In Focus: A diverse array of schemes, initiatives & grants available to women entrepreneurs in Oregon
#WomenEntrepreneurs #OregonBusiness #SupportiveInitiatives #EmpowermentInitiatives
Oregon stands as a beacon of opportunity for women entrepreneurs, boasting a vibrant ecosystem of support and resources tailored to their needs. With a landscape dotted with business incubators, accelerators, and networking organizations, the state offers a nurturing environment for female-led ventures to thrive. The Women’s Business Center and the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network stand as pillars of empowerment, providing invaluable guidance and assistance to aspiring and established women entrepreneurs alike.
Moreover, Oregon is home to a robust network of organizations like the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Women’s Business Association of Oregon, dedicated to fostering mentorship, networking, and access to funding opportunities. As women continue to make their mark in Oregon’s entrepreneurial landscape, these initiatives serve as catalysts for innovation, growth & success.
Let us delve into the diverse array of schemes, initiatives and grants available to women entrepreneurs in Oregon, highlighting the transformative impact they have on fostering a culture of empowerment and inclusivity in the business world.
> Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant Program
Understanding the important role that entrepreneurs play in shaping the economic and community vitality in Oregon, for over a decade, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) has provided grants to nonprofit organizations that support entrepreneurs across the
state.
Entrepreneurs have big ideas and creative ways to solve problems, but still they often need help in developing their business plans, go-to-market strategies, recruiting talented teams or board members, and raising money.
The Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant provides an open, responsive opportunity that offers organizations – flexible funding, with prioritized support for those organizations that serve entrepreneurs who are women, people of color, living in under-resourced rural communities, or working in under-resourced sectors such as consumer products.
Funding is not available for individuals, OCF makes grants to nonprofits only.
Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant Program » Oregon Community Foundation (oregoncf.org)
> Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN)
OEN is not the only organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow and thrive. Whether you are looking for education, mentorship, community support, or funding options, help is available!
In the Portland metro area alone, there are over 60 organizations that share our vision of a robust and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem. You get here, a comprehensive list of local nonprofits, accelerators, incubators, university programs, co-working spaces, and government initiatives.
Portland – Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (oen.org)
> Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Oregon (WESO)
Women entrepreneurs are indeed, making dreams come true. Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Oregon (WESO) is a not-for-profit association supporting women entrepreneurs and business owners through networking, education & inspiration.
Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Oregon (WESO) – Home (wesoweb.org)
> Women’s Business Center – Mercy Corps Northwest
The Mercy Corps Women’s Business Center actually understands the power of women helping women both in business and in life. The WBC looks to train, counsel, and promote networking to help improve the potential for female entrepreneurs throughout Oregon.
It’s relevant that women business owners and entrepreneurs can find solace, unity, and great benefits within the framework of the WBC.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oregon
https://nw.mercycorps.org/what-we-do/business/portland/education
> Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Oregon (WESO)
Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Oregon (WESO) is a non-profit organization, striving
for the betterment of women entrepreneurs and business owners in Oregon. Through
training, networking, and mentoring opportunities, WESO offers women in business
helpful tools to grow and maintain strong foundations for success.
Here, women in business, especially in Southern Oregon, can connect with other professionals and benefit from a learning community.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oregon
> Woman Led
Based in Portland, Woman Led aims to create and cultivate a community of women in business, able to assist and guide each other to reach their financial and professional goals. By offering conferences and seminars, training and continued education, and connections with other professionals, Woman Led wants to help entrepreneurs build success stories.
It’s significant that women professionals in and around Portland can tap into this invaluable network and resource for information, support, and one-on-one mentoring opportunities.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oregon
> POWER
Giving advice and support is a great move. POWER strives to spread this message to women entrepreneurs and business owners – in order to build a stronger community of women professionals.
So, those looking for camaraderie, advice, and support will benefit greatly from interacting with POWER.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oregon
> Small Business Administration (SBA) Portland District Office
The SBA of Portland understands that small businesses are the backbone of commerce in the country. By providing support and information, the SBA wants to help small businesses succeed.
Small business owners throughout Oregon can look to the SBA for advice and training to help them become better and stronger.
> National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – Oregon
As a national organization, NAWBO strives to promote interaction, community support, and the training needed to stay productive and motivated. With members across the country, creativity and innovation are able to be shared among members, regardless of their current location.
Professional women are ideal candidates for NAWBO membership. So, connect, grow, and thrive with the support of others by connecting with the group.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oregon
> eWomenNetwork – Portland
Oregon’s SBDC offers numerous resources and opportunities to assist and grow small businesses. Whether just starting out, or as an established business, the SBDC can help your business go from good to great.
So, if you are a small business in Oregon, the SBDC is geared for your interests and needs.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oregon
> The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network
Oregon’s SBDC offers numerous resources and opportunities to assist and grow small businesses. Whether just starting out, or as an established business, the SBDC can help your business go from good to great.
If you are a small business in Oregon, the SBDC is geared for your interests and needs.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oregon
> Oregon SCORE
Mentorship can be an excellent method for sharing powerful ideas and tools, not always available from a weekend seminar. Through SCORE, established business professionals are able to share their successes and challenges with up-and-coming entrepreneurs and business owners.
Small business men and women can benefit from the SCORE program.
> Prosper Portland
Portland is an exciting city, with lots of opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs. Prosper Portland looks to support and promote commerce in and around this dynamic city.
Business owners and start-ups in Portland are prime candidates for support and interest from Prosper Portland.
> WomensNet – Oregon
WomensNet offers women business owners their Amber Grant, which often serves as a much needed financial boost for small businesses. This organization also offers excellent advice on how to search and apply for other available grants as well.
Women business owners looking for a financial boost would choose wisely to apply for
an Amber Grant.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oregon
> The Women’s Innovation Network (WIN)
The Women’s Innovation Network (WIN) is a nine-month program that helps UO faculty, graduate students, and entrepreneurs in the community navigate gender-based barriers to bringing their research to market or to launching and sustaining their businesses.
WIN is a community of executives and industry leaders offering guidance, encouragement, and alternative pathways for women to succeed in male-dominated industries.
They recognize that gender is a broad spectrum, and they aim to celebrate everyone on this spectrum.
https://research.uoregon.edu/womens-innovation-network
> XXcelerate Fund
Using capacity funding from the Portland Development Commission, a group of local
women entrepreneurs, investors, and lenders have got together and created the XXcelerate Fund – to build profitable Oregon-based businesses.
The fund aims to address the critical and entrenched capital shortfall facing women entrepreneurs. The fund creators conducted an initial survey of women business founders in Portland and discovered an overwhelming need for this kind of program.
The findings revealed that 40 percent of founders identify as underrepresented/people of color, most have been denied traditional funding sources, and yet nearly all have been through an incubator, accelerator, or previous business training.
https://prosperportland.us/women-entrepreneurs-launch-xxcelerate-fund/
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
Poonam Sinha
