At a time when female entrepreneurs still receive a small fraction of global funding, the Cartier Women’s Initiativecontinues to prove what’s possible when capital meets purpose.
Now in its 18th year, the 2025 edition of the prestigious initiative awarded $100,000 grants and year-long mentorship support to nine women-led ventures from around the world — each solving complex social, environmental, or health-related challenges.
🌍 Meet the Game-Changing Founders
From biodegradable period products in India to real-time safety apps in Armenia, this year’s laureates represent the future of inclusive innovation:
- Saathi (India): Produces eco-friendly sanitary pads made from banana fibre, addressing both menstrual health access and environmental sustainability.
- Safe YOU (Armenia): A digital platform offering safety alerts and emergency support for women at risk of violence — blending tech with activism.
- Kumulus (Tunisia): Converts air into drinking water using renewable energy, addressing water scarcity with scalable clean tech.
- GrubCycle (Malaysia): Turns food surplus into affordable, nutritious meals — tackling food insecurity while fighting waste.
- Rainergy (Azerbaijan): An energy solution that generates electricity from rain, created by a teenage founder and now expanding across climate-vulnerable regions.
(Full list available in the source article.)
These women are not just running companies — they’re redefining what impact entrepreneurship looks like.
💰 Funding with a Feminist Lens
What sets the Cartier Women’s Initiative apart is its holistic support model: large, unrestricted grants combined with business coaching, visibility, and peer networks. This goes far beyond awards — it’s about enabling scale.
In a startup ecosystem where women often receive less than 3% of venture funding, Cartier is investing in ventures that mainstream capital often overlooks: early-stage, mission-led, non-Western, and deeply rooted in community needs.
📊 The Results Speak for Themselves
Since its inception, the initiative has supported over 300 women entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries. Many past winners have gone on to raise follow-on investment, enter global markets, and shape local ecosystems — creating ripple effects beyond their original business plans.
This year’s cohort continues that legacy, bringing solutions to the table that are as sustainable as they are scalable.
🌱 Why It Matters for the Invest in Women Hub
Initiatives like Cartier’s reaffirm what we advocate for at the Hub:
Women don’t need handouts — they need visibility, funding, and networks.
The 2025 awardees exemplify the diversity of talent, drive, and creativity that exists when women are backed with belief and capital.
Let’s make sure they’re not the exception — but the standard.
🔗 Read more:
Cartier Awards Nine Women Entrepreneurs $100K Each