Amber Grant winners: what 142 of them have in common
We read all 142 Amber Grant winner pages WomensNet published from January 2023 to October 2026 and counted what the winners talk about.
Where the numbers come from
Only WomensNet’s public winner pages. 9 are short announcements with no words from the winner, so percentages use the other 133. Nothing comes from applications, drafts or anything people have shared with GrantCompass.
116 interviews · 17 written excerpts · 9 announcements
Every monthly, Startup, business-category and year-end winner page on ambergrantsforwomen.com from January 4, 2023 to October 20, 2026.
117 of 133 winners
Counted on the 133 pages with the winner’s own words. The rest describe the business but not how it began.
103 of 133 winners
No sales, customer count, units, growth rate, team size or stockists. Years in business and statistics about the problem don’t count.
Of 116 interviews
56 name markets, events, word of mouth or local partners; 38 name social media. Some name both.
Key findings
70%sell to individuals: shoppers, families or patients93 of 133 winners · food and drink is the largest group (22)Who wins88%say where the business came from117 of 133 · most often a problem they lived or a gap they sawWhy they started77%give no sales, customer or growth figure103 of 133 · only 2 put a dollar figure on their salesNumbers39 of 47name a specific purchase when they say what the money is forA vehicle, a captain’s license, a first trade showThe money56 vs 38interviews credit face-to-face selling over social mediaOf 116 interviews · markets, events and word of mouth came firstCustomersSample: the 142 winner pages WomensNet published from January 4, 2023 to October 20, 2026. Percentages are of the 133 pages with the winner’s own words.
Draft your Amber Grant answers. Free preview, from your own facts.
Start my free draft →What we read142 public winner pages, January 2023 to October 2026, each label checked against the page.
Every monthly Amber Grant, Startup Grant, business-category and year-end winner page on ambergrantsforwomen.com published January 4, 2023 to October 20, 2026: 142 pages, read on November 5, 2026. 116 are interview transcripts, 17 quote text the winner shared, and 9 are short announcements. Percentages are of the 133 pages with the winner’s own words.
Only these public pages were used. Nothing here comes from applications, drafts or anything people have shared with GrantCompass. What this can’t tell you · All 142 sources and the data
Recent Amber Grant winners
The 12 most recent Amber Grant winners in this analysis won from June 2026 to September 2026; each name links to the winner’s page on WomensNet.
| Business | Grant | Award month |
|---|---|---|
| Ebijou | Amber Grant | September 2026 |
| The Caregiving Concierge | Startup Grant | September 2026 |
| CalcMindset Innovations | Education & Child Care Grant | September 2026 |
| SheFlag.com | Startup Grant | August 2026 |
| Mobile Tailor LA | Amber Grant | August 2026 |
| Hive Beauty Collective | Hair Care & Skin Care Grant | August 2026 |
| Babes Pickles | Startup Grant | July 2026 |
| PasturePuff | Animal Services Grant | July 2026 |
| Sterling Hygiene | Amber Grant | July 2026 |
| FiXA | Amber Grant | June 2026 |
| Art Easely | Business Support Services Grant | June 2026 |
| VASCH Ltd. | Startup Grant | June 2026 |
Who wins the Amber Grant
Amber Grant winners mostly run small product and service businesses that sell to individuals: 93 of 133 (70%) sell to shoppers, families or patients rather than to other businesses, and 61 (46%) sell a physical product. Software makes up 6%.
70%sell to individuals, not to other businesses
- Product 61
- Service 47
- Both 17
- Software or app 8
Product: 61 of 133
Most recent: Ebijou, CalcMindset Innovations, Babes Pickles.
Service: 47 of 133
Most recent: Mobile Tailor LA, Hive Beauty Collective, Sterling Hygiene.
Both: 17 of 133
Most recent: FiXA, Pizzeria Coco, Ella West Gallery.
Software or app: 8 of 133
Most recent: The Caregiving Concierge, SheFlag.com, Art Easely.
By industry
n = 133 winnersBy grant
Monthly Amber Grant
25 of 43 sell a product
Business-category grant
21 of 43 sell a service; the category rotates monthly
Startup Grant
15 of 37 say they are pre-launch or in their first year
Winners lead with why they started
Amber Grant winners almost always explain why they started: 117 of 133 (88%) describe where the business came from, most often a problem they or their family lived (26) or a gap they spotted (25). On 83 of 133 pages (62%) the business is also framed around a purpose: a community served, a barrier removed, waste avoided.
