The Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) at Texas Woman’s University has officially announced the launch of the StartHER Grant 2025, designed to support women-owned startups across Texas. This initiative provides funding and resources to help women entrepreneurs establish, expand, and strengthen their businesses, while also driving innovation and economic growth in local communities.

The program is part of CWE’s ongoing mission to provide resources, mentorship, and capital to women entrepreneurs, ensuring that they have the tools to thrive in competitive markets. With grants of $5,000, the StartHER Grant aims to address some of the most pressing financial challenges faced by women-owned startups in their early stages.

About the StartHER Grant

The StartHER Grant offers financial assistance to Texas-based, woman-owned businesses. Successful applicants will receive a $5,000 award, provided in two installments, with the requirement of a 10% match ($500) by the business owner.

A total of 10 grants will be awarded in 2025, making this a highly competitive program. Women entrepreneurs are encouraged to carefully prepare their documentation and applications to ensure compliance with the program’s eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the StartHER Grant 2025, applicants must meet the following conditions:

• The business must be Texas-based and woman-owned (at least 51% ownership and control).

• The business must be five years old or less, formed after September 25, 2020.

• The company must have five or fewer employees.

• The business must be structured as a legal entity, which may include:

  • LLC (with Certificate of Formation and membership details)

  • Corporation (with Articles of Incorporation and bylaws)

  • DBA/Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the county clerk)

  • Partnership Agreement (showing ownership percentages)

  • Valid third-party Woman-Owned Certification (must clearly state woman-owned status)

• The business must be in good standing with all state tax and licensing requirements.

Eligible Use of Funds

The grant is designed to fund critical aspects of business growth. Recipients may use the grant money for:

• Purchase of equipment, technology, or inventory.

• Procurement of raw materials for production.

• Property improvements that directly increase business revenue.

• Funding for certifications, marketing strategies, and advertising campaigns.

Restrictions on Grant Usage

The following expenses are not eligible for funding under the StartHER Grant:

• Wages and salaries.

• Real estate purchases.

• Payment of sales taxes.

Application Process

The application window opened on August 26, 2025, and will close at 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, September 26, 2025. Applicants are advised to carefully prepare all required documentation before applying.

Key details of the process include:

• Applications can be revisited and updated prior to submission. However, once submitted, no further changes will be accepted.

• Legal entity formation documentation must clearly show business ownership and control.

• All required information and documentation, including proposals, quotes, vendor estimates, or preliminary invoices of what the grant will fund, must be uploaded with the application.

• Incomplete applications or missing documents will result in automatic rejection.

• The application requires complete responses to the Company Background and Project Information sections. Applicants must copy and paste the required form (provided in the guidelines) into their applications. If responses are buried within proposals and not easily accessible to reviewers, the application will be rejected.

• Multiple documents should be combined into one PDF for submission.

Required Documentation

Applicants must provide one or more of the following to confirm legal entity formation:

• LLC Formation Documents (Certificate of Formation and membership details). If multiple owners are involved, including at least one male, the complete Articles of Organization with ownership percentages must be included.

• Corporation Documents (Articles of Incorporation and bylaws).

• Assumed Name Certificate (DBA) – filed with the local county clerk.

• Partnership Agreement with clear ownership percentages.

• Third-party Woman-Owned Certification stating the business is woman-owned.

Important Dates

• Grant Opening: August 26, 2025

• Application Deadline: September 26, 2025, 5:00 p.m. CT

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Contact Information

For questions or additional support, applicants may reach out directly to:

Center for Women Entrepreneurs
📧 Email: cwegrants@twu.edu

Why the StartHER Grant Matters

The StartHER Grant is more than just financial support; it is an investment in the future of women’s entrepreneurship in Texas. By providing critical resources for early-stage businesses, CWE ensures that women-owned startups can overcome financial barriers, bring their ideas to market, and contribute meaningfully to local and state economies.

For women entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses, this grant offers not only financial support but also the credibility and recognition that come with being selected by such a competitive program.

Apply Now

Women entrepreneurs in Texas who meet the eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply for this opportunity. The StartHER Grant 2025 could be the catalyst that helps launch or scale your business to new heights.

For more Information and Applications:

Visit HERE

Stay on opportunitiesforwomen.org/ for more opportunities.