It's probably not a coincidence that customer acquisition challenges are showing up alongside rapid changes in how consumers discover businesses and products online. Remember when you'd Google something and get a list of 10 blue links? Not anymore! Something like 45% of US consumers now use AI tools like Google's AI Overview, ChatGPT, and Claude to find local businesses, recommendations, and products.

The good news? Getting your business to surface in AI tools starts with the same, strong SEO foundation that experts have been talking about for years. AI features are built on top of existing search systems; they don't replace them. Keep your website and online profiles up to date, especially your Google Business Profile, and keep showing up online as the community-focused, authentic business baddie that you are! Bonus points for thoughtfully responding to customer reviews, too. 😉

What else is on deck for June:

• 🌈 Happy Pride! To our LGBTQIA+ Launchers: We love you, we see you, and you matter! Thank you for the brilliance you bring to the world.

• 💰 Grant Opportunities: 10+ grants, ranging from $5K-$100K in size, have application deadlines in June. Go get that money, honey!

• 🇬🇧 LWL London 2026: We're counting down the days to our June 29th event in Shoreditch! London Launchers, we sure can't wait to see you!

• 🩵 Meet Jessica: The founder of ​Fat Cat San Francisco​ and co-owner of newly opened ​Fat Cat & The Mantis​ dishes about her path to opening a gathering space in a city that's dominated by technology and AI.

Cheers to a booming June!
The Ladies Who Launch team

💰 GRANT DEADLINES

For any questions about the below grants, including eligibility, please reach out to the granting organization directly.

• ​[$10K-$100K] Jobber Grants for Home Services​. Jobber is awarding 9 grants to home and commercial services businesses looking to grow or innovate! Deadline: June 11, 2026

• ​[$50K] EmpowHer Grant​. Our amazing partners at ​Boundless Futures Foundation​ are in the final stretch of their spring grant cycle! Up to $50K is available for qualifying women-owned small businesses that demonstrate a clear social impact. Deadline: June 15, 2026 at 9:00pm ET

• ​[$100K] Cartier Women's Initiative​. Up to $100K is available through the Cartier Women's Initiative! This year's grant cycle looks to support women-founded or women-owned businesses that demonstrate a clear social impact. (We see a trend!) Deadline: June 16, 2026

• ​[$5K] Entreprenista Evolve Grant​. This quarter's Evolve Grant is open to eligible US-based, woman-owned or woman-led companies generating $100K+ annually and operating for at least a year. Deadline: June 19, 2026

• ​[$5K] Kirabo Grant​. Open to founders and small business owners from historically under-resourced communities, and anyone facing systemic barriers to economic opportunity, Kirabo is offering a $5,000 cash grant, a complimentary Kirabo membership, and a business coaching session. Deadline: June 28, 2026 at 11:59pm PT

• ​[$5K] She Seals The Deal​. This one is for our professional service-based gals! Jennifer Blake is looking to support women-owned services and consulting businesses who are actively building their business and ready to turn $5,000 into a revenue-generating system. There is a $25 application fee to apply. Deadline: June 30, 2026

💥 POWER PICKS

Your monthly shortcut to better decisions. Handpicked listens, curated reads, and expert events that will level up your thinking and skills.

• 🤝 ​LWL's 2026 London Summit - 29th June​. We're heading back to London in a few weeks for more of that Funded & Fearless magic! Tickets are going quickly, so be sure to RSVP if you haven't already. Can't make it to London? No worries! We're also heading to Austin, TX, and Dublin, Ireland ​later this year​.

• 📚 ​How a Non-Technical Founder Built a Global Queer Community App​. And she did it long before the world of generative AI, too! This quick read gives insights into Robyn Exton's process building the HER app, and underscores the importance of knowing your customer and solving their problems.

• 📚 ​Purpose and Profit in Tension​ and ​7 Lessons in Brand Building​. In these two (short!!) pieces, the founder of GoKindly, Laura McConnell, reflects on what she's learned building a social enterprise in Australia over the last several years. We love her perspective on growth for good.

• 📚 ​I'm launching a bookshop​. Sam Burgess authors a charming read on her decision to start a bookshop from scratch in England, and a commitment to document the whole process on Substack. Follow along for a bit of start-up catharsis!

• 📚 ​Google and Bing Reveal Local AI SEO Roadmap​. A very recent (May 21st) recap of AI SEO insights for local businesses. Lots of good tips in here!

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

Celebrating women-owned businesses in motion. Be sure to give your fellow Launcher some love online... It's easy, free, and means the world!

became something much larger. Something that was rooted in a belief that people need safe places to connect, linger, and feel fully present with one another again.

After three years of taking steady steps, this spring Jess' vision came to life with the brick and mortar opening of Fat Cat & The Mantis in San Francisco's Mission-Bernal corridor. But her launch plan wasn't a leap of faith so much as a series of experiments.

Before signing a lease, Jess spent years testing her idea and her capacity for the work. She took part-time roles at local wine shops to learn the business from the inside, and began building relationships with local distributors she met on the floor. She partnered with local businesses in her spare time, and began hosting pop-ups: moving from one-off events to multi-month series and unique collaborations.

Looking back, her advice to aspiring founders is simple: Don't wait until something is perfect. Start small. See what resonates. Take the next step. Eventually the path will reveal itself.

Today, Fat Cat feels less like a traditional wine bar and more like a neighborhood living room where anyone can hang. It's where first dates stretch into last call, queer elders pull up a stool at the bar, and friends settle in for the quick drink that somehow turns into a five hour conversation.

In a city that drives so much of the digital world, Jess and her team have built a space centered on something so much more human: the simple act of being together.

"Fat Cat is really one big dinner party," Jess told us. "It's my ultimate expression of what it means to 'touch grass.'"

It's a place to exhale.

Most of the small businesses we've chatted with are feeling the ongoing economic pressure, but are optimistic heading into the summer months. In fact, Small Business Expo recently released its 2026 State of Small Business Report, and 82.2% of respondents cited confidence in their near-term growth plans! However, more than half of respondents believe that “finding customers” is their largest challenge right now.

Regardless of where you are, here’s a few things that we hope will offer you a bit of inspiration:

• 💰Grant Opportunities: 6 open grants have deadlines THIS MONTH, with a few more in early June. And two of these are worth $50K, each! Links are below, and more available in our SMB Grant Database.

• 🇬🇧 LWL London 2026: We're absolutely chuffed to be heading back to London this summer! UK Launchers: Mark the diary to meet us in Shoreditch on 29th June, and keep your eyes out for the official invite!

• 📷 Instagram Update: The app we love to hate made some important changes in the last week. Details in the Power Picks section, below.

