InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge 2026 for Women in Business

The InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge supports female high school students who are interested in business and entrepreneurship. Scholarships are awarded based on innovative business plan submissions. The goal is to empower young women to become entrepreneurs and business leaders.

This scholarship provides a one-time award of $500.

This scholarship is open to female-identifying high school students from any country who have an interest in pursuing business and entrepreneurship. Ethiopian female high school students are eligible to apply.

Applicants must submit a compelling two-page business plan for a product or service, which can be real or hypothetical. The plan should include: - Business Name & Concept (1-3 sentences elevator pitch) - Product or Service Description (what it is, how it works, what problem it solves) - Visual Representation (at least one image, mockup, prototype photo, sketch, or model) - Target Market (who it's for and why they would buy it) - Value Proposition (why your idea stands out from competitors) - Financial Plan (projected startup costs, expenses, revenue estimates, and potential funding sources) - Implementation Plan (a rough timeline and key steps for bringing the idea to life) - Social Impact (optional, but encouraged, detailing any positive societal or environmental effect). No essay is required.

Applications are submitted online through the Bold.org platform. You will need to create an account and upload your two-page business plan as a file.

The business plan submissions will be judged based on several criteria, including Creativity & Innovation (10 points), Clarity of Concept (10 points), Feasibility & Practicality (10 points), Market Understanding (5 points), Value Proposition (5 points), Financial Plan (10 points), and Presentation & Organization (5 points).