About Us

For over 115 years, Texas Woman’s University has held a distinctive purpose — to prepare women “for the practical industries of the age.”

Tracy Irby of the TWU Center for Women Entrepreneurs shakes the hand of an attendee at the Texas Conference for Women in Austin TX

In 2015, the Texas Legislature established a special center focused on creating successful new women-owned businesses. TWU was the logical place to headquarter the Center for Women in Business, subsequently renamed the Center for Women Entrepreneurs.

The Center today provides business owners and students interested in entrepreneurship with the training, funding, coaching and networking needed to be successful business owners.

CWE milestones through April 2024

Funding

AssistHER Emergency Relief Grant Program: Awarded $1M to 100 women-owned businesses to help sustain businesses under economic hardship due to COVID-19 in TX
StartHER Grant Program: Awarded $575K to 115 women-owned businesses in TX
Veteran Woman Entrepreneur Grant Program: Awarded $5250K to 82 Veteran women-owned businesses in TX
Texas Woman Rural Grant Program: Awarded $350K to 35 Texas Rural women-owned businesses in TX

Total Award since 2018 = $2,325,000

Business Advising and Programs

Provided business advisement services to 1362 woman entrepreneurs, approximately 272 per year
Hosted over 100 workshops and training related to business development and entrepreneurship
Since 2020, over 169 founders have participated in our CWE Accelerator and FastTrac training programs

All Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership programs and events are open to any resident of the state of Texas, regardless of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or other protected characteristic. This includes the Institute’s funding opportunities, which are available to all eligible persons.

Page last updated 1:04 PM, October 9, 2026