• 🩵 Meet Samantha: Founder of Motette and The Atlas Row, Samantha Gold, shares a fascinating perspective on how her kids have influenced her leadership (and what all business owners can learn from it!)

Always grateful for you!
The Ladies Who Launch team

 💰GRANT DEADLINES

For any questions about the below grants, including eligibility, please reach out to the granting organization directly.

• ​[$20K] Small Business Hero Program. Intuit's year-long grant program closes in just under 2 weeks! Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 11:59pm ET

• ​[$10K] WomensNet Monthly Grant: Mental & Emotional Support. May's WomensNet grant is reserved for the women-owned businesses that hold space for the rest of us! Calling all counselors and therapists, this one is for you. Deadline: May 31, 2026

• ​[$50K] Ingredients For Success Entrepreneurs Initiative. Significant non-dilutive funding and mentorship available for 3 early-stage, Black-owned businesses. Requires a video pitch, so don't delay! Deadline: June 1, 2026 at 11:59pm PT

• ​[$50K] EmpowHer Grant. Our amazing partners at Boundless Futures Foundation have just opened up their spring grant cycle! Up to $50K is available for qualifying women-owned small businesses that demonstrate a clear social impact. Deadline: June 15, 2026 at 9:00pm ET

• ​[$5K] Kirabo Grant. Open to founders and small business owners from historically under-resourced communities, and anyone facing systemic barriers to economic opportunity, Kirabo is offering a $5,000 cash grant, a complimentary Kirabo membership, and a business coaching session. Deadline: June 28, 2026 at 11:59pm PT

 💥POWER PICKS

Your monthly shortcut to better decisions: handpicked listens, curated reads, and expert events that will level up your thinking and skills.

• 2026 State of Small Business Report. It's a breath of fresh air to review current statistics impacting small business owners, specifically, vs the broader business landscape. Consider whether these findings align with what you're seeing in your own business.

• Everything changed when I stopped chasing AI tools. Katie Blouin—who recently shared her AI knowledge with our community!—penned this thoughtful piece on how stepping back from the AI tools race has helped her business move forward.

• Simple Operational Shifts Female Entrepreneurs Can Make to Increase Profits. This one is specifically for the gals in that $100K-$500K sweet spot. We love the speaker's challenge for listeners to rewrite their internal story about numbers, so that decisions can be made from a grounded, data-driven place.

• May 14th Virtual Event: Solo Summit by Lettuce.co. Lettuce, the automated tax and accounting software, is hosting a virtual summit on Thursday May 14th designed to support solopreneurs across a variety of topics. Registration is free, and the full agenda is strong!

• Important Instagram Update: Original Content Guidelines. On the off chance you use Instagram for your business, don't miss this important update on how the app is shifting to prioritize original content over accounts that simply repost third-party content. Here's a more detailed explanation from Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, and a useful breakdown from a leading educator.

🩵LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

We celebrate women-owned businesses in motion: the decisions they’re making, the challenges they’re navigating, and sharing what other founders can learn along the way. Give your fellow Launcher some love, online!

And honestly, curiosity is at the core of how I run my businesses. I come from a background in tech and consulting, and bringing that lens into retail has been everything. This industry has so many inherited assumptions, about how you have to spend, how you have to grow, what a team has to look like. I’m constantly asking why, and then figuring out how to do it differently.

That looks like leveraging AI across the entire business. It looks like working with an incredible offshore team that keeps operations lean without sacrificing quality. It looks like testing new tools constantly, being willing to scrap something that isn’t working, and never getting too attached to the way things were done before. I’m not afraid to make changes, even mid-stream, because staying curious means staying honest about what’s actually working.

The brands that win over the next decade aren’t going to be the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re going to be the ones that stayed curious long enough to figure out a smarter way."

— Samantha Gold
Founder, Motette & The Atlas Row

We are absolutely blown away by all of the women-led businesses that are prioritizing intentional social impact alongside of revenue. To all you incredible leaders who are making a difference in this world, IT MATTERS! 🙏🩵

Here's what's useful to know for the month of April:

• 💰 Grant Opportunities: Nearly $200K in open grant opportunities close this month. Links are below!

• 📺 Event Recording: Last month's AI in the Real World webinar was so much fun! Nearly 100 Launchers joined us live.

• 🎧 The History of AI, Explained: In 20 minutes, Harvard PhD candidate and Historian, ​Shae Omonijo​, walks through why it feels like AI only just burst on the scene even though it's been 75 years in the making.

• 🩵 Meet Georgina: The award-winning founder of YNNY Limited opens up about the power of vulnerability.

• 🌎 Earth day is Wednesday April 22, 2026! How will you take action?

In your corner,

The Ladies Who Launch team

🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)

We maintain a free database of grants for US-based businesses. If you are not based in the United States, please reach out to the funding organization directly to learn if your business qualifies.

• ​[$4K] Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program​. In partnership with Autism Angels Network, this program aims to increase business leadership opportunities for people with developmental and/or cognitive differences. Deadline: April 15, 2026

• ​[$10K] Lenovo Backing Every Business​. This creative program pairs similar businesses together as "twins" for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and insight, along with a grant for AI & technology use. Deadline: April 15, 2026 at 11:59pm PT

• ​[$25K] Inclusive Beauty Fund Grant​. L'Oréal has teamed up with NAACP to offer SIX grants at $25K each to eligible businesses in the hair, beauty, and spa industries. Deadline: April 23, 2026 at 6pm ET

• ​[Up to $5K] Enthuse Foundation Grant Program​. Get access to 8 different grants for the price of one click! This foundation supports women-owned CPG brands on a variety of business needs. Deadline: April 27, 2026

• ​[$20K] Robin Hood x Blue Ridge Labs Founder Fellowship​. This one is for those who have a social impact tech venture, and are ready to start building towards a more equitable world. Deadline: May 3, 2026

💥 POWER PICKS

Power Picks is your monthly shortcut to better decisions: handpicked listens, curated reads, and expert events that will level up your thinking and expand your skills.

• 📺​ AI in the Real World: How One Founder Gets a 400% Increase To Her Bottom Line By Using AI​. This practical conversation between Katie Blouin, Samantha Gold, and Anika Gupta name drops more than 20+ different AI tools that are getting each of them real results. A list of tools is available at the link above. We promise you will feel smarter after listening to this one!

• 📚​ Michelle Cordeiro Grant Shares The Multimillion-Dollar Marketing Playbook Behind Gorgie​. The founder of Lively shares how she took her second brand from idea to retail shelves in just 6 months. While we acknowledge the privilege a successful exit can lend, her core lesson is too important to pass by.