88%say where the business came from
That matches what WomensNet says it reads for. Its FAQ lists “your story” first among its three criteria.
The numbers winners use, and skip
Most Amber Grant winners give no business figure: 103 of 133 (77%) mention no sales, customer count, units, growth rate, team size or stockists, and only 2 put a dollar figure on their sales. The most common number is time: 51 cite years in business or in the trade.
2 of 133put a dollar figure on their sales
Startup Grant winners almost never give one: 33 of 37 don’t, against 31 of 43 monthly Amber winners. Year-end winners, interviewed a few months to a year after their first award, mostly do (7 of 10). WomensNet’s FAQ says it is “not looking for a formal business plan.” Follower and view counts are not counted, and a passing mention can be missed.
What winners say the money is for
Amber Grant winners who say how they will spend the grant usually name a specific purchase: 39 of 47 do, and 8 stay general. That covers 47 of 133 pages; monthly interviews rarely ask.
39 of 47name a specific purchase
Named a specific purchaseStayed general
Four purchases, in their words
A vehicle
“So I was able to get another vehicle. That keeps us running!”
ZZ's Ice Cream Puffs, 2023 Year-End Amber Grant winner
Read it ↗A captain’s license
“which was to get a captain’s license. So I became a captain”
Cranberry Oysters, 2025 Year-End Amber Grant winner
Read it ↗A first trade show
“I’m really excited to participate in my first trade show”
Jensin Okunishi Studio, August 2023 Amber Grant winner
Read it ↗Safety testing
“it will help fund the completion of third party testing”
SparkFR, 2025 Year-End Startup Grant winner
Read it ↗
WomensNet’s FAQ asks applicants to “be as detailed as you can” about the money.
Draft your Amber Grant answers. Free preview, from your own facts.
Start my free draft →What brought winners their customers
Amber Grant winners credit face-to-face selling more than social media: of 116 interviews, 56 name markets, events, word of mouth or local partners as what worked, and 38 name social media. 85 of 116 name at least one channel.
56 vs 38face to face vs social media
My biggest marketing strategy has been letting the story do the work.
Google reviews alone are carrying all of the weight for me, and it’s free
The help they credit is mostly people
Asked what resources helped, 40 of 116 interviewees named other founders or peer groups, more than any other kind of help.
What year‑end winners had in common
Every year-end Amber Grant winner in this period described what the monthly award had paid for, or was paying for, then named the next purchase. A vehicle, a front-office hire, dust collectors, a captain’s license, a first prototype.
year-end winners said what the monthly award paid for
The 10 first won monthly awards in months from January to October, not only late in the year.
The year-end award, per winner
2022 year-end: $25,000 each
2 winners: The Sweetest Bean, Curl House.
2023 year-end: $25,000 each
2 winners: ZZ's Ice Cream Puffs, Sallie Plumley Studio.
2024 year-end: $25,000 each
3 winners: Holiatry Health and Wellness, Alicia Dietz Studios, Moy Studios.
2025 year-end: $50,000 each
3 winners: Cranberry Oysters, SparkFR, Child's Play School.
2026: $75,000 advertised
As of November 2026, WomensNet advertises three $75,000 year-end grants. Not yet awarded.
Awarded* Advertised, November 2026
WomensNet’s FAQ says it picks year-end winners from the monthly winners, weighing voting results and “updates from the monthly Amber Grant winners.”
how the application process changed our thinking
Before you apply for the Amber Grant
WomensNet’s FAQ names three things it reads for in an Amber Grant application, and winners’ public pages show how each tends to be handled.
- Your story88% of winners say where the business came from.Draft this answer →
- Plans for growing or startingMost describe a specific customer; 77% use no business figure.Draft this answer →
- Plans for the money39 of the 47 who mention it name a specific purchase.Draft this answer →
Applying elsewhere too: business grants that award every month and grants for women-owned businesses.
What this analysis can’t tell you
This analysis describes Amber Grant winners from what WomensNet chose to publish, so it cannot show what makes an application win.
- These are not the applicationsInterviews are recorded after the award, and WomensNet chooses what to publish.
- We only see winnersWithout the applications that lost, nothing here shows that a pattern causes a win.
- The labels are judgment callsPages were read and coded with AI help. Origin, money, marketing and resource labels are each tied to a phrase we checked against the page; business type and purpose are our reading.
