Business Resources
The BOSS Network Teams With Sage To Provide $10K Grants To Black Women Entrepreneurs
Applications are due February 25 at 5pm ET.
It’s no secret that women of color continue to come up short when it comes to investment funding. The BOSS Network is looking to help level the playing field with its BOSS Impact Fund which is focused on supporting Black women-led businesses and preparing entrepreneurs to build scalable, growth aggressive companies.
[SEE ALSO: February Grants & Resources For Black-Owned Beauty Brands]
The BOSS Network has teamed with accounting platform Sage to provide for the “Invest in Progress” grant, offering $10K grants to 25 Black women entrepreneurs in their first five years of business.
“It has been reported that the single greatest barrier to success for new businesses and startups is access to capital—and minorities make up less than 1% of founders that receive that investment. With The BOSS Impact fund, we are working with partners like Sage to address that disparity head-on,” said Cameka Smith, founder, The BOSS Network. “The Sage Invest in Progress program will build on the work of The BOSS Network to not only empower Black women entrepreneurs but also arm them with the resources they need to lead successful businesses and increase their market share.”
The BOSS Network is an online community of more than 200,00 active professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through conversation, online, and event-based networking.
The Sage Invest in Progress grant will also include a 12-month program of entrepreneurial mentorship and education program with quarterly business training courses on such topics as marketing, finance, customer service, and business strategy. Grant awardees will also receive access to the BOSS Network online community and complimentary Sage Business Cloud Accounting software.
Sage has committed to support the BOSS Impact Fund which aims to raise investment funding for 500+ Black women entrepreneurs over the next three years.
“At Sage, we have committed to knocking down barriers that foster an advantage for some groups while creating obstacles for others. Capital investment is one area that we’ve recognized as a barrier, particularly for black businesswomen,” said Aziz Benmalek, interim managing director, Sage North America. “Sage is dedicated to being a part of a cultural shift that will help bring about a business community that is more equitable and sustainable for all.”
The grant application is open now through February 25 at 5pm ET. Grant awardees will be announced in late March.
To apply or for more information, visit BOSSImpactFund.com.
