What would you do with $10,000 or $5,000
to grow your business?
SPARK Biz Grants!
$15k worth of cash grants every quarter!
2 grants: 1 x AUD$10,000 and 1 x AUD$5,000
Round Eleven - applications open 1 - 28 February, 2026
Judging 1 - 31 March, 2026.
Grants awarded 10 April, 2026.
Round Twelve - applications open 1 - 31 May, 2026
Money Talks
$
Money Talks $
There's a good reason startups spend SO much time seeking capital.
Because chunks of cash MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Women-founded startups raised 1.9% of all VC funds in 2022, a drop from 2021.
Last year, U.S. startups with all-women teams received 1.9% (or around $4.5 billion) out of around the $238.3 billion in venture capital allocated.
In Australia, Just 3% of total VC capital went to all-women-founded startups in 2022, while just 10% went to those with at least one woman in their co-founding teams.
So we're putting our money where our mouth is and awarding 2 grants worth a total of AUD$15,000 to two epic female-founded businesses in the SPARK community.
And this is just the beginning.
Eligibility Criteria.
*
Eligibility Criteria. *
That’s it! It doesn’t matter what industry you are in. If you are for-profit or not-for-profit… product based, service based. It doesn’t matter… your business matters and you are eligible.
It doesn’t even matter if you have a male co-founder 😉 since you asked!
You identify as female.
You’ve been in business for 12 months or more.
You are a SPARK member or SPARK alumni.
$5k & $10k Women in Business Grant
EVERY QUARTER
$145,000 already funded!
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
The purpose of SPARK is to help women in business grow their profit & impact. We do this by creating the resources, insights and community for women to shortcut their success. And while we believe you can do a lot on hustle, sometimes girls just need funds. So we’re reinvesting our profits back into AUD$15,000 worth of business grants every quarter.
We believe that if we want change.
It starts with us.
2026 Grant Schedule
1-28 February - Round Eleven Applications Open
1 - 30 March - Judging Period
10 April - Grants awarded & Funded
1-31 May - Round Twelve Applications Open
1 - 30 June - Judging Period
10 July - Grants awarded & Funded
1 - 31 August - Round Thirteen Applications Open
1 - 30 September - Judging Period
10 October - Grants awarded & Funded
1 - 30 November - Round Fourteen Applications Open
1 - 31 December - Judging Period
10 January 2027 - Grants awarded & Funded
Cat Matson, CEO,
I LOVE this initiative! In my experience, women business owners are SO respectful, creative and thoughtful with their money ... $10,000 in the hands of a savvy woman in business can create such a significant impact. When I was Brisbane's chief digital officer running the Budding and Global Entrepreneur Programs, it always blew my mind what founders could do with just $5,000 or less ... and some of those founders are now running national and global businesses thanks to how they leveraged that small injection of funds.”
Congratulations to our previous winners!
ROUND ONE
Congratulations to Kathryn Walsh from Practice Studio who has WON Round One of the SPARK $10k Women in Business grant!
ROUND TWO
$10,000 public vote - Jaymee, The Buttery Music School.
$5,000 judge awarded - Peta-Gai, Iridis Cosmetics.
ROUND THREE
$10,000 public vote - Jeevi, Afrowithjeevi (AWJ).
$5,000 judge awarded - Leanne Savage, Acala Stem.
ROUND FOUR
$10,000 public vote - Courtney, Sacral Body Design
$5,000 judge awarded - Alicia Nagle, Zonely.
ROUND FIVE
$5,000 judge awarded - Nisha Abeyasekera, Abey Print Studio
$5,000 judge awarded - Phoebe Cole, Pilates Mini
{YouTube interview coming soon!}
$5,000 judge awarded - Lynette & Kirra Brown, Broadwater Hotel
{YouTube interview coming soon!}
ROUND SIX
$10,000 judge awarded - Dr Phillipa Lewis & Dr Rowena Lalji, Blissfeeds
$5,000 judge awarded - Kelly Stubbs, Wagtail Natives
ROUND SEVEN
$10,000 judge awarded - Vanessa Murillo, I Am Grounded
$5,000 judge awarded - Fairina Cheng, Fairina Cheng Jewellery
ROUND EIGHT
$10,000 judge awarded - Lisa Erhart, Funding4Growth
$5,000 judge awarded - Clare Willenberg, The Happy Hive Co
ROUND NINE
$10,000 judge awarded - Fiona Wainscott, Winnow Technology
Interview coming soon!
