Application Deadline: June 16, 2026 at 2pm Central European Summer Time (CEST).
Applications are now open for the 2027 Cartier Women’s Initiative Regional Award. The Regional Awards recognize women impact entrepreneurs from around the world who are leveraging business as a force for good.
Requirements
- The Regional Awards of the Cartier Women’s Initiative are looking for women-owned and women-led impact-driven businesses. Entrepreneurs across all sectors and geographies are encouraged to apply.
- Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply, and every effort will be made to include them appropriately.
- To be considered for this award, the applicant and the applicant’s business must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Positive impact: The business should demonstrate that it has realized positive impact in its industry and that it has the potential to realize even more impact as it scales. It should contribute to at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations for the year 2030 as a universal call to tackle a range of social, economic and environmental challenges.
- For-profit: The business should be designed to generate sufficient revenue to support its operations and return some level of profit to its owners. Non-profit enterprises are not eligible. That said, the business does not have to be profitable at the time of application.
- Stage: The business should have generated annual revenue between $50,000 USD and $5 million USD in its last closed fiscal year as of the date of application and should employ between 5 and 250 team members (i.e. full-time employees, part-time employees, seasonal workers, or contractors).
- Fundraising: The business should not have raised more than $2 million USD in dilutive or potentially dilutive funding (i.e. equity, quasi-equity like SAFE or Convertible Notes) as of the date of application. Dilutive funding is any kind of funding that consists of a transfer of the ownership of your company at the time of the funding or in the future under specified terms. Businesses that have not raised any external funding are also encouraged to apply.
- Leadership: The applicant must be a woman and fill one of the main leadership positions, for example as CEO, COO, CTO, General Manager, or Managing Director of the business.
- Independent entity: The business entity and its finances must be independent from the founder(s). Moreover, it must be an original creation, wholly conceived of by the team; a completely new concept, meaning it cannot be a spin-off or franchise of an existing concept.
- Ownership: The business must be incorporated and majority owned by its founders and team members at the time of application. The applicant must be part of the founding team and own a share greater or equal to that of each of her co-founder(s).
- Legal entry age: The applicant must be at least 18 years of age on the day of the application deadline (June 16, 2026).
- English proficiency: A good command of the English language is required.
Benefits
The fellows, representing the top three impact businesses from each of the nine regions, will receive:
FINANCIAL CAPITAL SUPPORT
• $ 100,000 USD grant for each first-place awardee
• $ 60,000 USD grant for each second-place awardee
• $ 30,000 USD grant for each third-place awardee
HUMAN CAPITAL SUPPORT
Human capital support is structured into a fellowship program, which includes a combination of 1:1 training and collective workshops.
• Leadership communications and media training workshops
• In-person INSEAD Women’s Impact Entrepreneurship Program
• 1:1 training in specific business areas
• 1:1 executive leadership coaching by The Women’s Impact Alliance
SOCIAL CAPITAL SUPPORT
Throughout the program, we strive to highlight the social and environmental impact created by our fellows and bridge connections between women impact entrepreneurs and their supporters.
• International exposure and media visibility
• Support and mentorship by jury members during the fellowship
• Access to a lifelong community of 500+ active community members
• Ongoing support for the development of the fellows’ impact businesses
Time Commitment
The applicant must commit to participating in the fellowship program from January 2027 to December 2027.
Phase 1. Communication and Stance (January to May):
- • 2 days of on-site filming featuring the fellow and their business
- • Approximately 20 hours of group workshops
Phase 2. Celebrate and Connect (May / June):
- • A 2.5-day in-person Women’s Impact Entrepreneurship program with INSEAD
- • Followed by 4.5 days of Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Week
Phase 3. Skills and Leadership (June to December):
- • Approximately 28 hours of individual business and leadership coaching
In addition, fellows are required to report on their impact for three years following the completion of their fellowship.
Key dates:
- The online application form will be open from April 16 to June 16, 2026 at 2pm Central European Summer Time (CEST).
- First round of notification emails will be sent out in August 2026. All applicants will be notified by December 2026.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Regional Award
