Cartier Women's Initiative Regional Awards
Cartier Women's Initiative
An annual international award for women-run impact businesses, with South Asia and Central Asia as one of nine regions. Three fellows from each region receive grants of $100,000, $60,000 or $30,000 by place, plus a fellowship with training and a network. Businesses need revenue, a team and a measurable social or environmental impact.
What you can get
$100,000 for first place, $60,000 for second, $30,000 for third
Do you repay it?
No
Type
Grant
Where
Open to Indian startups
Current status
Applications for the 2027 edition are closed. That deadline was 16 June 2026, with fellows announced in spring 2027. The next edition's dates are not posted.
Who can apply
- Annual revenue between $50,000 and $5 million in the last closed fiscal year.
- Between 5 and 250 team members, counting contractors and part-time staff.
- No more than $2 million raised in equity, SAFEs or convertible notes.
- A woman in a main leadership role, owning a share equal to or above each co-founder.
- An incorporated for-profit business, majority owned by founders and team. Sole proprietorships and non-profits are out.
- Measurable social or environmental impact tied to at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal.
How to apply
- 1Read the application guide and scoring rubric on the Regional Awards page.
- 2Submit one online application in English, as a founder who meets every rule, when the next edition opens.
- 3Finalists are ranked by a jury.
The catch
Only three fellows win per large region. The revenue floor rules out pre-revenue startups, and a plain SaaS with no measurable impact will not fit. Grants may also be taxable locally.
We read this on the official page on 4 November 2026. Rules and dates change, so confirm there before you apply. Founders Wing is not connected to this scheme, does not help with applications and never charges for access to it.