The Miles government supports pioneering women in Queensland.

Minister Leanne Linard, responsible for the Environment, Great Barrier Reef, Science, and Innovation, under the Miles Government, is supporting innovative women in Queensland through the Backing Female Founders initiative. Two grant programs have been opened to aid female-led businesses driven by innovation.

The Accelerating Female Founders Program is accepting applications, providing grants for business support initiatives over the next two years, catering to enterprises in early and later startup phases.

Additionally, the Female Founders Co-Investment Fund is open for applications, expanding eligibility criteria to support more women-led organizations during the investment-raising stage.

These initiatives aim to address the disparity in investment capital received by women-led startups compared to their male counterparts. The grants range from $50,000 to $200,000 and seek to empower female entrepreneurs in navigating the innovation ecosystem.

Feedback from female founders and investors has informed the updates to the program guidelines, making it more accessible and inclusive.

The first recipients of the Female Founders Co-Investment Fund include Dr. Jeni Wellington of Annuo MedTech and Ashley Hanger of Stripped Supply, both contributing innovative solutions in the MedTech field.

Minister Linard expressed pride in supporting Queensland's female innovators and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the government's commitment to fostering a leading and sustainable innovation economy.

Ashley Hanger, a recipient of the Female Founders Co-Investment Fund, highlighted the pivotal role of the grant in advancing healthcare outcomes for Australians living with diabetes.

Umar Nguyen, a participant in the Accelerating Female Founders Program, shared her positive experience and newfound insights, underscoring the importance of such initiatives in empowering female entrepreneurs.

These efforts aim to promote equality in the startup ecosystem and drive impactful strides towards innovation and economic growth.