The Cartier Women’s Initiative is now accepting entries for its 2026 Awards, inviting women entrepreneurs, scientists, and innovators from around the world to apply.
These awards are designed to amplify the voices of women using business as a force for good, offering both financial and strategic support to help scale their efforts.
Award Categories
The 2026 edition features two key award categories:
1. Thematic Award
Open to women impact entrepreneurs from any country and industry. Three fellows will be selected under this category.
2. Science & Technology Pioneer Award
This award highlights women entrepreneurs leading disruptive innovations built around protected, hard-to-replicate technological or scientific advancements. It is also open to women from any sector or country.
Benefits
1. Financial Support
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US$100,000 grant for each first-place awardee
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US$60,000 grant for each second-place awardee
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US$30,000 grant for each third-place awardee
2. Human Capital Support
Fellows will participate in a tailored fellowship programme featuring personalized training and group workshops.
3. Social Capital Support
The programme will foster connections between fellows and a global network of supporters, focusing on amplifying the environmental and social impact of their work.
Eligibility Criteria
General Requirements:
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Must be a woman-led, impact-driven, for-profit business
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Open to all sectors and regions
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Women with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply
Science & Technology Pioneer Award – Additional Criteria:
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Innovation: Based on new tech, engineering processes, or scientific discovery—not just a disruptive business model.
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Positive impact: Aligned with at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
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Business stage: Early-stage, with a proof of concept or prototype (minimum TRL 4); must not have commercialised its final product/service for more than 6 years.
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Leadership: The applicant must be a woman in a key leadership role (CEO, CTO, MD, etc.).
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Ownership: Business must be majority-owned by founders/team.
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Age: Applicants must be 18 years or older by the application deadline.
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Language: Strong command of English is required.
Selection Process
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Applications are screened for eligibility
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Eligible businesses are scored against selection criteria
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Top 10 businesses per category are shortlisted
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Additional information is gathered to refine scoring
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Top 5 per category undergo in-depth virtual due diligence
Jury Evaluation
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Finalists pitch their businesses and answer questions before a jury panel
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The jury selects and ranks the top 3 fellows per category
How to Apply
Each award category has its application portal. To begin your application, visit the official website.
Deadline: June 24, 2025
The Cartier Women's Initiative is inviting women entrepreneurs, scientists, and innovators globally to apply for its 2026 Awards, aimed at recognizing and supporting women-led businesses with a positive societal impact. The awards provide financial and strategic support to scale these initiatives. There are two main categories: the Thematic Award and the Science & Technology Pioneer Award. The former is open to impact entrepreneurs from any field, while the latter is for those leading technological or scientific innovations.
Awardees receive grants ranging from US$30,000 to US$100,000, along with a fellowship program offering personalized training and networking opportunities to enhance their work’s social and environmental impact. The general eligibility requirements include being a woman-led, for-profit, impact-driven business, open to all sectors and regions, with encouragement for women with disabilities to apply. Additional criteria for the Science & Technology Pioneer Award include innovation based on new tech or discoveries, alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals, and early-stage business with proof of concept.
The selection process involves eligibility screening, scoring against criteria, shortlisting top businesses, and virtual due diligence for the top five per category, before a jury evaluation that includes pitches from finalists. Applications can be submitted through the Cartier Women's Initiative website, with a deadline of June 24, 2025.
