The Cartier Women’s Initiative Program

This annual international entrepreneurship program, founded in 2006, is designed to support women entrepreneurs who are building businesses with a social or environmental impact.

The program selects 27 participants from nine regions around the world and provides financial, human, and social support to help them develop their businesses and leadership skills.

Key requirements:

• the business must demonstrate positive impact and potential to scale, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• it must be a for-profit entity capable of generating revenue;
• annual revenue should range from $50,000 to $5 million, with a team of 5 to 250 members;
• total funding raised must not exceed $2 million at the time of application;
• the business must be an independent entity, originally created by the team.

Applicant requirements:

• the applicant must be a woman in a leadership role (e.g., CEO, COO, CTO);
• the business must be majority-owned by founders and team members;
• the applicant must have English proficiency at B2 level or higher;
• commitment to participate in the program from January to December 2027 is required.

Additional note:

• fellows are required to report on their impact for three years after completing the program.

Фінансування:

• $100,000 USD — для переможця, який посів перше місце в категорії;
• $60,000 USD — для другого місця;
• $30,000 USD — для третього місця.

Додаткова підтримка:

• надається пакет human capital support, спрямований на розвиток підприємців;
• доступ до мережі CWI, міжнародна видимість та медійна підтримка;
• можливості для розширення соціального капіталу та професійних зв’язків

Supported activities:

• participation in a fellowship program combining 1:1 training and group workshops;
• leadership, communication, and media training workshops;
• participation in the INSEAD Women’s Impact Entrepreneurship program;
• 1:1 coaching and business training in key functional areas;
• mentorship, networking, and access to a global community (500+ members);
• ongoing support for business development and international visibility.

Program phases:

• January–May: communication, workshops, and filming;
• May/June: in-person events and Awards Week;
• June–December: individual coaching and leadership development.

Types of supported projects:

• early-stage impact businesses with validated product-market fit and revenue generation;
• projects innovating in business models or distribution approaches;
• science- and technology-based ventures under the Science & Technology Pioneer Award, focused on research-driven innovation.

Application stage:

• registration and submission are completed via an online platform (Submitable);
• the application must be completed by the candidate лично;
• paper submissions are not accepted;
• the deadline is June 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM (CEST / GMT+2).

Failure to meet deadlines may result in disqualification.

Next stages:

• submission of additional documents (for shortlisted candidates) — August 2026;
• final results notification — by December 2026;
• fellows announcement — April 2027 (exact date TBC);
• public announcement of awardees — during the awards ceremony in May or June 2027.

Key dates:

• application period: April 16 – June 16, 2026 (2:00 PM CEST);
• first notifications: August 2026;
• all applicants will be notified by December 2026.

Step-by-step process:

1. Register on the Submitable platform using a personal or company email address.
2. Complete the online application form within the account.
3. Save a draft if needed and finalize the submission before the deadline.
4. Monitor the registered email address for communication and updates.
5. Submit the application on time (it is strongly recommended to submit early).

Additional options:

• applicants may request edits before the deadline;
• incorrect submissions can be withdrawn and resubmitted;
• a PDF version of the application can be downloaded after submission.

Applications are evaluated by the program jury based on defined criteria and a scoring system from 0 to 5 for each dimension.

Key criteria:

• Impact intentionality and embeddedness (5%) — assesses motivation, intention, and how impact is embedded in the business model;
• Impact objectives and measurement (20%) — alignment with SDGs, scale of impact, and measurement practices;
• Market analysis and fit (10%) — product-market fit, competitive advantage, and growth opportunity;
• Sustainable business and financial model (25%) — financial sustainability, scalability, customer loyalty, and robustness of the model;
• Strategy and execution (10%) — growth strategy, risk management, and monitoring systems;
• Team (10%) — team capabilities, experience, and networks;
• Leadership character (20%) — entrepreneurial mindset, values, and commitment to the mission.

Scoring system:

• scale from 0 (low / not aligned) to 5 (high / fully aligned);
• scoring reflects both evidence and level of implementation (from early-stage to scaling).

Additional notes:

• evaluations are conducted at the jury’s discretion based on program criteria;
• specific award criteria may be further detailed on the program webpage.

Key requirement:

• fellows are required to report on their impact for three years following the completion of their fellowship.

This includes ongoing updates on activities and the impact achieved after the program ends.