Women-led businesses in South Australia can apply for grants of up to $30,000 under a renewed program designed to help founders grow their operations, enter new markets and attract investment.
The FoundHer grant program offers financial support to women who have established businesses and are seeking to overcome barriers that can limit growth. The initiative forms part of the South Australian Government’s Women in Business program, which allocates $1 million annually to support female entrepreneurs across the state.
The program replaces the Fearless Innovator Grant Program, launched in 2024, and introduces two funding streams aimed at businesses at different stages of development.
Four Launch Grants worth $20,000 each will be awarded to women founders looking to test growth opportunities, strengthen their market position and prepare for expansion. A separate Elevate Grant of $30,000 will support one high-growth business seeking to expand into national or international markets.
The grants sit within the broader Women in Business initiative, a key component of South Australia’s Small Business Strategy 2023-2030, which includes an $8 million commitment to supporting women in entrepreneurship.
The latest funding round comes amid ongoing discussion about the challenges women face in securing investment. While the number of women starting businesses continues to grow, access to capital remains uneven when compared with male-led ventures.
South Australian Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, Nadia Clancy, said improving access to funding remains a priority.
“Access to capital remains one of the most common barriers for women starting innovative businesses,” she said.
Clancy said more than 4,400 women had already benefited from the Women in Business program and that the government remained focused on helping entrepreneurs build the networks, resources and confidence needed to expand.
FoundHer Co-Chair Melinda Parent welcomed the renewed funding, describing it as an opportunity to address challenges that continue to affect many women founders.
She pointed to industry data showing all-female founding teams received less than 0.5 per cent of Australian venture capital funding in early 2025, highlighting the gap that remains in access to investment.
Parent said women entrepreneurs often encounter obstacles when seeking funding, building professional networks and accessing opportunities that support business growth.
Co-Chair Dr Cassandra Zaina said the program was designed to move beyond traditional grant models by combining funding with practical support and greater visibility for founders.
She said the initiative aims to strengthen connections within South Australia’s entrepreneurial community while creating opportunities for women-led businesses to build industry relationships and raise their profile.
Previous grant recipients have credited the program with helping them move from early-stage concepts to commercial growth.
Deborah Faehrmann, founder and director of Healthy Heads, said receiving support through the former Fearless Innovator Grant Program helped validate her business direction and provided valuable industry connections.
She said the funding contributed to the company’s growth and supported its expansion into retail, distribution and overseas markets.
Applications for the FoundHer grants are now open, with information available through the South Australian Government’s Women in Business program.
While grant programs alone cannot resolve broader investment disparities, supporters argue they can help address gaps in access to funding and networks while creating pathways for more women-led businesses to scale and compete in larger markets.
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