• 🎧​ The AI Lessons That Will Change How You Operate​. This conversation between Allie K. Miller and Emma Grede is an absolute banger! Allie's personal goal is to teach 1 billion people how to use AI, and you'll definitely walk away from this episode with new ideas.

• 🎧 ​The History of AI Explained: 75 Years Of Trying To Build Thinking Machines​. While it might feel like AI only boomed onto the culture stage in the past 3 years, it's actually a technology that's been in the works since the 1950s. Understanding history helps ground us in how we choose to engage with AI in the here and now.

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

Launcher Spotlight is where we shine a sparkly beam on a woman-owned business that’s blasting forward with gumption. Be sure to give her some love on IG!

Women’s History Month is not just about looking back. It is about remembering the women who built before us.

Long before venture capital or accelerators, women were launching businesses, funding their own ideas, and creating opportunity where none existed. They faced barriers most of us will never fully understand. And they built anyway. Their stories are not just history. They are reminders and proof of what is possible, especially when the moments are hard.

At the National Women’s History Museum, our She Is Not a Footnote campaign ensures those stories are seen and amplified. Because she was not a footnote. And neither are you.

Go build something that honors that legacy.

In this edition:

• 💰 Grant Opportunities: 5 applications are linked below, all with March 2026 deadlines. Find more grants in LWL’s Grant Database.

• 🗓️ Upcoming Webinar: Now happening on March 26th, register for an inside look at how real organizations (including LWL!) are using AI in their day-to-day operations.

• 📚 20 minute read: Grab your beverage of choice, and settle into the Young Women and Girls’ Aspiration Report for a dose of inspiration and gumption, brought to you by the National Women’s History Museum.

• 🩵 Meet Bella: Learn what drives this high-school student and entrepreneur who recently donated the proceeds of her recent pop-ups to support the mission of Ladies Who Launch!

In your corner,
Frédérique Irwin
President and CEO, National Women’s History Museum
Board Member, Ladies Who Launch

⭐️THE LAUNCH PROGRAM IS HERE⭐️

In partnership with Boundless Futures Foundation, Ladies Who Launch is giving ten $10K grants to women founders who have built social impact into their business model. Our 2026 Launch Program participants will also get access to an 8-week group training program designed to help level up their business and operational skills. Applications close Tuesday March 17th at 11:59pm Eastern.

💰 GRANT DEADLINES

For any questions about the below grants, including eligibility, please reach out to the granting organization directly.

• [$10K] 2026 LWL Launch Program. Our flagship grant program is accepting applications NOW! If social impact is core to your business model, this grant is for you. Deadline: March 17th at 11:59pm ET

• [$10K] Ripple Digital Leap Forward Accelerator. Participants receive 8 weeks of expert-led, virtual sessions, and a $10K grant upon program completion. Deadline: March 18th at 5:00pm ET

• [$2500] SecretSOS Grant. SecretSOS offers a $2500 quarterly grant, along with a platform that’s especially helpful for franchisee businesses. Next Deadline: March 31st

• [$3K] Outta Excuses Small Business Empowerment Grant. Another quarterly grant that offers weekly strategic coaching sessions, and a chance at an additional $10K annual grant awarded in September. Next Deadline: March 31st at 11:59pm ET

• [$10K+] Pilot Small Business Growth Grant. Pilot & Hello Alice are giving away 18 grants, along with a year of free bookkeeping. Deadline: March 31st

BONUS OFFER!
Not a grant, but a fab opportunity nonetheless. In honor of International Women’s Day, brand strategy agency Valiant is offering 3 female founders a strategic brand session designed to help them see their opportunity space more clearly, and position their business for the next stage of growth. Learn more & apply.

💥 POWER PICKS

Your monthly shortcut to better decisions: handpicked listens, curated reads, and expert events that will level up your thinking and skills.

• 🗓️ Upcoming Webinar: AI in the Real World. Ever wondered how business owners are actually using AI? Join us on Thursday March 26th for an inside look with demos from a couple small business owners, and your LWL team!

• 📚 AI Wrote Your Pitch. You Know. I Know. We All Know. Angel Investor Susan Montgomery reminds us that the point of the pitch deck is to get to know “the human being you’re asking me to trust with my money.” She offers insight into the right and wrong ways to use AI in your decks from the perspective of a seasoned investor.

• 📚 Young Women & Girls Aspiration Report. Courtesy of the National Women’s History Museum, this report highlights sobering facts about the state of gender equity. Use the data to start conversations, challenge assumptions, and drive change–not just during Women’s History Month, but all through the year.

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

We celebrate women-owned businesses in motion: the decisions they’re making, the challenges they’re navigating, and what other founders can learn along the way. Be sure to give your fellow Launcher some love online!

CALLING ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS
Speaking of supporting the next generation of women launching incredible businesses, here’s a bonus opportunity for college students brought to you by LWL board member, Rosie Rios!

For those of you with entrepreneurial students, let them know about America’s Startup: A national college student competition designed to spotlight the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. Applications are being accepted now through March 31st. Go get ‘em! 💪

In honor of this important centennial milestone, we hope you take a few moments to explore some of the amazing trailblazing Black women entrepreneurs throughout our history. Black Girl Ventures has you covered with this article: Breaking Barriers: 6 Daring Black Women Entrepreneurs from the 19th Century

We encourage intentionality in supporting local, Black-owned businesses all through the year. If you’re not sure how to find Black-owned businesses in your area, check out the US Black Chambers’ ByBlack Directory as a starting point.

February will be finished in a flash, so let’s get into the other important things you need to know:

• 💰 Grant Applications: 5 open grants are linked below, and don’t forget to check our Grants Database for more!

• 🗓️ Upcoming Webinar: Mark your calendars for Thursday March 12th, where we’ll give an inside look at how we use AI day-to-day.

• 🎥 15 minute video: 7 tips to prep your business for financial success in 2026 from CPA and financial educator, Jamie Trull.

• 📚5-7 minute read: A thoughtful Substack on the power of non-dilutive funding and how to use it well from Angel Investor, Susan Montgomery.

• 🩵 Launcher Naijean Bernard, Ph.D’s best tip for fellow women business owners to consider in February.

💰 GRANT DEADLINES

For any questions about the below grants, including eligibility, please reach out to the granting organization directly.

