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Female Founders Competition

14 March 2024

Deadline: April 30, 2024

Women-led start-ups across Northern Ireland are invited to put themselves forward for the latest Female Founders grant competition delivered by Women in Business in partnership with Techstart Ventures.

Now in its third year, the 2024 Female Founders grant competition is open to applicants, who can apply for a grant of up to £35,ooo.  The funding is provided by Techstart Ventures, and the successful applicants will also receive a business mentor through the Women in Business mentoring programme.

Applicants have until the 30th April deadline to enter their business start-ups, with a round of pitching expected to produce a shortlist of winners between 20th and 22nd May who will then be invited to the Women in Business All-Island Entrepreneurs Conference taking place 6th June.

 

What activities are Eligible within the Grant?

Eligible activities for support include but are not limited to:

  • Concept/Prototype Development – i.e. Costs directed towards designing and developing either a software or hardware based product such as UI/UX, platform development, building a web/mobile application, producing an MVP or construction/manufacturing work.
  • Market Research – i.e. Activities around further understanding and sizing of the addressable market, such as Focus Groups, Domain Expert Consultancy and/or Attendance to relevant Trade Shows.
  • Market Validation – i.e. Costs associated with testing the concept with potential customers and end-users.
  • Market Testing Activities – i.e. Expenditure incurred in testing the best way to take the product to market.
  • Assessment of uniqueness of IP – i.e. A patent search.
  • Employment costs where a clear output will be delivered – If the Applicant has the expertise to carry out some of the activities above they may do so as long as it falls within the 30% limit previously explained.

 

Visit techstartgrants.com/femalefounders to begin your application and be sure to sign up to competition online Info Session on Tuesday 19th March here.

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