Boosting Female Founders Initiative (BFF)

The program provides targeted support on a co-contribution basis to female founders of startup businesses (startups) to scale their businesses into domestic and global markets. Grants range between AUD $25,000 (approx USD $16,800) and $480,000 (approx USD $323,000). The grant amount will be up to 50 percent of eligible project costs – unless additional requirements are met (see the grant opportunity guidelines for further information).  

The entrepreneur is responsible for the remaining eligible project expenditure, plus any ineligible expenditure. Contributions to the project must be cash. Applicants may seek contributions from private investors and industry partners. 

Expression of interest (stage one) 

The applicant must provide information about their startup and explain why it should be considered for a grant application, addressing the following: 

• How the business meets the definition of a female founded (majority women-owned and women led) startup for the purposes of the program 

• About the entrepreneur and team 

• What is the new or novel product, service, or innovative/different business model 

• What problem does the startup solve and who are the customers 

• How does, or will the startup generate revenue, or become profitable and self-sufficient 

• Whether the startup has received any money from external sources. If yes, how much and from where, if no, why 

• Is the entrepreneur receiving any non-financial assistance (e.g. mentoring, access to networks, advice, or other guidance) 

• How will the entrepreneur grow the startup up in Australian and/or overseas markets 

• How much grant funding does the entrepreneur require and how does she propose to fund the contribution 

• What would the grant funding be used for 

• What barriers does the entrepreneur have to accessing funding for the startup. 

Grant application (stage two) 

Those invited to submit a Stage Two application, will be required to address additional assessment criteria. 

To be competitive, the applicant must score at least 50 percent against all of the assessment criteria. 

• Assessment criterion 1: Alignment with the program objectives and outcomes (40 points) 

• Assessment criterion 2: Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project (30 points) 

• Assessment criterion 3: The impact of grant funding (30 points) 

The program is for female founded (majority owned and led by women) startups who wish to scale their business into new domestic and global markets. 

To be eligible, an applicant must: 

• be a female founded (majority owned and led by women) startup 

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) 

• be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) 

• be one of the following entities: 

• an entity incorporated in Australia 

• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust 

• an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) 

• a partnership 

• a sole trader. 

In addition, the program only accepts applications which: 

• show evidence that the startup is a female founded (at least 50 per cent owned by women and led by women). 

• provide evidence to support the source of funding (e.g. letter from contributor/s confirming funding amount) (stage two applications only) 

• provide evidence from the board (or chief executive officer or equivalent if there is no board) that the project is supported, and that the applicant can complete the project and meet the costs of the project not covered by grant funding (e.g. ineligible expenditure are listed on Appendix B of the grant opportunity guidelines) (stage two applications only)