• [$1K] Greatness Grant. Online entrepreneur, influencer, and philanthropist, Nehemiah Davis, is giving out multiple $1K grants to early-stage businesses. DEADLINE: FEB 16th 11:59pm EST

• [Up to $35K] The UPS Store 2026 Small Business Challenge. All you gotta do is share what makes you unstoppable as a business owner for this multi-stage grant & mentorship program. DEADLINE: FEB 20TH

• [$10K] Amber Grant: Health & Fitness. A simple $15 application fee enters you for their grant of the month–February is for Health & Fitness businesses!–and a shot at their $50K annual grant. DEADLINE: FEB 28TH

• [$25K] AI Glasses Impact Grants. Kinda niche, but if you’re using Meta’s AI glasses in your business, consider giving this grant a peek. DEADLINE: MARCH 9TH

• [$2500] SecretSOS Grant. SecretSOS offers a $2500 quarterly grant, along with a platform that’s especially helpful for franchisee businesses. NEXT DEADLINE: MARCH 31ST

💥 POWER PICKS

Your monthly shortcut to better decisions: handpicked listens, curated reads, and expert events that will level up your thinking and skills.

• 🗓️ Upcoming Webinar: How We Use AI at Ladies Who Launch. Ever wondered how folks are actually using AI in the real world? Join us on Tuesday March 17th for an inside look at our day-to-day processes to give you some inspiration!

• 📚 Non-Dilutive Funding Options for Startups in 2026. The most important variable in any business? Ownership. This Angel’s perspective on when and why to give it up is a 5-7 min must-read.

• 🎥 How to Finalize 2025 Books and Prep for 2026 Tax Season. This 15 min video from CPA and financial educator, Jamie Trull, has great information on how to understand both your business performance, and quarterly liabilities.

• 🎧 Spoiler Alert: Confidence is Not the Opposite of Self-Doubt. This rich conversation between Grace Beverly and Dr. Shadé Zahrai explains what to focus on when your mind is second-guessing itself.

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

We celebrate women-owned businesses in motion: the decisions they’re making, the challenges they’re navigating, and what other founders can learn along the way. Be sure to give your fellow Launcher some love online!

With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a few small (but powerful!) opportunities that you can act on this month to drive wins for your business. Here’s what we’ve got for you:

• 💰 3 grant applications you can start right now, including one for our blue-collar business owners!

• 💻 An invite to our first 2026 webinar, live on January 13th

• 🎥 A hands-on look at Canva’s newest AI tools, and how Launchers can use them to show up more confidently

• 🩵 A Launcher who reminds us of the true meaning of success

Pick one of these ideas, and give it a shot. Or try them all! We wouldn’t hate that either. 😉

In your corner,
The Ladies Who Launch team

P.S. We’ve got a special announcement coming in the next couple of weeks. Keep an eye on your inbox to be the first to know!

💰 GRANT DEADLINES

Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. For any questions about the below grants, including eligibility, please reach out to the granting organization directly.

• [$1K] JUMPSTART JANUARY GALAXY GRANT. No application fee, and literally nothing to lose. Winners awarded weekly.
  DEADLINE: JANUARY 30, 2026

• [$10K] AMBER GRANT: SKILLED TRADES. Calling all blue-collar business January’s Amber Grant category is the one for you.
  DEADLINE: JANUARY 30, 2026

• [$20K] AMEX SHOP SMALL GRANT. Closing soon. AMEX will be awarding 500+ grants at $20K each so small businesses can better impact their local communities.
  DEADLINE: JANUARY 16, 2026

💥 POWER PICKS

Power Picks is your monthly shortcut to better decisions: handpicked listens ( 🎧 🎥 ), curated reads ( 📚 ), and expert events ( 💻 🤝 ) that will level up your thinking and expand your skills.

• 💻 AUTHENTICITY SELLS: TURNING YOUR STORY INTO YOUR SUPERPOWER. Only a few days left to register for our January 13th live webinar with Author and Fortune 500 Speaker, Elena Miller!

• 🎥 CREATE A CAMPAIGN IN CANVA IN 20 MINUTES. Learn how (and why!) to build a brand kit, create assets at scale, and use Canva’s AI features to streamline your marketing efforts.

• 🎧 HOW TO BUILD A POWERFUL NETWORK. CEO and Serial Entrepreneur, Emma Grede, breaks down why a purposeful network matters and gives her tips for building one in this 33 minute podcast.

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

Launcher Spotlight celebrates a woman-owned business in motion: the decisions they’re making, the challenges they’re navigating, and what other founders can learn along the way. Be sure to give them some love on IG!

Surprise, Launcher!

We’re popping into your inbox with a short, high-impact edition to close out the year. To honor your time, we’ve pared it down to the few essentials we think are critical for you to kick-start 2026. 

In this edition:

• 💰 3 grant apps due between December 31st and January 18th.

• 💻 An invite to our first event of 2026 (space caps at 500 attendees!)

• 🎥 The long awaited recordings from Funded & Fearless Austin.

• 🩵 A love letter from the LWL co-founders, to you.

We’re grateful for you today, and always!
The Ladies Who Launch team

🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)

Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. For any questions about the below grants, including eligibility, please reach out to the granting organization directly.

• [$1K] DARCY’S BUSINESS FREEDOM GRANT. The application requires a clear business plan. If you’ve got one hanging in your Google Drive, submit it before the end of the year for the chance at an extra grand.
  DEADLINE: DECEMBER 31, 2025

• [$20K] AMEX SHOP SMALL GRANT. AMEX will be awarding more than 500+ grants for projects that will help small businesses thrive in their local communities. Perfect for brick & mortar businesses!
  DEADLINE: JANUARY 16, 2026

• [$5K] HER AGENDA BREAKTHROUGH GRANT. Applicants must be subscribed to Her Agenda to be eligible for this grant ($9.99 per month.)
  DEADLINE: JANUARY 18, 2026

💥 POWER PICKS

Power Picks is your stash of listens ( 🎧 or 🎥), reads ( 📚), and events (💻 or 🤝) that pump up your brain the way a hype song fires up your stride.

• 💻 AUTHENTICITY SELLS: TURNING YOUR STORY INTO YOUR SUPERPOWER. Kick off 2026 strong with a live webinar that will show you how to differentiate your content and branding in the age of AI-powered everything. Live Q&A is included!

• 📚 THE EXACT GRANT PLAYBOOK BEHIND $1K–$250K WINS. Resurfacing this useful tool from our last edition to help guide your final grant applications of the year.

• 🎥 CONVOS & DEMOS FROM FUNDED & FEARLESS AUSTIN. For an inspo boost that gives you great ideas, listen to the sessions from Funded & Fearless in Austin, TX earlier this fall (~20min, each.)

🩵 FROM OUR CO-FOUNDERS

Why, hello, Launcher!

As we wrap up 2025, we keep coming back to the same feeling: gratitude.

When we founded Ladies Who Launch, we dreamed of building a community where women entrepreneurs could authentically connect, grow their businesses sustainably, and feel boldly unstoppable.

