Friends and Family #7
A weekly newsletter amplifying pitch competitions, accelerators (w/funding), and grant opportunities for founders across the globe.
The only Christopher we acknowledge is Wallace, however I hope everyone enjoyed their Monday off :)
October 16, 2020 |Black Girl Ventures x Rare Beauty Brands
Amount: First, second, and third cash prize sponsored by Rare Beauty Brands. Cash collected from the audience. *black female founders*
Black Girl Ventures has teamed up with Rare Beauty Brands to offer a pitch competition for Black and Brown women-identifying founders in the Beauty Industry. Rare Beauty Brands is a company that acquires and incubates high potential indie beauty brands, helping them scale their brands faster and more efficiently.
Eligibility: People from all ethnicities, cultures and gender identities may attend BGV Pitch however ONLY people who identify as women, Black and/or Brown are allowed to pitch. The BGV x Rare Beauty Brands pitch competition is an industry specific pitch competition. Participants must have a business in the beauty industry in order to be selected to pitch.
October 23, 2020 | Vegan Women Summit Pathfinder
Amount: $10k in cash, $35k in branding services, Global WeWork membership *female, plant based founders* *global*
Female-identifying founder of an early stage plant-based company.
Eligibility: Female-identifying founders or co-founders are eligible to submit their pitch. There is no geographic limitation for this event. We invite pitch applications from all across the world. All pitches must be submitted in English. Preference will be given to food products, but all products creating a plant-based alternative will be considered. You must be available during the week of November 29th-December 5th for event rehearsal, coaching, preparation, including full day availability from 8:00am-4:00pm PT on Saturday, December 5th.
October 25, 2020 | Rise of the Rest Pitch Competition
Amount: One company will receive an investment of $1,050,000, Two companies will receive an investment of $525,000. *black founders*
For black founded companies from across the U.S headquartered outside of Silicon Valley, Boston, and New York City. Winners will receive investment and join Revolutions Rise of the Rest seed fund portfolio.
Eligibility: At least 18 years of age. Members of the founding team identify as Black. US-based companies, headquartered anywhere in the United States except for Silicon Valley, CA; New York City, NY; and Boston, MA. (By mandate, the ROTR Fund does not invest in companies based in SF, NYC, or BOS.)
October 31, 2020 | iFundWomen Idea Grant
Amount: (6) $2500 grants to idea stage entrepreneurs in iFundWomen’s member network.
Eligibility: Pre-revenue companies with a strong proof of concept/prototype. Solving an interesting problem with an innovative solution. Strong digital presence and visual media. Must have a website & at least one active business social handle. This application will take you less than 20 minutes to complete. Pro Tip: Have your business pitch written out in advance so you can simply copy and paste it in. The rest of the questions are basic and easy.
October 31, 2020 | StitchFix Elevate Grant and Mentorship Program
Amount: Five $25k grants
Through Elevate, Stitch Fix will mentor BIPOC entrepreneurs using our art and science approach, and fund their businesses with financial grants. We will use our resources, data insights and expertise to help underrepresented entrepreneurs scale their businesses. By fostering BIPOC-owned businesses, we will work toward a more diverse vendor base within our own assortment and accelerate change in our industry.
Eligibility: 18 years of age or older as of the date the application is submitted. Eligible to work in the United States. An early-stage*, majority BIPOC-owned business in the United States that sells Women's, Men's, or Kid's apparel, shoes and/or accessories. In this first year, we will prioritize supporting Black entrepreneurs through the program. Applicants may apply for one business only. *An early-stage business means: Your business has been operating a minimum of 2 years. You are working to grow a customer base and/or strengthen your operations. You are currently selling physical product - apparel, shoes, and/or accessories. You are generating revenue between $50,000 and $1,000,000 per fiscal year.
November 1, 2020 | European AI Fund
Amount: total funding available 1,000,000 euros
Our first open call aims to strengthen the ability of civil society organisations in Europe to play a crucial role at a pivotal time: to effectively shape and influence public and policy debates about the shape and form that Europe’s digital transformation should take.
Our aim is to help build the capacity of those who already work on AI and Automated Decision Making (ADM). At the same time, we want to bring in new civil society actors to the debate, especially those who haven’t worked on issues relating to AI yet, but whose domain of work is affected by AI.
In this funding round, we are making available a total amount of 1,000,000 Euros. Grants can be used for general operating support and for institutional strengthening.
Eligibility: Read eligibility here.
November 12, 2020 | Canada’s Total Mom Pitch
Amount: $10k cash, $20k services
The Pitch allows moms across Canada who own a small business to participate and connect with other entrepreneurs during the competition and beyond while receiving expert feedback.
Eligibility: The Total Mom Pitch accepts applications from any legal resident / student in Canada who identifies as a woman and parent, regardless of profession, race, family status, age, sexual orientation, race, disability, and language, whether she is single, a legal stepmother, or adopted a child, and any women with children who owns a Canadian business and has started the business at least a year ago to date.
As always if I can be helpful shoot me an email at denisha.kuhlor@grasshopper.bank - Have an awesome rest of your week and weekend.
D (@denishakuhlor)
Do you think your readers would be interested in my Black-owned women's 2021 planner/journal? Would love to amplify it -- hard in a pandemic. www.bravesis.com and hello@bravesis.com. It's a solopreneur project, inspired by forces bigger than me. Happy to do a discount code or something. Thx
Thank you! Shared a bunch of these with folks