Grant Guidelines

Grant will open 09/01/2026. Guidelines will be updated then.

Read about our latest StartHER Grant winners

Update to video: Business must be formed as a legal entity.

Purpose:

To provide woman-owned startups in Texas with the financial support to fuel their growth and drive success.

Grant amount:

$5,000

Who can apply?*

Eligible businesses must satisfy all of the following conditions:

Existing Texas woman-owned businesses (51% directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents) with five or fewer employees may apply (including the owner).
The business must be set up as a legal entity.
The business must be located and operated within the state of Texas.
Business must be five years or less (formed after 09/25/2020) – No date exceptions
The business must be a for-profit corporation, partnership, LLP, LLC, or sole proprietorship. Non-profit organizations are not eligible.
If the business or business owner owns the premises where the business operates, all property taxes must be current.
All sales, payroll, and other taxes must be current.
Business owner(s) must not have any felonies or convictions for a crime of dishonesty or breach of trust.
The business, business owner, and applicant must not be involved in any pending or current litigation.
The business, owner, and applicant operate with all required permits and licenses and conform to all state laws.

Please check the Texas Taxable Entity Search page to verify your business is in good standing with the state: https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/

Ineligible applicants/entities

Non-profit organizations and other 501(C) entities.
TWU faculty/staff (or any immediate family member of the applicant’s family, including spouse, child, parent), trustee, and advisory committee member.
Current TWU Students.
Prior grant winners of any CWE grant program.
Applicants who have participated in any CWE program in the last year including AccelerateHER, TechFW, CWE Virtual Accelerator, or NTEETC/Foundations EDC awardees.
Current consultants with a contract with the CWE
Anyone who has served as a judge for any CWE grant program

What can the funds be used for?

Purchase of machinery, equipment, or technology.
Inventory or raw materials.
Merchandising fixtures and display units.
Professional business certifications.
Property improvements that will result in increased sales and revenue.
Marketing, advertising, and social media campaigns.
Any other business-related activity that CWE deems is aligned with the stated purpose of this program.

Funds can’t be used for:

Wages, salaries, bonuses, or compensation of any kind
Real Property – including land or buildings
Paying your regular monthly bills
Sales tax

What will need to be uploaded to the grant application:

We will only accept one or more of the following:

LLC/LLC Formation Documents – Certificate of Formation and all pages listing members/managers. If there are multiple owners, including at least one male, you must submit the complete articles of organization, including percentage ownership, with the LLC Certification of Formation showing woman-owned before the grant opening date of 8/26/2025.
Corporation Documents – Articles of Incorporation and bylaws showing shareholders/owners
Assumed Name Certificate (DBA) – Filed with your local county clerk – if just you, nothing else needs to be submitted with it.
Partnership Agreement – Must show names and ownership percentages
Any valid third-party Woman-Owned Certification – Must clearly state woman-owned

One PDF with the Company Background and Project Information below (best to just copy this information and answer each question)
Documentation for all expenses in your budget. These could include proposals from a vendor, quotes or estimates, pictures from Amazon, preliminary invoices, etc.

Ineligible documentation that will disqualify your application:

Entity documentation with business name only
EIN
Sales & Use Tax Permit
IRS tax forms
Driver’s license
Credit card
Passport
Social Security Card
Minority-owned business certification unless it specifically says woman-owned

Company Background and Project Information

Copy & Paste the information below into a PDF that you will upload to your online grant application — each question must be answered, put N/A if not applicable. This information is mandatory. If the judging committee can’t easily find the answer to these questions your application may be disqualified.

Company Background

Description of the company’s current operations including products, markets, etc.
Description of the company’s current operating facilities – both owned and leased
Summary of the company’s current full and part-time employment
Description of the company’s need to undertake the proposed project

Project Narrative

Budget for the project, including project costs and source and use of funds (see FAQs)
Physical description of the proposed project, including any business or residential relocation that may result from the undertaking of the project
Projected new employment for each of the three years following project completion, including job title
Explanation of how your project will contribute to the economy of Texas

What are the grant requirements?

Funds must be matched by a minimum of 10% ($500) owner investment (cash, property, or equipment). The investment must not be associated with debt of any kind and must be committed and available to the project at the time of the grant application. The amount can be added to your budget as owner investment. (see FAQs)
All grant funds must be spent and documentation submitted before April 26, 2026.

Application process:

Applications will only be accepted through the online portal and must be submitted by 5:00:00 p.m. Friday, September 26, 2025. Revisions are not permitted following submission. Applications received after 5:00:00 p.m., Friday, September 26, 2025, will be rejected.
All questions must be answered and all required information and documentation must be included and easy for judges to locate.
The applicant must attach documentation for all requested funds (e.g., vendor proposals, quotes or estimates, Amazon pictures, preliminary invoices, etc.). The amounts the grant will be used for cannot be estimated or rounded up. Incomplete and/or second applications will be rejected.

After you’ve been awarded:

The successful applicant will receive two installments of the award:

$2,500 after signing the grant agreement, a photo release, and all required TWU paperwork for payment.
$2,500 is conditional upon completing a small business training course hosted by the Center for Women Entrepreneurs, receiving 3 hours of small business advising, and submission and approval of a completed business plan with three years of financials. Additionally, itemized paid receipts or proof of purchases made with initial grant funds of $2,500 (costs must have been incurred after receiving grant funding) must be provided to the CWE to receive the remaining $2,500 by April 26, 2026, or be forfeited.
The spreadsheet provided by the CWE must be used to document receipts, advising, and other requirements for round 2 of funding.

It is the responsibility of each grant awardee to understand and complete all grant requirements within the designated timeframe. Awardees are expected to manage deadlines, track their progress, and reach out if questions arise. Failure to meet the requirements will result in loss of remaining grant funds.
The University will send winners a 1099 for the grant funds received

Questions?

All questions must go to cwegrants@twu.edu for documentation purposes. Please do not call, as we will just refer you to the email.

See FAQ

Page last updated 4:02 PM, November 19, 2025