A woman of colour founder
You self-identify as a woman of colour and are building in Europe or the UK. This is a core eligibility requirement, not one of several interchangeable barriers.
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The Founderland Forward Grant
Backing women of colour entrepreneurs in Europe and the UK who face barriers to early funding.
Explore the next cycle ↘Fuel for a first break
Founderland provides equity-free grants of €10,000 to women of colour building promising ventures without ready access to capital. It's more than funding. Recipients join the Founderland community and gain resources, perks, peers, and mentors to support what comes next.
Is this grant for you?
You self-identify as a woman of colour and are building in Europe or the UK. This is a core eligibility requirement, not one of several interchangeable barriers.
You are testing an idea, building a prototype, or landing your first customers—and the business is at least 50% women-owned.
You know how €10,000 would move the venture forward, whether that means launching, validating, or growing.
See who we have funded
Explore previous recipients and the companies they are building across Europe.
Meet past recipients ↗What you will receive
An equity-free grant with flexibility to fund what matters most.
Founderland membership and a network of peers, mentors, and partners.
Practical resources and exclusive perks to help you build.
Quarterly virtual and in-person networking opportunities.
Next application cycle
The Q4 application window runs from October 1 at 00:00 until December 31, 2026 at 23:59 Europe/Berlin.
Go to the application ↗Application fee: €50. Limited fee waivers are available for founders for whom the fee is a financial barrier.
Request a fee waiver ↗Questions, answered
The €50 non-refundable fee supports programme administration and future Forward Grants: at least €40 enters the grant pool, €7.50 covers independent review, and €2.50 covers platform and administration costs. Eligible applicants also receive Founderland membership, resource-library access, networking invitations, and a €25 re-application credit after demonstrating progress.
Women of colour entrepreneurs aged 18 or over in Europe or the UK whose business is at least 50% women-owned. The applicant does not personally need to hold the full 50%. Being affected by nationality, age, motherhood, caregiving, socioeconomic circumstances, or cultural background does not by itself meet the eligibility requirement. Review the full Grant Terms and Conditions before applying.
Systemic racial and ethnic barriers limit access to capital and networks. The Forward Grant exists to provide equity-free funding and community support specifically to women of colour founders. Other challenges may compound an eligible founder’s experience, but they do not replace this core criterion.
Idea-stage, prototype-stage, and early-revenue businesses are eligible. Revenue-generating non-profits may also apply if they can demonstrate a path to sustainability. The central requirement is that €10,000 would unlock a clear, meaningful milestone.
Limited application-fee waivers are available for founders for whom the fee would be a financial barrier. Request a fee waiver before applying ↗
One to five €10,000 equity-free grants are awarded each quarter, depending on the available funding pool and the quality of eligible applications. Founderland commits to awarding the full €10,000 amount; 80% of application fees enter the grant pool.
Every eligible applicant receives Founderland community membership, resource-library access, and invitations to quarterly networking events. Founders have used these connections to find co-founders, customers, and collaborators.
Explain the problem and who it affects; show early progress or validation, however small; demonstrate how you have moved forward with limited support; and give a specific, realistic plan for how €10,000 would advance the business.
Be concrete about your market, show early customer validation even if you are pre-revenue, and demonstrate resourcefulness. Founderland is looking for founders who can make the most of limited resources.
Break the €10,000 into clear line items with outcomes attached—for example, €3,000 for website development tied to conversion, €4,000 for inventory to fulfil the first 100 orders, and €3,000 for living costs that enable three months of full-time focus.
Applications run quarterly. Winners are selected and announced within the first month of the following quarter, and every applicant is notified by email whether or not she was selected.
Yes. If at least six months have passed since your most recent submission, the returning-applicant fee is €25. If you apply sooner, the standard €50 fee applies. Use the application ID from your confirmation email so the form can verify the correct fee automatically. Application fees are non-refundable, so review the eligibility criteria carefully before applying.
Fund the Forward Grant
Your donation directly determines how many women receive the early boost they need to test, build, and grow.
Donate now ↗