Our live events this year in London and Austin reminded us why we love doing what we do: more than 750+ of you signed up to join us in person to hone your skills for becoming both funded and fearless. We shared laughs, shed some tears, told authentic stories, toasted over a cheeky glass of bubbles, and found ways to support each other's endeavors despite systemic barriers and an ever-changing economy.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are doubling down on what we do best: free, accessible education, more in-person opportunities to connect, and even more funding resources for our community.

As you close out your year, Launcher, we truly hope you find time to rest and reset. You are part of a community of 35,000+ founders who are building boldly, dreaming big, and showing up even when it is hard. We are so proud to be in your corner.

Here’s to what you have built, and what comes next!

To your success,

Sarah Friar & Kelly McGonigle
Co-Founders, Ladies Who Launch

Why, hello, Launcher!

This time of year can feel like a LOT, especially when you’re juggling life, business, and the final sprint to close out 2025. 😅 Wherever you are on your path towards 2026, just know that we see you and we’re cheering you all on as we wrap up this wild year together.

So let’s light up these next few weeks with both hustle and joy. In this edition you’ll find:

• 2 awesome grants you can apply for that are short and sweet, and a clear playbook to ensure your applications are in tip top shape.

• Registration link for our January 13th webinar: Authenticity Sells: Turning Your Story Into Your Superpower. You won't want to miss this conversation!

• A quick escape to take your mind off the holiday stress: A non-business podcast that’s sure to have you laughing all the way through the holiday season.

To your success,
🩵 🚀 The Ladies Who Launch team

🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)

Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. If you are not based in the United States, please reach out to the funding organization directly to learn if your business qualifies.

• [$5K] FAIRE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT. Online wholesale marketplace, Faire, is offering $5000 in platform credit for select retail businesses to stock their shelves in 2026.
  DEADLINE: DECEMBER 31, 2025

• [$5K] HER AGENDA BREAKTHROUGH GRANT. Rhonesha Byng, CEO of Her Agenda, and 2020 LWL Grant Recipient, is awarding $5,000 to one ambitious woman entrepreneur ready to take her business to the next level. We love a full circle moment!  
  DEADLINE: JANUARY 18, 2026

🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS

Events marked with a computer emoji (💻) are virtual, and events marked with a handshake emoji (🤝) are in-person. Not every event featured will be produced by Ladies Who Launch.

• 💻 [JANUARY 13, 2026] AUTHENTICITY SELLS: TURNING YOUR STORY INTO YOUR SUPERPOWER. We’re so excited about this one – it’s the perfect way to kick the year off right! Register to hear author, Fortune 500 speaker, and fellow entrepreneur, Elena Miller, break down how to use your lived experience to build emotional connection with your audience, differentiate your brand, and attract the right community for your business.

💥 POWER PICKS

Power Picks is your grab-and-go stash of listens (🎧) and reads (📚) that pump up your brain the way a hype song fires up your stride.

• 📚 THE EXACT GRANT PLAYBOOK BEHIND $1K–$250K WINS. Combine this playbook with refined AI prompting, and you’ll have a streamlined way to go after grant funding.

• 🎧 BOOTSTRAPPED & BOOMING WITH KITSCH’S CASSANDRA MORALES THURSWELL [45 min] Cassandra’s story is proof that bootstrapped brands can fly just as high as those that have been supported by investment funding.

• 🎧 THE HOME COOKING PODCAST. This podcast is pure JOY. Listening to hosts Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway talk through what they’re cooking, answer questions from listeners, and make horrible puns along the way is candy (cane) for the soul.

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

Launcher Spotlight is where we shine a bright, sparkly beam on a woman-owned business that’s blasting forward with guts, grit, and serious glow.

Why, hello Caty!

How is it November already?! If you’re already feeling that buzzy energy heading into the holiday season, you’re not alone. Q4 is a busy time for Launchers, especially those in the retail and CPG spaces! If you see another woman entrepreneur hustling this holiday season, drop them a quick note of gratitude. A ‘like’ on Instagram, or even a high five IRL just might be the encouragement they need to make it through Dec 31st!

In this edition:

• A gifting expert’s (no, seriously!) playbook for customer gratitude

• Our recap from last month’s Funded and Fearless event in Austin, TX

• An 80-minute podcast episode that is worth every second

To your success,
🩵 🚀 The Ladies Who Launch team

🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)

Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. If you are not based in the United States, please reach out to the funding organization directly to learn if your business qualifies.

• [$2500] GALAXY GRANT. With an application that takes 30 seconds to complete, you’ve got nothing to lose! DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 30, 2025

• TORY BURCH FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. Our friends at the Tory Burch Foundation—a nonprofit that also supports female founders—have opened applications for their annual Fellowship Program. They’re looking for extraordinary women entrepreneurs from any industry to join a founder’s community supported by coaches, advisors, and more. Though they do not offer grants, all Fellows will receive access to an interest-free loan via their partnership with Kiva. DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 11, 2025

🎤 📸 FUNDED & FEARLESS RECAP

Last month’s Funded & Fearless event, hosted at Canva’s HQ in Austin, TX, was nothing short of magical. The power of connection, and the ease of community between women entrepreneurs is something we’re especially grateful for as we head towards the close of the year.

Relive the good vibes: Event Recap: Photos, Key Takeaways, & ChatGPT Prompts

👋 SHOULD WE CONNECT?

We’re considering opening up a digital community space so that Launchers can connect and network with one another, but we only want to do so if it’s a resource that will be leveraged by everyone.

Are you interested in meeting other launchers online? Would you participate in online discussions? Give us your thoughts by clicking the button below. 👇

💥 POWER PICKS

Power Picks is your grab-and-go stash of listens (🎧) and reads (📚) that pump up your brain the way a hype song fires up your stride.

• MEL ROBBINS & EMMA GREDE [1h 20m] This episode is an unfiltered and inspiring conversation on taking responsibility for your trajectory, defining excellence over perfection, and turning what you have into what you can do. It’s a long one, but you’ll walk away with concrete mindset shifts and motivation to move into action.

• YOUR ✨NEW✨ CHATGPT GUIDE This recent Substack article is one of the clearest breakdowns we’ve read about ChatGPT to-date, AND includes lots of useful advice that can apply to any AI tool. Open it up the next time you’re working with your favorite LLM!

• CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DONE RIGHT: A GIFT EXPERT’S PLAYBOOK We love this one! Before diving in the typical gratitude marketing trends that pick up at the end of November, take a quick read through this playbook to ensure your efforts will actually make a mark for your customers.

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

Launcher Spotlight is where we shine a bright, sparkly beam on a woman-owned business that’s blasting forward with guts, grit, and serious glow.

