WOMEN
ENTREPRENEUR'S FUND
In New Zealand, only about 1 in 5 start-ups are led by women.
85% of venture capital goes to men. Joy Shivas wants to change that. She believes that if the future of our economy will be created by the start-ups of today, then we need women to be equally involved. Her Women Entrepreneurs Fund seeks to address this imbalance and provide a stepping stone for female entrepreneurs to succeed.
ABOUT THE FUND
Through her Fund, Joy provides grants to female entrepreneurs, empowering them to be a part of shaping our economy through their innovative ventures. She recognises the pivotal role of entrepreneurs in driving progress in our city and is dedicated to supporting more women to engage in this vital work.
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN START-UPS
We have a solid start-up ecosystem in greater Ōtautahi Christchurch, with organisations like Ministry of Awesome, catering especially to female entrepreneurs with specific business mentorship and incubator programmes.
However, we have identified that the missing piece for many women is how to cover bills while they are leaning into this fast-paced and risky journey. Joy is shifting the dial on gender inequalities in the start-up world in the hopes that these grants can offer the encouragement and financial safety net for more women to take that leap.
The Women Entrepreneurs Fund has already distributed over $100,000 including large grants of $10,000 each to six remarkable women.
Recognizing the financial challenges faced by entrepreneurs during the early stages of their ventures, the Women's Entrepreneurship Fund goes beyond traditional support structures. The grants provided can cover a range of expenses, including childcare, and living expenses. It’s not just for the business itself, which is what makes this funding unique. The fund aims to alleviate financial burdens and enable female entrepreneurs to devote their full attention to nurturing their fledgling companies.
Isolation is a common hurdle experienced by female entrepreneurs, which can hinder their progress. Joy is determined to shift the gender inequalities prevalent in the startup world.
Through these grants, the Women Entrepreneurs Fund offers encouragement and an inherent message of belief in their projects. We are told, this is just as important as receiving the grant. Joy believes in the power of women to shape our collective future through entrepreneurship. Her Fund provides the platform for female visionaries to thrive, overcome barriers, and realise their potential. We encourage all eligible entrepreneurs to apply.
We are excited to announce that we will be granting another three $10,000 grants for Female Entrepreneurs.
To find out more email us at
Get inspired, watch some of our previous recipients talk about their journey and what the grant meant to their business ventures.
Vicki Ledergerber
Emily Heazlewood
Lucy Pink
