Accelerating Female Founders Program – Founders

Purpose and Program Overview

The Accelerating Female Founders Program (AFFP) is a Queensland Government initiative delivered through Advance Queensland. Its primary intent is to support female founders and leaders of innovative businesses in Queensland, enabling them to elevate their Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDEs) to the next stage. The program aims to foster valuable connections and unlock significant growth opportunities for these businesses.

This initiative plays a crucial role in addressing systemic barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, particularly in accessing finance and the tailored support necessary for growth. By funding expert organisations to deliver specialised business development programs, the AFFP contributes to increasing the participation of women in Queensland’s innovation economy, thereby boosting economic security and job creation within the state.

While the core AFFP provides grants to organisations (providers) to develop and deliver these support initiatives, the “Founders” stream focuses on enabling female founders to access and participate in these high-value programs. This indirect support mechanism ensures that founders receive targeted assistance designed to help them scale their innovative ventures.

Key Grant Details

• Grant Amount or Funding Range: For female founders, this program provides access to subsidised or free participation in business development and growth programs. The value of these programs can range significantly, with some offering benefits valued up to $25,000 or more, and others providing scholarships to cover participation fees.
• Application Open and Close Dates: The overall Accelerating Female Founders Program – Founders stream is listed as open until 31 December 2025. However, specific application deadlines for individual programs offered by the funded provider organisations will vary and should be checked directly with the respective program providers.
• Eligible Industries or Business Types: The program targets female founders of Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDEs), including startups and scaleups with significant growth potential. This encompasses businesses developing new or significantly improved innovative products or services, often tech-enabled platforms, or those addressing social, environmental, or market-specific challenges through innovation.
• Required Co-contributions: Co-contributions for founders vary by the specific program they apply to. Many programs are offered free or at a significantly subsidised rate. Some may require a reduced fee, with scholarships potentially available to further offset costs.
• Location/State/Territory Applicability: This program is designed explicitly for Queensland-based female founders. This typically means the founder is a Queensland resident or the business has an office located in Queensland. Some programs may offer participation to non-Queensland residents, but usually at a full fee.

Priority Sectors

The Accelerating Female Founders Program is open to female founders across a broad range of innovative sectors. While not limited to specific industries, the focus is on businesses with high growth potential driven by innovation. Some particular programs delivered by providers may have a thematic focus, such as agrifood-tech, climate technology, or advanced manufacturing/Industry 4.0.

Funding Scope

The program does not provide direct cash grants to individual female founders. Instead, it facilitates access to a diverse suite of business support initiatives. These initiatives are categorised by their focus and stage of business development:

• Categories or Streams of Programs:
  • Pre-accelerator and Accelerator Initiatives: Short-term growth programs covering product development, customer and sales support, networking, pitch preparation, and investment opportunities.
  • Startup/Scaleup Business Development Acumen Initiatives: Programs focusing on areas like customer identification, investment readiness, marketing, scalability, governance, and board formation.
  • Mentoring and Advocacy Initiatives: Connecting founders with expert mentors for one-on-one or group sessions, fostering business growth and access to networks.
  • Technology Accelerators: Programs specifically designed to help businesses identify and integrate technology components, develop technology roadmaps, and enhance manufacturing capabilities.
  • Investment Readiness Programs: Tailored support to prepare founders for capital raising, including workshops on pitching, negotiation, and understanding the investment landscape.
• Project Timeline or Eligible Program Duration: The duration of individual programs varies. Examples include 8-week pre-accelerators, 4-month technology accelerators, 5-month investment readiness programs, or longer-term comprehensive support spanning up to 9 months.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to participate in programs under the Accelerating Female Founders Program, applicants typically must meet the following key requirements:

• Business Structure or Size: The applicant must be a female founder (sole founder, co-founder, or in a leadership position such as CEO, Director, or Executive) within an innovative business or the innovation ecosystem. The program targets startups and scaleups.
• Registered Business Location: The female founder or their innovative business must be based in Queensland.
• Minimum/Maximum Turnover: Specific turnover requirements are generally not stipulated for founders participating in the programs, as the focus is on supporting businesses at various stages, from early-stage development to growth and investment readiness.
• ABN/GST Status: While not always explicitly stated for individual founders participating in programs, it is generally expected that the innovative business they represent holds an active ABN (Australian Business Number) and is registered for GST (Goods and Services Tax).

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The Accelerating Female Founders Program supports activities and provides access to resources through the various programs offered by its providers. These include:

• Participation in structured business development programs.
• Access to expert mentorship, coaching, and advisory services.
• Workshops and training on topics such as product development, market validation, sales strategies, and financial management.
• Networking opportunities with investors, industry leaders, and other founders.
• Support for developing investment pitches and strategies for capital raising.
• Guidance on technology integration, automation, and advanced design.
• Access to discounted tech tools, CRMs, and other business services.

Assessment Process

Participation in the programs supported by the Accelerating Female Founders Program is generally competitive. Applicants typically undergo an assessment process by the individual program providers.

• Key Evaluation Criteria: While specific criteria may vary by program, common assessment factors include:
  • Project Merit: The innovative nature of the business idea, product, or service.
  • Strategic Alignment: How well the founder’s business and goals align with the objectives of the specific program and the broader AFFP.
  • Growth Potential: The scalability and market opportunity of the innovative enterprise.
  • Founder Commitment: The applicant’s demonstrated dedication and readiness to engage with and benefit from the program.
  • Impact: The potential for the business to create jobs, contribute to the economy, and address market challenges.

Recent Program Updates

The Accelerating Female Founders Program is an ongoing initiative. While applications for organisations to become program providers may close for specific rounds, the opportunity for female founders to participate in the delivered programs remains active. The “Founders” stream is currently listed as open until 31 December 2025. Recent developments include the launch of new initiatives, such as the $400,000 Advance Queensland Female Founders Investment Readiness program, designed to further assist women-led startups in securing capital.

Application Tips

For female founders considering participation in the Accelerating Female Founders Program initiatives, the following practical advice is offered:

• Double-check all eligibility criteria: Carefully review the specific requirements for each program offered by providers to ensure your business and founder profile align.
• Prepare key documents in advance: Have a clear understanding of your innovative business, its market, growth strategy, and the challenges you aim to address.
• Align the proposal with program priorities: Clearly articulate how your participation will help you achieve your business goals and contribute to the program’s objectives of fostering innovation and female entrepreneurship in Queensland.
• Demonstrate capability, outcomes, and benefits: Highlight your business’s current traction, future potential, and how the program’s support will lead to tangible outcomes and broader economic benefits.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist like Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your business’s eligibility and evaluate how well your project aligns with the grant’s objectives. You can also visit relevant government websites for application templates and further guidance.