In this edition:

• Upcoming in-person events that are sure to knock your socks off

• Actionable tips on cash flow management

• Useful advice from a Launcher with a growing lingerie brand

To your success,
The Ladies Who Launch team

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

Events marked with a computer emoji are virtual, and events marked with a handshake emoji are in-person. Not every event featured is produced by Ladies Who Launch.

• 🤝[OCTOBER 15, 2025] FUNDED & FEARLESS: AI-POWERED FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING FOR SMALL BUSINESS
  Thanks to our amazing friends at Canva, we're bringing Funded & Fearless to Austin, TX! RSVP now for an incredible evening of connection with powerhouse women & non-binary founders, deeper education on the top AI tools used by small businesses, ideas & inspiration for finding your next source of funding, a whole lot of laughs, and much more. 

• 🤝 THE CANVA WORLD TOUR is bringing the tools to unlock imagination to everyone, everywhere. Join the movement and let learning take you to new places — whether you’re getting certified online through Design School, catching the Brandwagon in a town near you, or connecting with community at local events. Find an event near you at: https://www.canva.com/canva-world-tour

BONUS!
On November 20, OpenAI is planning to host a day-long, hands-on workshop where small business owners go from “0 to 1” in AI—learning the basics, building their first workflow, and getting support from OpenAI staff and free online tools. Limited in-person spots are available in San Francisco, New York, Houston, Detroit, and Miami, with a virtual option available for others. If you’re interested in this workshop, fill out this form, and we will connect you with the OpenAI team.

🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)

Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. If you are not based in the United States, please reach out to the funding organization directly to learn if your business qualifies.

• [$3K] OUTTA EXCUSES GRANT
  Apply by October 15th for a chance at $3,000 and 30 days of free strategic coaching to help you grow your business. Open to registered LLCs and 501(c)(3)s earning less than $500K annually. Entry fee: $15. DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2025 

• [$1K] HUSTLER’S MICROGRANT
  Apply by October 15 for a chance to win $1,000 to fuel your next big move. Open to small business owners across the U.S. Applications accepted monthly through HerSuiteSpot and WBLS. DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2025

BONUS!
APPLY TO PITCH FORUM VENTURES. This one is for the gals who are interested in going after venture investment. Investor Olivia O’Sullivan, Partner at Forum VC, is committed to backing 3 entrepreneurs in the month of October that she meets through her LinkedIn post, and in particular, is looking to back folks building in vertical SaaS or applied AI. The opportunity to get a VC check from a cold outreach is so rare! You’ve got nothing to lose by filling out the form.

🎧 HELPFUL LISTENS

• CASH FLOW MANAGEMENT [18 min]
  This episode breaks down why profit doesn’t always mean cash in the bank and how to forecast your cash flow so you never get caught short. Learn practical tips to tighten collections, manage expenses, and make smarter money moves that keep your business thriving year-round.

• MAXIMIZE YOUR Q4 MARKETING IMPACT [18 min]
  Finish the year strong with Q4 strategies from Lindsay Pinchuk. From gratitude marketing and gift guides to flash sales and press pitching, this episode is packed with simple, high-impact ideas to boost visibility, drive conversions, and set your business up for a powerful start to the new year.

📚 INTERESTING READS

• STORYTELLING VS TELLING STORIES
  Storytelling makes great marketing, but telling stories can make your potential customers tune out. Understanding the difference between the two is key, and this Instagram Carousel explains it in a quick & effortless way.

• ENTREPRENEUR’S GUIDE: PROFIT VS. CASH FLOW
  Continuing on our theme of cash flow management, this article breaks down the crucial difference between profit and cash flow, and why confusing the two can quietly sink your business. It offers clear, actionable tips on forecasting, managing receivables, and balancing growth so you stay profitable and liquid through every season.

🚀 OCTOBER CHALLENGE

This month, we’re challenging you to do one bold action that boosts your bottom line as we head into the holiday season. It could be:

• Applying to a grant or pitch competition

• Raising the price of one product or service

• Following up on an unpaid invoice

• Asking a client for a referral

Even one small move can create major cash flow momentum in the final few months of the year, so we invite you to go for it. Want extra accountability? Share it with us on IG using #lwlglobalchallenge. We’ll be cheering you on!

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

Why, hello, Launcher!

Welcome to The September Issue (Entrepreneur Edition). Think of it as your Vogue moment, only instead of swapping sandals for sweaters, we’re trading slow summer vibes for serious momentum. September isn’t about starting over; it’s about speeding up.

Here’s what’s inside to keep you motivated and moving forward:

• 🚨 2 can’t-miss LWL events in the next 8 weeks (RSVP while you can!)

• 💰 2 high-dollar grant opportunities closing this month.

• ⚡ Fast, practical resources to help you scale smarter, not harder.

To your success,
The Ladies Who Launch team

🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)

• [$50K] AT&T #SHESCONNECTED GRANT CONTEST. One $50K winner; four $5K runners-up. You’ll share basics about your business and how it aligns with AT&T’s purpose, plus proof of registration. Easy to knock out within 30 minutes! DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

• [$100K] POKER POWER X IFW “POWER PLAY GRANT”. A little unconventional, and seriously exciting. Ten finalists get flown to NYC in November to compete for the $100K grand prize. The application is a bit longer, but the upside is huge. Don’t know poker? They’ve got quick video tutorials to get you tournament-ready! DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. If you are not based in the United States, please reach out to the funding organization directly to learn if your business qualifies.

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

• 💻 [SEPTEMBER 10, 2025] NAVIGATING EMOTIONAL DEMANDS IN BUSINESS. In our upcoming webinar, author Dina Denham Smith joins us to talk about how the emotional demands in workplaces are higher than ever before. She’ll teach us how to better navigate emotional events in our businesses, and offer strategies and tools to help us handle triggers as they arise. RSVP today!

• 🤝 [OCTOBER 15, 2025] FUNDED & FEARLESS: AI-POWERED FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING FOR SMALL BUSINESS. Thanks to our amazing friends at Canva, we're bringing Funded & Fearless to Austin, Texas! RSVP now for an incredible evening of connection with powerhouse women & non-binary founders, deeper education on the top AI tools used by small businesses, ideas & inspiration for finding your next source of funding, a whole lot of laughs, and much more. 

Events marked with a computer emoji are virtual, and events marked with a handshake emoji are in-person. Not every event featured will be produced by Ladies Who Launch.

🎧 HELPFUL LISTENS

• THE HABIT THEORY THAT CHANGED MY LIFE, EXPLAINED [18 MIN] In this episode of the Working Hard podcast, Grace Beverley breaks down how small, consistent actions build massive long-term impact. Instead of chasing big, shiny changes, she leans into habit theory: the idea that momentum comes from stacking tiny wins that compound over time. Perfect fuel for building that September momentum.