$10,000 judge awarded - Mary Tapsell, Reti Skin
ROUND TEN
$5,000 judge awarded - Stephanie Bofinger, Fempro Armour
$5,000 judge awarded - Catherine Ashton, Critical Info
2 Grants.
1 x AUD$10,000 and 1 x AUD$5,000
Awarded by a panel of judges.
The fine print & FAQs.
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The funding is to be used for activities that will directly contribute to the growth of your profit or impact. This is one of the entry questions and you will be required to state how you will use the funds.
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The business owner identifies as a female.
The business has been registered for 12 months or more.
You are currently a SPARK member or SPARK alumni.
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The grant money is meant to be spent! We want you to take action on growing your profit & impact. Grant funds are required to be spent within 6 months of funding. A requirement of the funding will be to participate in a post-funding interview to share how the grant impacted your business.
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The application form should take you 15-30 minutes to complete. You are welcome to record your video simply on your smartphone, there’s no need to make it fancy, you just want to show your personality to potential voters!
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You sure can! Plus, we’ve linked up a google doc so you can make a copy for your self and write a draft in your own time.
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Applications open - 1 - 30 November, 2023
Voting/judging period - 1 - 31 December 2023.
Grant announced - 10th January 2024.
Grant funded - within 24 hours of signing the grant agreement.
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One of the eligibility criteria is that your business needs to be registered for at least 12 months.
This is from the date of your business number.
You don't need to have been operational or making revenue for 12 months.
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Two individual grants will be awarded to two seperate businesses, awarded by a guest judge from the business community.
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The successful grant winner will retain all IP ownership.
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The successful grant winner will be required to:
Participate in an interview after the grant is announced.
Show proof of expenditure that aligns to their grant entry within 6 months of funding.
Participate in a post-grant interview to share how the grant has impacted their business.
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Of course you can you savvy business woman you!
Get $100 off your annual SPARK membership (that discounts it to only $265 for a whole year of epic support!).
Use the discount code GRANT100YEAR when you purchase your membership and you’ll find the grant application form on the inside.
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As many as you like!
Many winners entered multiple times before they were successful.
BUT, you can ONLY WIN ONCE. We want to share the love around to as many women in business as possible.
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Part of the reason why we launched our own grant is to get more money in the hands of women-led business without making it hard. With the added side-effect of getting them more brand awareness as a happy side affect of simply entering. We believe there’s shouldn’t be barriers for women trying to make an impact in the world through their business.
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Applications are easy.
Applications open 1 - 28 February 2026.
Applications are open to all SPARK program alumni or any current SPARK member.
Log in to your SPARK portal.
Click on ‘SPARK Biz Grants Application’
Complete the application form, including a link to a 1-2 minute video pitch.
A SPARK team member will confirm your application.
Get back to running your business! Winners will be contacted by phone on or before January 10, 2026.
Judging 1 - 31 Mar, 2026. Grants Awarded & Funded 10 Mar 2026.
Watch a quick walk-through on how to apply with our Founder, Danielle.
Terms and conditions.
Business must be registered for 12 months or more.
Business owner must identify as female.
Applicant must be a SPARK Alumni or current SPARK member to apply. Not a SPARK member yet? Get $100 off an annual subscription using the discount code GRANT100YEAR *please note you don’t need to be on an annual plan, you can be on the monthly plan and still apply.
Kind words about the SPARK platform & programs
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Sarah Petty
Olive Business Partners
"SPARK has been an incredibly supportive community as I’ve started my business, providing valuable resources, advice and promotion opportunities that have helped me grow. It has made me feel like I’m not navigating this journey alone! Through Spark, I’ve connected with many inspiring and talented women, and I love having access to such a diverse network of female-led businesses."
