$5K Startup Grant for Black Women (United States)

Deadline: 23 August 2023

The Pepper Startup Grant is specifically for Black women business owners, a dynamic group that has been systematically disenfranchised when seeking to acquire the necessary venture capital funding to expand their businesses.

Pepper was inspired by a passion to change beauty standards for women who are overlooked in the bra industry, now they want to help underrepresented Black entrepreneurs kick start their businesses, in their own way.

Pepper is excited to partner with Startup Girl Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit venture capital fund investing in female founders to administer the grant.

The Award

The final recipient (the “Recipient”) will be awarded $5,000 (the “Grant”). In addition to the Grant, the Recipient will also have the opportunity to participate in advisory, community and amplification initiatives, which will at minimum consist of the following:

1-hour mentorship calls directly with the 2 founders of Pepper, Jaclyn Fu and Lia Winograd;
Dedicated promotion on Pepper’s social media accounts;
Access to workshops and events in the realms of fundraising, finance, marketing, and others (collectively with the “Grant”, the “Award”).

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Grant Program, you and your business must meet all of the following criteria:
- You are 18 years of age or older as of the date the Application is submitted;
- You are a United States citizen or permanent resident physically residing in the United States;
- You are an owner of the business;
- You identify as Black or African American;
- You identify as female or non-binary;
- At least 50% of the business must be owned, controlled or operated and managed by Black or African American, female or non-binary owners;
- Business must be based in the United States and incorporated as a legal entity under the laws of any states within the United States; and
- Business must qualify as an early stage business that has received less than $500,000 of equity financing or funding from investors.
Employees of Pepper and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and any other party involved in the development or administration of the Grant Program, and their immediate family members or household members are not eligible to apply or receive the Grant Program. Past recipients may not apply for additional Grant Program awards.
Pepper may determine, in its sole discretion, whether an applicant meets the eligibility criteria to participate in the Grant Program. Pepper’s decisions regarding eligibility are final and binding.