• HOW TO CREATE CONSISTENT SALES AND STOP THE REVENUE ROLLERCOASTER [22 MIN]  In this episode of Product Boss, Jaclyn Snyder makes the case for self-auditing and mapping your sales cycle in order to get off the never-ending hamster wheel that is revenue forecasting. She asks us to get intentional about understanding where our sales come from, and build a system, so that we can find predictability and peace.

📚 INTERESTING READS

• PROFESSIONAL WORKING WOMEN'S MOST QUIETLY BRILLIANT TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Kelly Nolan crowdsourced a list of incredible time management strategies from a viral Instagram post, and compiled them for safe-keeping. From Apple Watch timer hacks to using a custom GPT to help kids pack for vacation (🤯) this list has a variety of tips that will help founders build creative systems to support their goals.

• HOW I MANAGE EVERYTHING AND TRAVEL Jenny Lei, founder of Freja New York, gives an intimate peek into how she manages her time leading her 8-figure business and traveling around the world, while also admitting she’s “someone who was born type B, and forced to be type A.” She’s dialed in her 5-step productivity routine with precision, and this article lets us in on all the goods.

🚀 SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE

Momentum doesn’t come from finishing everything at once. It comes from starting and keeping things moving on a consistent basis. This month, we’re inviting you to pick one thing you’ve been putting off and move it forward by just 10%.

Need inspiration? How about…

• Finally send that email to a supplier that’s been sitting in your drafts folder.

• Reach out to one dream collaborator on Instagram.

• Set up a simple automation that’s been on your list forever.

Take 5 minutes this week to decide the one thing you’ll nudge forward this month. If you want extra accountability, share it with us on IG using #lwlglobalchallenge. We’ll be cheering you on!

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

Why, hello Caty!

August isn’t about going big—it’s about being smart with your time. 😎 This is your moment to sneak in one or two simple shifts that set you up for a smoother fall, including finding space for yourself to rest before the busy holiday season kicks in. In fact, consider it Doctor’s orders. 😉 🩺

(And if summer is your busy season, carry on, Queen! But be sure to save this newsletter, and apply these tips during your slower time of year.)

To support you in taking some time to rest, this month’s newsletter is full of quick wins: 

• 2 grants that you can apply for in under an hour

• A couple of upcoming events to mark your calendar for

• A handful of listens & reads with smart ideas for you to implement during your slow season

• One, 15-minute challenge that’ll save you time (and sanity) in Q4

Also, we’ve changed the format of this newsletter a bit since our last edition and added a new category. Make sure to give us feedback so we can keep building what’s best for YOU.

Take it easy, but make it count! 💪

We’re here for you,
The Ladies Who Launch team

🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)

• [$5K] WOMEN FOUNDERS GRANT. The Women Founders Fund makes it simple, and straightforward: answer two simple questions about your business (or idea for one!!) and submit an application fee of $25. That’s it! There’s no strings attached. Just unwavering faith in YOU.  DEADLINE: AUGUST 31, 2025
  

• [$10K] MONTHLY AMBER GRANT. WomensNet gives away $435K in grants to women-owned businesses each year. Apply for one of their monthly grants with a single, two-question application and a $15 application fee. Your application will stay active in their database for 12 months, making you eligible for upcoming grants as they roll out. Easy, peasy! DEADLINE: ROLLING

Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. If you are not based in the United States, please reach out to the funding organization directly to learn if your business qualifies.

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

• 💻 [SEPTEMBER 10, 2025] NAVIGATING EMOTIONAL DEMANDS IN BUSINESS. In our upcoming webinar, author Dina Denham Smith joins us to talk about how the emotional demands in workplaces are higher than ever before. She’ll teach us how to better navigate emotional events in our businesses, and offer strategies and tools to help us handle triggers as they arise. Mark your calendar, and keep an eye on your inbox for the official RSVP coming later this month!
  

• 🤝 [OCTOBER 14-28, 2025] AUDACIOUS: THE BOOK TOUR. Coming to Plano, TX; Dallas, TX; Washington, DC; McLean, VA; Charlotte, NC; and Chicago, IL in the month of October, author Marty McDonald brings an immersive experience that will help you rewrite the stories you’ve been told about fear, worthiness, visibility, and ambition. As the founder & CEO of BossWomen Media, and entrepreneur extraordinaire, Marty is absolutely one of the best to learn from. To learn more about the upcoming book tour, or to pre-order Audacious, visit: https://bosswomen.org/audacious

Events marked with a computer emoji are virtual, and events marked with a handshake emoji are in-person. Not every event featured is produced by Ladies Who Launch.

🎧 HELPFUL LISTENS

• ☀️ HOW I USED 8 WEEKS OF SUMMER TO SET UP MY MOST PROFITABLE Q4 EVER (AND YOU CAN TOO) Don’t let the title fool you, in this podcast episode host Eleanor Beaton advocates for the power of slower summers to set yourself up for success in the fall. She balances the tension between productivity and pause in a beautiful way, and offers simple steps that any entrepreneur can take in these last few weeks of August to grab a bit of rest and truly relax with peace of mind that their business is running in the background.
  

• 📺 HOW CHATGPT MAKES GRANT WRITING 10X EASIER (INCLUDES PROMPTS) Seasoned Fundraising Coach and YouTuber, Joanne Toller, gives really great example prompts to help you speed up and strengthen your grant application process by leveraging the power of LLM tools like ChatGPT. (You could also use Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, or any others!) Though she’s primarily speaking to a non-profit audience, these same prompts and strategies are applicable for Launchers, too.

📚 INTERESTING READS

• 👀 WHAT GOOGLE INDEXING INSTAGRAM MEANS FOR YOUR BUSINESS VISIBILITY ICYMI: On July 10th, Instagram allowed Google to begin indexing public posts (i.e.: photos, videos, and Reels) from business and creator pages and surface them in Google search results. This is a huge win from an SEO standpoint, but it may add a slight lift to your workflow as it makes captions, sub-titles, and alt-texts all the more important to optimize with every post. There’s a lot of information about this change available online, but we like this Forbes article for a balanced overview.

• 🕔 THE 5 AM TRUTH ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND MOTHERHOOD. This powerhouse article from Arjita Sethi says the silent parts about female entrepreneurship out-loud, and challenges all of us–both with and without children–to think about the legacies we want to leave behind with our work. A strong read to ponder during a late-summer rest, if we do say so ourselves. 

🚀 AUGUST CHALLENGE

Share your progress and support other Launchers on Instagram using the hashtag #lwlglobalchallenge!

This month’s challenge is all about working smarter, not harder. We’re inviting you to pick one repetitive task in your business—and find a simple way to automate it. Maybe that’s:

• Scheduling your weekly social media posts

• Setting up an auto-reply for your DMs (perhaps using something like ManyChat?)

