Round 2 of the Boosting Female Founders Initiative is Now Open

Calling all lady entrepreneurs! Heads up - round two of the Australian Government's Boosting Female Founders Initiative - affectionately known as the BFF initiative - is now open with grants of between $25,000 and $400,000 available!

The BFF Initiative commenced in 2020 to support women entrepreneurs to help grow and scale their start-ups into domestic and global markets by providing access to early-stage capital. The BFF Initiative helps female entrepreneurs overcome the disadvantages faced in getting access to finance and support to grow their start-ups.

Approximately $11.6 million in grant funding is available for Round 2. The program will provide targeted support on a co-contribution basis to female founders of start-up businesses (start-ups) to scale into domestic and global markets. The program will also provide expert mentoring and advice to meritorious applicants. Targeted support will be on a co-contribution basis with grants of between $25,000 and $400,000 on a co-contribution basis.

Objectives

The objectives of the BFF initiative are to:

• stimulate private sector investment into innovative start-ups led by women

• support female entrepreneurs to overcome the disadvantages faced in getting finance and support to grow their start-ups

• enable women founders to scale-up, expand into domestic and global markets, and become self-sufficient

• boost the economy through increasing the diversity of start-up founders.

Process

The grant opportunity will be delivered through a two-stage competitive selection process due to the expected high demand for this program. You will first apply via an Expression of Interest (EOI). If successful, you will be invited to submit a Stage Two grant application. Round two closes on 22 April 2021.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must be a female founded (majority owned and led by women) start-up. You must also have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be one of the following entities:

• an entity incorporated in Australia

• a partnership

• a sole trader.

Support

Business Agility provides grant application assistance and support services to business owners and Boards. Please contact us if you are interested in applying for this grant and would like to know how Business Agility may be able to assist you in this process!