Deadline: 31-Aug-23
Applicants are now invited to submit their applications for the Fearless Strivers Grant Contest.
Black women-owned businesses are vital to their economy yet receive less than one percent of venture capital funding. Fearless Fund is deepening its commitment to this community with the launch of the 2023 Fearless Strivers Grant Contest.
With Mastercard prizing, they’ll be awarding four lucky small businesses across the country with $20,000 grants, digital tools to help them grow their business online, and mentorship so they can continue to bolster their business. There are four entry periods throughout the year. Don’t miss your opportunity, simply complete the entry form for your chance to win.
Funding Information
- The Grant Contest (there will be one winner selected per entry period)
- Grantees will receive $20,000 in grants to go towards business growth;
- Digital tools to help them grow their business online; and
- Mentorship.
Eligibility Criteria
- Business must be at least 51% black woman owned
- Revenue generating (Minimum annual revenue of $50,000 strongly preferred)
- Formed under United States law and operating in the United States
- The Fearless Strivers Grant Contest (“Contest”) is open only to black females who are at the time and date of entry:
- Legal U.S. residents (including D.C.);
- eighteen (18) years of age or older (or the age of majority in their state of residence, whichever is older) (which is eighteen (18) in most states, but is nineteen (19) in Alabama and Nebraska, and twenty-one (21) in Mississippi).
Entry Requirements
- All Entries must meet the following criteria, as determined within Sponsor’s final sole discretion:
- Entries that contain or otherwise infringe on any third-party names, trademarks, music, identities, copyrighted or patented material, and/or other material subject to third party rights are prohibited;
- Entries that include any reference to any patents and/or trade secrets of Sponsor or Released Parties and/or its competitors are prohibited;
- Entries that are obscene, offensive, contain any profanities, endorse any form of hate or hate group, or any language or images communicating messages inconsistent with the positive images to which Sponsor and/or Released Parties wishes to associate will be void;
- Entries cannot be sexually explicit or suggestive, unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group, profane or pornographic, or contain nudity or any materially dangerous activity;
- Entries cannot promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political agenda or message;
- Entries cannot contain disparaging remarks, defame, misrepresent, invade the publicity, third party rights and/or the privacy rights of Sponsor, Released Parties, their products or any trademarks or other intellectual property they own, other products or companies, or any person, living or deceased;
- No background artwork should appear in the Entries unless it is an original work of the Entrant. Any artwork, murals, etc. that can be seen in Entries must be created solely by the Entrant or Entrant must be the sole owner of all copyright interests therein;
- Entries cannot contain trademarks owned by others, or advertise or promote any brand or product of any kind, or contain any personal identifiable information, such as personal names, email addresses, etc.;
- Entries cannot communicate messages inconsistent with the positive images and/or goodwill to which Released Parties associate; and
- Entries cannot be in violation of any law, statute, regulation, or ordinance.Sponsor reserves the right to void and disqualify any Entry not satisfying these requirements, as determined within Sponsor’s final sole discretion.
- Sponsor reserves the right to void and disqualify any Entry not satisfying these requirements, as determined within Sponsor’s final sole discretion.
Judging Procedure and Criteria
- All eligible Entries received during the Promotion Period will be judged by Sponsor based on the following criteria by Sponsor and its designees:
- Viability and strength of business (0-30 points),
- How the business intends to use the grant (0-30 points), and
- Potential for business growth (0-40 points). At the conclusion of each Entry Period, the Entry with the highest score for such Entry Period, as determined by the judges, in their sole discretion, will be declared the potential prize winner (subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. In the event of a tie for any Entry Period, the tied Entries for such Entry Period will be re-judged based on: Potential for business growth (0-100 points). If there is still a tie, Sponsor will bring in a tie breaking judge to apply the same judging criteria to break the tie and determine the potential winner(s). Sponsor reserves the right to select fewer than four (4) winners if, in their sole discretion, they do not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries. Any non-winning Entries received for any Entry Period will not roll-over or be included in subsequent Entry Periods. Limit one (1) prize per small business.
- By participating, Entrants agree to abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and judges, which are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest.
For more information, visit Fearless Strivers Grant Contest.