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Amanda Crawford
Leadership Shapers
“I loved everything about the SPARK program, from the way it was structured and ‘chunked down’ the process of building your sales strategy, to the connection with other founders and the sense of being on a shared journey.
The program creates the space, opportunity and support to examine (or re-examine) your sales strategy in ‘real time’, applying each step week-to-week whilst also having a chance to reflect and refine along the way. Having the flexibility to self-serve at your own pace if you can’t make it to the weekly session is an added bonus. Do yourself a favour and become part of SPARK Founders!”
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Jess Rhufus
Collabosaurus
“The SPARK Founders Program was a great opportunity to connect with leaders in the sales & marketing field, as well as like-minded founders. I absolutely recommend for startups looking for fresh connections & opportunities to bounce ideas off some great marketing minds!”
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Brittney Kenward
Be Physioolgy
“The SPARK Program has given me some amazing tools and challenged my thinking around sales and how I build this into my business - from every angle! Danielle will keep you motivated and is dedicated to your success. If you're unsure, just enroll, you won't regret it.”
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Vanessa Murillo
I Am Grounded
“The SPARK female founders program offered me the opportunity to connect with incredibly inspiring fellow female founders and mentors across a range of industries. I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this program and made amazing connections as well as grew my knowledge in a range of business topics such as copywriting, personal branding, seeking funding and influencer marketing. I recommend applying for this program if you are looking to connect, learn and participate in a female-identifying entrepreneurial eco-system.”
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Linda Johannesson
The Growth Garden
"The SPARK network is aptly branded. When joining SPARK, I was looking for a refreshing membership experience and that's exactly what I have found in SPARK. Danielle, its creator and curator, is a radiant light herself and the women she attracts are also shining examples of what it means to be brilliant women in business. SPARK provides ample opportunities to learn from the community, showcase my expertise, and meet and work with some truly brilliant women, I am so glad I flipped the switch and made the move to SPARK! It's been truly illuminating!"
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Tiffany English
Access Offshoring
"SPARK is a membership that offers far more than community. There are real opportunities to get in front of more customers, and Danielle and the team are always working to understand what the community needs - bringing in world-class business experts and developing course content and resources to fast track business success. SPARK membership is one of my business non-negotiables and it just keeps getting better."
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Belinda Long
Belinda Long Co
"Such a fitting name for a community that SPARKS so much joy into my life! SPARK has been a lifeline when it comes to navigating all things sales as a consultant and coach, reimagining the (traditionally icky) sales cycle into an authentic and effective feel good customer journey. A huge bonus is the ongoing SPARK community, action-packed with guest speaker events, CEO Power Hours & Virtual Vino catch-up sessions – a saviour as a remote-based solopreneur! Cheers Dani & team, love your work."
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Stacey MacMillan-White
How To Help
The SPARK membership has been the light in the foggy world that is being a solo founder and entrepreneur. There is so much to learn and know and do, and never enough hours in the day, but with the SPARK membership, I just go to the portal and I find simple and helpful guides and lessons to help me get on the right track. The community within the SPARK membership is also wonderful, to connect with other women who are also working solo doing amazing things, learning from each other and supporting each other, makes the journey that much easier.
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Judy Apps
Blissful Bedding Hire
Blissful Bedding Linen Hire took up the opportunity to join your network around a year ago - we were one of those you reached out to via LinkedIn and I am so glad that you took the time to do so. Dani, your approach is such a breath of fresh air in this world of perfectionism, I truely appreciate and enjoy your realism, your kindness, your joy, your shared strategies and your intellect. It has been my absolute pleasure to listen to your podcasts and receive your information driven emails. Thank you for taking the time to do what you do - the world is a far better place because of it.
Find Your SPARK Today
“Monthly$39/mth
”
- Get instant access to everything
- Cancel anytime
“Yearly$365/yr
”
- Get instant access to everything
- 4 opportunities every year to apply for the SPARK Women in Business Grants!
- Save $103 per year!
“Lifetime$999 once
”
- Get instant access to everything
- 1 hour sales coaching call with Danielle
- Best value if you plan on being in business for 3 years or more! (Save over $405 over 3 years)
- VIP welcome gift 🎁
Got a question or need help with your application?
