WFS Business Shower Grant + Incubator 2024

We want to help self-identifying women beat the odds against small businesses. Our Business Shower Grant and Incubator program awards up to 10 women a $500 Grant plus entry into a 1 year incubator program.

20% of startups fail their first year with more than half failing after 10 years. One of the biggest reasons these new businesses fail is due to lack of knoweldge, support, and funding. Female-led companies outperformed their all-male counterparts by 60%, and women-led teams generate a 30% higher return for their investors. Plus, women are also more likely than men to establish a business that doubles as a social venture, and women-led companies are more resilient to economic downturns. When you fund female founders, it’s just good business. 

Through our Business Showers, we are celebrating women choosing non-traditional paths while helping them level up their confidence, bottom line, and funding. 

OUR BIGGEST SUCCESS STORIES!

Our first story is about a new mom who was forced to pivot and provide for her family when Covid-19 hit. Elisa Molina, Founder of Covedoza, a feminist brand committed to the financial empowerment of female visual artists that identify as BIPOC, told me that she had months at the beginning with ZERO revenue, and she struggled with confidence with herself and her business. Elisa discovered her passion for helping others while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica. She saw first-hard the struggles artisans, especially women artists, faced to grow their craft and make a living. She failed three times before finding a business model that allowed her to impact artists regardless of their geographic location. We were the first organization to recognize her business in May 2020 and provide her with the resources, community, and CONFIDENCE to go all in on her newest venture. Being a new mom needing to pivot because of the pandemic, she was unsure if Covedoza was worthy of recognition and her full-time attention, and our grant gave her the push she needed to become confident with her brand invest in a new website and marketing for the business. She attributed our support, funding, and community with why she had the confidence a few months later to apply for a grant from American Express, WHICH SHE WON. Since then, her business and community have been recognized around the world.

Our next story is about an immigrant, small business owner whose video production skills allowed her to share other people's stories, but often struggled with finding her own voice. Xenia Marcinko grew up in Venezuela, creating a video production company around 2011 in Caracas. Due to the political and economic situation, she immigrated to Miami in 2017 and setup shop. At first, she struggled with networking and public speaking because she was embarrassed about her accent when speaking English. Her insecurities prevented her from fully stepping into her magic, and this past year, she joined our Business Shower Incubator program. One of our program days for the incubator focused on public speaking, and during that day, the instructor chose Xenia and WFS sponsored her for a week-long seminar in public speaking. Our founder and the instructor worked with Xenia that week on her story and pitch, and just a few short weeks later, Xenia used that story and pitch to secure a $50,000.00 investment from Bank of America. Now, she's found her voice and helps others connect their brand with people.

Through our programs, we strive to help one person every day, no matter how big or small. It is through these daily actions that we can truly create generational impact.