Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, has encouraged female entrepreneurs in New England to take advantage of funding to build their business and create local jobs under the Boosting Female Founders Initiative.

“A total of $11.6 million is on offer under the second round of the initiative. This year the programme is being expanded to offer expert mentoring and advice for eligible candidates. 

“I encourage female entrepreneurs with great start-up concepts in New England to apply for funding.  Through this initiative we’re helping Aussie female-founded businesses launch their great ideas not only here, but on the global stage,” Mr Joyce said. 

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, said female entrepreneurs are under-represented in our innovation and technology sectors, often because they face greater obstacles in getting early-stage finance.

“The first round of the Boosting Female Founders Initiative saw more than 50 female-founded and led businesses share in nearly $12 million to scale up, create new jobs and take on new markets,” Minister Andrews said. 
  
The Boosting Female Founders Initiative provides grants of between $25,000 and $480,000 to Australian start-up businesses that are majority owned and led by women. 

The Initiative was announced as part of the 2018 Women’s Economic Security Statement and expanded under the 2020 Women’s Economic Security Statement.    

Applications for the current funding round will be open until 22 April, 2021 and can be submitted at: www.business.gov.au/bff.

(ENDS)