown by the best applications.

5. Attend the Virtual Workshops: Free “Ask Me Anything” and thematic workshops on impact, business models, and the application process are held by the foundation. Direct insight into what the jury is looking for is given by these.

6. One Application, One Focus: Multiple categories should not be applied to. The category (Regional or Tech) that fits your business best should be chosen, and all your energy should be put into that one submission.

7. Be Authentic in Your Video: Your chance to be memorable is the 1-minute video. Speak from the heart about your motivation and the change you want to create. Reading a script should be avoided – let your passion show.

How to Apply

Official Application Page (Regional Awards) Click here

Science & Technology Pioneer Award Click here

Application Guide & Scoring Rubric: Available on the official site – reading them before starting is strongly advised.

Pro Tip from a Former Applicant

Pushing you to articulate your business model, impact, and leadership is what the intense application does. As a strategic exercise, treat it. Clear impact, a strong business model, and real scalability should be shown.

Why This Opportunity Matters

One of the world’s most prestigious awards for women impact entrepreneurs is the Cartier Women’s Initiative. Beyond the substantial grant funding ($100,000 for first place), access to the following is provided by the fellowship component:

• World-class executive education at INSEAD, one of the leading global business schools
• 1:1 leadership coaching tailored to your development needs
• Media visibility that can transform your business’s profile
• A community of 500+ women entrepreneurs who become lifelong peers and collaborators

For women-led businesses with proven impact and revenue, a rare opportunity to receive both capital and comprehensive support to scale is offered here.

Click here to apply for Cartier Women’s Initiative 2027: Fully Funded Grants.

For More Information: Visit the Official Cartier Women’s Initiative Website