✦ Fempreneur Fund · 2025 Cohort ✦
Meet the Fempreneur Family
The incredible women who came together for the Fempreneur Fund 2025 programme — entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers from across Antigua & Barbuda.
Calling all female entrepreneurs in Antigua & Barbuda to apply for our annual funding, training, and support programme. We believe in you.
The incredible women who came together for the Fempreneur Fund 2025 programme — entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers from across Antigua & Barbuda.
Female business owners and the CIWiL team from Antigua & Barbuda gathered for the Fempreneur Fund 2025 programme
Sharon Brusch of Needful Thingz celebrates with the CIWiL team at the inaugural Fempreneur Fund award ceremony
The Fempreneur Fund is a signature programme of the CIWiL Antigua & Barbuda National Chapter, dedicated to empowering female business owners who are making a meaningful difference in their industries and communities.
Our initiative offers financial support to the winner while ensuring all participants benefit from comprehensive marketing and financial training in July 2026. We aim to uplift women entrepreneurs making a significant impact in Antigua & Barbuda.
We believe in the transformative potential of female-led businesses to drive innovation, effect change, and inspire the next generation of leaders. The winner will be announced in August 2026.
Start Your ApplicationThe winner receives direct financial assistance to make a significant impact in her business.
All registered participants receive comprehensive marketing and financial training in July 2026.
Connect with experienced business leaders and build a powerful network across the Caribbean.
Access invaluable resources and tools to grow your business and drive innovation in your industry.
You must be a woman who owns a business that is registered and actively operating in Antigua & Barbuda. Business ownership is a firm requirement.
Your business must be registered and actively operating in Antigua & Barbuda.
Your business must actively give back to society — through job creation, community service, social causes, or improving the lives of others in Antigua & Barbuda.
You must provide details about your business, vision, and a clear plan for how you will use the funding.
Applications must be submitted online by the deadline of June 20th, 2026 to be considered.
All registered participants must commit to the full training programme covering marketing, finance, and how to pitch your business. Dates in July 2026 to be announced.
Tell us who you are, what you do, and why your business matters to Antigua & Barbuda. Describe your social impact and vision.
Use our built-in calculator to add each expense line-by-line. Break down exactly how funds will be spent — equipment, marketing, staff, operations, etc.
Demonstrate the potential impact the funding will have on your business, your industry, and your wider community.
All applicants benefit from comprehensive marketing and financial training in July 2026 — regardless of the final outcome.
The Fempreneur Fund 2026 winner will be announced at the award ceremony in August 2026. Good luck!
Complete all steps below. Applications close June 20, 2026.
Add each item you need funding for. Select the category, enter a description, and enter the EC$ amount. The total will calculate automatically.
💡 Tip: Be as specific as possible. Applicants with detailed, realistic budgets have a stronger chance of being selected.
⏰ Deadline: June 20, 2026
Thank you for applying to the Fempreneur Fund 2026. We have received your application and will be in touch.
Make sure to check your email for confirmation. The training programme begins in July 2026 and the winner will be announced in August 2026.
Good luck! 💜
These remarkable women represent the power of the Fempreneur Fund — proof that when you invest in a woman, you invest in an entire community.
Gayno Samuel, owner of Sugar Pan Site, was the deserving winner of the CIWiL Fempreneur Fund 2025 — recognised for her vision, impact, and outstanding entrepreneurial spirit in Antigua & Barbuda.
Sharon Brusch, owner of Needful Thingz — a feminine hygiene product vending business with units in various public spaces — was awarded the inaugural Fempreneur Fund in 2024.
The Fempreneur Fund is a signature programme of the CIWiL Antigua & Barbuda National Chapter. It provides financial support to one winning female business owner each year, while offering comprehensive training in marketing, finance, and how to pitch your business to all registered participants. Now in its 3rd cohort, the programme is open to female business owners across Antigua & Barbuda.
To be eligible you must be a female entrepreneur who owns or leads a business that is registered and operating in Antigua & Barbuda. Your business should have a clear social impact or the potential to make a significant difference in your industry and community. You must also commit to attending the July 2026 training programme.
Applications open on March 8, 2026 and close on June 20, 2026. All applications must be submitted via the online form before midnight on June 20th. Late submissions will not be accepted, so we encourage you to apply early.
There is no fixed minimum or maximum — you are encouraged to request the amount that is realistic and necessary for your business goals. Use the built-in Funding Calculator in the application to break down your request item by item. The selection committee will evaluate each request based on its justification, impact, and feasibility.
The funding is intended to grow your business in a meaningful way. Common uses include purchasing equipment, expanding your products or services, marketing, hiring staff, or upgrading your facilities. You must provide a clear breakdown of how the funds will be used, and the selection committee will assess whether your plan is credible and impactful.
Yes. You must have an active business that is registered and operating in Antigua & Barbuda. The programme is designed for women who are already running a business and are ready to take it to the next level — not for start-up ideas that have not yet launched.
Yes. All registered applicants are required to complete the marketing and financial training programme in July 2026. This training is a core benefit of the Fempreneur Fund — available to every participant regardless of who wins the financial award. Attending the training is a condition of your application.
The winner will be selected by the CIWiL Antigua & Barbuda selection committee after reviewing all submitted applications. Finalists may be contacted for additional information. The winner will be officially announced at our award ceremony in August 2026.
Yes! Previous applicants who were not selected are welcome and encouraged to apply again. Each cohort is a fresh competition, and your experience from the previous training may make your application even stronger this year.
After submitting your application online, you will see a confirmation screen on this page. If you have questions or concerns about your submission, contact us at [email protected].
Yes — the fund is open to female entrepreneurs across all industries, including retail, food & beverage, technology, healthcare, creative arts, agriculture, tourism, education, beauty, and more. What matters most is the impact your business has or can have on your community.
The Fempreneur Fund is organised by the CIWiL Antigua & Barbuda National Chapter — the local chapter of the Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership. CIWiL is a regional organisation dedicated to shaping women leaders across the Caribbean. Learn more at ciwil.org.
Still have questions? We're happy to help.
Email UsHave questions about the Fempreneur Fund 2026? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out via email and our team will respond as soon as possible.
[email protected]