Female Founders Co-Investment Fund

About

Matched Queensland Government grants of $50,000 to $200,000 help women-founded and women-led innovation-driven businesses headquartered in Queensland close early-stage capital raises.

Benefits

• 💰Matched grant funding
  Grants from $50,000 to $200,000 (excluding GST), matched at a 1:3 ratio for a funding round led by an eligible investment entity.
• 📈Minimum grant threshold
  To qualify for the minimum $50,000 grant, the organisation must secure at least $150,000 in external investment.
• ⏳Investment-securing window
  Provisionally approved applicants have 180 calendar days to seek and secure further investment as part of their nominated raise.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: business must be headquartered in Queensland, operating and with its head office located in Queensland
• Mandatory: active Australian Business Number (ABN) and GST registration
• Mandatory: at least 51% of shares held by a woman/women at least six months before application
• Mandatory: at least one primary executive decision-making position held by a woman at least six months before application, e.g. CEO, COO or CTO
• Mandatory: no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees
• Mandatory: not a subsidiary of a group with more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees in total
• Mandatory: must not have received more than $500,000 in investment through previous capital raises
• Mandatory: engaging in or planning an early-stage capital raise from a new eligible investment entity or entities
• Mandatory: investment method and investment entity must meet the Female Founders Co-investment Fund Guidelines Section 3
• Preferred: an investment plan to approach new eligible investment entities within the next six months or an already secured offer of investment from an eligible investment entity
• Preferred: a clear innovation focus
• Preferred: a product/service beyond proof of concept
• Preferred: an established business plan and growth plan covering the next 12 months
• Preferred: a plan to use the funding to scale the business.

Participation Commitments

• Applicants must read the Guidelines in their entirety before commencing the application form
• Applications are submitted through the Queensland Government's Advance Queensland online grant application form (SmartyGrants)
• The program remains open until all funds have been allocated, with a closing date of 30 June 2027
• Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are assessed competitively and notified by email within approximately 6–10 weeks
• Provisionally approved applicants must secure their raise/investment within 180 calendar days from the provisional approval date in order to receive grant funding
• To qualify for the minimum $50,000 grant, the organisation must secure at least $150,000 in external investment.

Target Sector

Sector agnostic, Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other

Target Location

Queensland, Australia. The applicant business must be headquartered in Queensland, operating and with its head office located in Queensland.