The €50 fee directly sustains the grant pool. At least €40 goes into the grants themselves, €7.50 covers independent application review, and €2.50 covers platform and admin costs. These figures are tracked and published in our annual Impact Report.

Every eligible applicant also receives benefits worth more than the fee:

• Founderland community membership,

• Access to discounts, templates, and tools in our resource library,

• Invitations to quarterly networking events,

• A €25 re-application credit if you apply again after showing business progress.

See full Grant Terms & Conditions here.

Women entrepreneurs in Europe or the UK who are at least 18 years old and own 50% or more of their business. Applicants should be able to show that they’ve faced barriers in their entrepreneurial journey tied to race, ethnicity, or cultural background.

Full grant terms and conditions here.

Because systemic barriers limit access to capital and networks. Women entrepreneurs in Europe who experience racial or ethnic discrimination are significantly less likely to receive early investment. The Forward Grant helps level the playing field by providing equity-free funding and community support where it is most needed.

We support idea-stage, prototype-stage, and early-revenue businesses. Revenue-generating non-profits are also eligible as long as they can show a path to sustainability. The key requirement is that €10,000 would unlock a clear and meaningful milestone.

We know the fee can be a barrier. A limited number of waivers are available — email hello@founderland.org to request one.

The number of grants awarded each quarter ranges from 1-5, depending on our funding pool size. Each grant is €10,000 equity-free. We're committed to awarding the full €10,000 amount to ensure meaningful impact for recipients. Total number of grants deployed depends on:

1. Funding available (80% of all fees go directly into the grant pool),

2. The quality of applications received.

All eligible applicants receive Founderland community membership, access to our resource library, and invitations to quarterly networking events. Many founders have used these connections to find co-founders, customers, or collaborators.

• A clear explanation of the problem you’re solving and who it affects,

• Evidence of early progress or validation (even small steps count),

• Resourcefulness — showing how you’ve moved forward with limited support,

• A specific and realistic plan for how €10,000 would move your business forward.

Be concrete about your market, show early customer validation (even if pre-revenue), and demonstrate resourcefulness. We’re looking for founders who can make the most of limited resources.

Break down the €10,000 into clear line items with outcomes attached. For example:

• €3,000 for website development to increase conversion rates,

• €4,000 for inventory to fulfil first 100 orders,

• €3,000 for three months of living expenses to focus full-time.

Applications run quarterly. Winners are selected and announced within the first month of the following quarter. All applicants are notified by email whether or not they were selected.

Yes. You may reapply after six months if you can show progress in your business. Re-applicants receive a €25 credit toward the application fee.

Please note: application fees are non-refundable. To avoid disappointment, review the eligibility criteria carefully before applying. Applicants who do not meet the requirements (e.g. not based in Europe/UK, not women-led, or not aligned with the grant’s focus) will not be considered.