Lessons Learned from an Amber Grant Recipient
Since our goal is to help women entrepreneurs start, run, and grow successful businesses, we decided to ask past Amber Grant winners for advice they would want to share with you. First up is our 2019 annual Amber Grant winner, Amy Mitchell of Lisse Shave, who received a $25,000 check from us last month. Here’s […]
Earn a $5,000 Grant Toward Your Business Education
Early-stage woman-owned businesses looking for educational support should consider applying to be a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow. Applications are due by November 19, 2019. Up to 50 Tory Burch Foundation Fellows will be selected and asked to commit to participate in a one-year program that includes: A $5,000 grant to be invested in their business […]
5 Lessons I Learned During My First Year in Business
That first year in business is one of the hardest. You’re learning how to sell your products and services while simultaneously figuring out how to build a business. It’s a lot like flying a plane while you build it, as the saying goes. The good news is that the vast majority of small businesses do […]
12 No-Cost or Low-Cost Marketing Tools
We recently received a question from an e-mailer who said, “I’d like to hear about no or low-cost marketing tools and ideas. Promoting a business as an independent woman operating as a team of one has its challenges.” We agreed and wanted to offer some ideas for getting more bang for your marketing buck. 12 […]
8 Government Resources to Help Women Business Owners
Believe it or not, the US government wants your small business to be successful. That’s because small businesses are a major growth engine for the US economy, so it’s in the government’s best interest to help new companies get started and to support existing businesses in need of guidance or capital. As of 2018, 30.2 […]
Tips from Fundera for Creating a Strong Video for its Zach Grant Program
Fundera’s Nicolas Straut was happy to answer questions about the company’s $2,500 Zach Grant program for small businesses. But before we get there, let’s look at their process, per Fundera’s website: How to Apply: 1. Like and follow Fundera on Facebook. 2. Record a 3 minute video responding to the question: “Why did you start your […]
Your A-Z Guide to Funding Your Woman-Owned Business
by Marcia Layton Turner Finding capital to start or grow a business is challenging. But if you know the lingo of the financial community, you may be able to get a leg up — or at least uncover other sources of funding you weren’t aware of. The following is WomensNet’s A to Z guide to […]
Consider These Tips from FedEx when Applying for its Small Business Grants
FedEx media relations pro Gretchen Mathis was kind enough to answer a series of questions WomensNet posed regarding FedEx’s small business grant contest. The 2019 winners were just announced (April 2019), so use these suggestions to prepare for the 2020 round. The last paragraph of Mathis’ response offers suggestions for what you can start doing […]
Identifying The Best Mentor For you
by Dr. Sydney Richardson Dr. Sydney Richardson currently serves as Dean of College and Career Readiness at Forsyth Technical Community College. After years of facilitating workshops on mentorship, teamwork, and professional development, she launched Rae of Knowledge (RoK), a company that assists businesses and organizations in achieving their goals using relational strategies. Dr. Richardson resides […]
Tips for Writing a Winning Amber Grant Application
Free money for startup businesses is extremely scarce. So it’s important to invest time in putting your best foot forward in every grant application you submit, including WomensNet’s Amber Grant program. That doesn’t mean preparing a business plan-length tome but, rather, hitting hard on why your business or product is viable and worthy of funding. […]
Catching up with Amber Grant Winner Imagiread
by Tiffany Rachann, Founder of Imagiread I remember it like it was yesterday. Scrolling through Facebook, looking at posts with absolutely no enthusiasm. Life was low. Houston had just experienced the worst hurricane in history only three months prior with a rainfall exceeding 20 inches. Thousands of families lost their homes and everything within. There was a […]
How to Manage Your Personal Finances as a Business Owner
by Dr. Andrea Johnson Andrea is the owner of ANJ Consulting Services, where she assists clients with developing solutions to their financial problems through individual consulting, workshops, and courses. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sociology (North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University respectively), a doctoral degree in Leadership Studies […]
Catching up with Amber Grant Winner Hey Paddle
In July of 2017, we received an application from a unique business that provided fitness classes on stand up paddle boards. (Neat, right?) That business — Hey Paddle — was selected for an Amber Grant. Co-founder Becca Tongsinoon impressed us with her business smarts, go-getter attitude and vision for the future. Well, about a year-and-a-half […]
Digital Marketing: What You Need to Know
by Kristy LaPlante Kristy is a senior digital marketing leader specializing in cross-channel digital media planning and strategy. Her work includes strategic + tactical digital marketing across retail, CPG, travel, media, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. She is the Founder of Insight DCS, a consulting firm for small businesses, and teaches Digital Marketing and Analytics […]
15 Best Business Plan Competitions for Startup Entrepreneurs
by Marcia Layton Turner Many members of the WomensNet community have asked us about more opportunities to get start-up money. Well, here’s an idea that might help you. Business plan creation is an exercise required of many MBA students, as a teaching tool, which is why many colleges and universities sponsor business plan competitions – to […]
Build a Values-Driven Company in 4 Simple Steps
by Penny Bauder Penny Bauder is an environmental scientist with a passion for STEAM education. She’s the founder of Green Kid Crafts, a nationally-acclaimed, green company that provides kids around the world with convenient and sustainable STEAM activities through the company’s subscription program. The company has shipped over 1 million themed activity boxes designed to […]
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