• Using Claude or ChatGPT to draft responses to customer FAQs, and saving them as templates in your email inbox

• Automating invoice reminders (because who has time to chase payments?!)

Even one small system can free up mental bandwidth and help you step out of survival mode and into thrive mode. We’ll be sure to share a few tools and templates on Instagram through out the month of August to help you get started. 

Remember to post using #lwlglobalchallenge to let us know what you’re automating, and how it’s helping you!

🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT

🩵 🚀 Love what we’re doing at Ladies Who Launch? Here’s how you can support our mission to provide tactical support, funding opportunities, and capacity-building programs to under-resourced women and non-binary entrepreneurs, everywhere.

• FORWARD TO A FRIEND. A rising tide lifts all boats! If you’ve got a friend who might benefit from our educational newsletter, please forward them this email or encourage them to connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

• RECOMMEND AN EVENT SPONSOR. Ladies Who Launch events are offered free of charge to attendees, as we never want a lack of finances to block someone’s ability to access business-building education. Partnering with sponsors helps us to offer our elevated, high-quality events on our non-profit budget. Know of an organization that might be interested in contributing? Send your recommendations to: hello+sponsor@ladieswholaunch.org.

Why, hello Launcher!

Happy summer to you, and to our amazing community of builders, hustlers, and go-getters! Back in May we sent a survey with a number of questions on how we can best support you, and learned that you’d like to hear from us in your inbox on a monthly basis. With that, we’re excited to bring you the first version of our refreshed monthly newsletter, designed with you in mind!

Our goal is to bring you content that will be helpful and supportive on your business journey. Please continue to give us feedback as we experiment with the format and content each month in order to meet your needs. There’s a survey button at the end of this newsletter to do just that.

The estimated read time for this edition is 5 minutes. Below, we’re sharing details about:

• 📝 The power of documenting your backend procedures and systems.

• 💰 Nation-wide grant opportunities for US-based businesses, and a reminder to look locally for more.

• 🙋‍♀️ Why you need to ask one, big question in the month of July.

• 😍 How to listen to the recordings from last month’s Funded and Fearless event that took place in London, England. Trust us, you’re not gonna want to miss these conversations!

To your success,
The Ladies Who Launch team

🩵 🚀 Love what we’re doing at Ladies Who Launch? Here’s how you can support our mission to provide tactical support, funding opportunities, and capacity-building programs to under-resourced women and non-binary entrepreneurs, everywhere.

• FORWARD TO A FRIEND. A rising tide lifts all boats! If you’ve got a friend who might benefit from our educational newsletter, please forward them this email or encourage them to connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

• RECOMMEND AN EVENT SPONSOR. Ladies Who Launch events are offered free of charge to attendees, as we never want a lack of finances to block someone’s ability to access business-building education. Partnering with sponsors helps us to offer our elevated, high-quality events on our non-profit budget. Know of an organization that might be interested in contributing? Send your recommendations to: hello+sponsor@ladieswholaunch.org.

🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)

Remember to keep an eye on your city, county, and state-level websites for grants available to local businesses. Finding grants can be a bit of a treasure hunt, but can pay off big for your business.

• 📈 [$5K] SKIP GRANT FOR BUSINESS GROWTH. Skip is giving out over $1M in grants this year, and recently launched a $5K growth grant just for entrepreneurs with business plans. Dust off your plan, and ensure your application meets the goals of the grant by mid-July.  DEADLINE: JULY 18, 2025 AT 8PM ET
  

• 🧨 [$20K] ALLSTATE MAIN STREET GRANTS PROGRAM. 250 business owners will be selected for a 12-week virtual Boost Camp accelerator. From that group, 63 entrepreneurs will also be awarded $20,000 grants to power their next stage of growth. DEADLINE: JULY 25, 2025 AT 6PM ET
  

• 📲 [$50K] SHE’S CONNECTED BY AT&T. With $50K at stake you’ve got nothing to lose! Start your application now so that you have time to review it and refine it before the submission deadline. DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 AT 8PM ET

Ladies Who Launch maintains a free database of available grants for US-based businesses. If you are not based in the United States, please reach out to the funding organization directly to learn if your business qualifies.

🎧 HELPFUL LISTENS

• 👜 BUILDING BUSINESS RESILIENCE. Mireia Llusia-Lindh, founder of renowned handbag brand, DeMellier of London, gave us a masterclass in grit and determination in London last month. A staunch advocate of equality in the home, you’ll learn which books shifted Mireia’s thinking and how she mapped out a better process for her family all while guiding DeMellier through moments of high growth and global demand.

• ☀️ THE SUMMER OF SYSTEMS. In a recent episode of the Goal Digger podcast, host Jenna Kutcher reminds us of the power of focusing on our backend operations. Look, playbooks and standard operating procedures (SOPs) might not be the sexiest business topics, but they’ll ensure your business runs smoothly while you take a break to enjoy the beautiful beach you’ve been dreaming of.

📚 INTERESTING READS

• ✍️ WANT TO BE QUOTED BY CHATGPT? START WRITING LIKE THIS. AI-powered tools, including large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Claude, have disrupted the world. The SEO industry is not immune to these changes, and strategies for how we get our businesses known and discovered have to shift. This guide approaches LLM-oriented optimization from a blog/ Substack POV.

• 🎯 WHAT PIVOTING IS, WHEN TO PIVOT, AND HOW TO PIVOT EFFECTIVELY. As ‘Toks Ishmael mentioned at our recent Funded and Fearless event in London, pivoting is an inevitable part of business. “Plan A is only Plan A,” she said, “That’s why there’s 26 letters in the alphabet.” This guide from the Founder Institute helps to approach the idea of pivoting from a place of strategy and clarity.

🚀 JULY CHALLENGE

We want our newsletter to inspire ACTION, so each month we’ll include a small challenge to help you move your business forward. Share your progress with us, and support other Launchers, by posting on Instagram with the hashtag #lwlglobalchallenge.

This month, we’re challenging you to do something bold, simple, and wildly effective: ask one brave question. Reach out to someone who could help you move the needle—a customer, mentor, investor, fellow founder, or dream collaborator—and ask the thing you’ve been sitting on.

Need some inspiration? Try:

• Would you ever carry my product?

• What would make you refer me to a friend?

• Can you spare 10 minutes to give me some feedback?

• Have you ever invested in a business like mine?

One courageous ask can open a door, shift your mindset, or spark your next move. Go get it, and remember to post using #lwlglobalchallenge to let us know what happens next. You could even be featured in next month’s Launcher Spotlight when you do.