Volume III: The Breakthrough Grant Returns With $5,000 For Women Entrepreneurs

Building on the incredible momentum of our previous cycles, The Breakthrough Grant is back for Volume III! As Her Agenda celebrates another year of bridging the gap between ambition and achievement, we are doubling down on our commitment to fuel the next wave of visionary women founders.

The Breakthrough Grant was born out of a simple, powerful realization: so many brilliant women are on the verge of greatness, yet are held back simply by a lack of capital. We are once again awarding $5,000 in funding to an ambitious woman entrepreneur who is on the brink of getting to the next level of her business.

“I launched the Breakthrough Grant because I know what it feels like to be on the edge of something great but held back by a lack of resources,” says Rhonesha Byng, founder and CEO of Her Agenda.

Reflecting on the grant’s independent roots, she adds, “We originally wanted to launch this grant years ago in collaboration with a brand. As a small business, we’re not exactly sitting on extra funds that we can give out. But no brand signed on. True to form, we did not let that stop us. Instead, we turned to our community to pour into this grant that helps offer the support needed to keep going and create their next opportunity.”

Volume III remains a testament to the power of our network. This grant is fully community-funded, powered by the generosity of our readers and our dedicated INSIDER members. Because we are self-funded, every application fee and donation goes directly toward the mission of sustaining and growing this pool of capital for women like you.

We are maintaining the streamlined fee structure introduced in our last cycle. We want to ensure that the cost of applying never stands in the way of a breakthrough. If you are a HER AGENDA INSIDER, you receive 50% off the admin fee.

• General Entry Fee: $25
• INSIDER Discount (50% off): $12.50

We’ve heard your requests for more time to polish your pitches! Due to high demand, we have extended the application window to give you every opportunity to submit your best work.

• Applications Open: January 18, 2026
• Application Deadline: September 18, 2026
• Winner Announcement: November 2026

To be eligible for the Volume III award, applicants must:

• Be an entrepreneur with a currently operating business.
• Be an active subscriber to the Her Agenda newsletter (this is a mandatory requirement for consideration). Subscribe here to stay in the loop on exclusive insights and future opportunities.

Whether you are ready to apply or ready to give back, there is a place for you in this cycle. If you aren’t an entrepreneur but want to help us be able to award this grant to multiple entrepreneurs, you can donate here to help us grow the fund. It’s our 18th year in business so we suggested amounts that pay homage to 18!

And if you are an entrepreneur looking for your next breakthrough, APPLY HERE.