- Interviews follow a scriptMonthly interviews ask about the business, resources and marketing, so the money comes up less. Year-end interviews do ask about it.
Questions about Amber Grant winners
How do you win the Amber Grant?
WomensNet’s FAQ says it reads three things in an Amber Grant application: your story, your plans for growing or starting, and your plans for the money. Winners’ public pages line up with that: 117 of 133 say where the business came from, 103 of 133 give no sales, customer or growth figure, and 39 of the 47 who discuss the money name a specific purchase. This describes winners only; it does not show these traits cause a win.
What do Amber Grant winners have in common?
In the 133 winner pages WomensNet published from January 2023 to October 2026 that include the winner’s own words, most winners run a small business that sells a product or service to ordinary customers, explain where it came from (117 of 133), and frame it around a purpose beyond sales (83 of 133). Most give no business figure: 103 of 133 mention no sales, customer count, units, growth rate, team size or stockists.
Do Amber Grant winners need revenue or traction?
The public record does not show it. 103 of 133 winners give no sales, customer or growth figure, and only 2 put a dollar figure on their sales. The Startup Grant is open to businesses that have not yet made $10,000 in sales. WomensNet’s FAQ says it is not looking for a formal business plan.
Does WomensNet publish winning Amber Grant applications?
No. Each winner page carries an announcement and, on most, a recorded interview. In 2023 and early 2024, 17 pages instead quoted short passages the winner had shared. WomensNet’s FAQ also points applicants to sample application feedback articles on its blog.
How are the year-end Amber Grant winners chosen?
From the monthly winners. WomensNet’s FAQ says it weighs voting results, updates from the monthly Amber Grant winners and other factors. The year-end award was $25,000 for 2022 to 2024 and $50,000 for 2025; as of November 2026, WomensNet advertises three $75,000 year-end grants.
Sources: the 142 winner pages
All 142 pages were published by WomensNet on ambergrantsforwomen.com and read on November 5, 2026; mini, marketing, bonus and non-profit grants are left out.
The coded data. One row per page: our short labels and the source link, with no winner text beyond the business name.
Cite this: GrantCompass, “Amber Grant winners 2023–2026: what 142 winner pages say,” , https://grantcompass.co/amber-grant-winners-analysis
Show all 142 pages
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2026 33 pages
- September 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to Ebijou 2026-10-20
- September 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to The Caregiving Concierge 2026-10-20
- September 2026 Education & Child Care Grant Awarded to CalcMindset Innovations 2026-10-20
- August 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to SheFlag.com 2026-09-21
- August 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to Mobile Tailor LA 2026-09-21
- August 2026 Hair Care & Skin Care Grant Awarded to Hive Beauty Collective 2026-09-21
- July 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to Babes Pickles 2026-08-20
- July 2026 Animal Services Grant Awarded to PasturePuff 2026-08-20
- July 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to Sterling Hygiene 2026-08-20
- June 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to FiXA 2026-07-21
- June 2026 Business Support Services Grant Awarded to Art Easely 2026-07-21
- June 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to VASCH Ltd. 2026-07-21
- May 2026 Mental and Emotional Support Grant Awarded to Autism Chrysalis LLC 2026-06-18
- May 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to Rozanna's Violins 2026-06-18
- May 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to Lemonade Stand 2026-06-18
- April 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to Ayuda Health 2026-05-19
- April 2026 Sustainability Grant Awarded to EcoSet 2026-05-19
- April 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to MITekz Solutions LLC 2026-05-19
- March 2026 Food & Beverage Grant Awarded to Pizzeria Coco 2026-04-21
- March 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to Soak iT Up 2026-04-21
- March 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to Linnell Restorations 2026-04-21
- February 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to Prairie Roots Sod Company 2026-03-19
- February 2026 Health, Fitness & Wellness Grant Awarded to Vix Socks 2026-03-19
- February 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to Brown Girl Surf 2026-03-19
- January 2026 Skilled Trades Grant Awarded to MVS Welding 2026-02-19
- January 2026 Amber Grant Awarded to Flour Sack Studio, LLC 2026-02-19
- January 2026 Startup Grant Awarded to Shellf Life 2026-02-19
- December 2025 Fashion and Interior Design Grant Awarded to Desert Bloom 2026-01-20
- December 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to Duplii 2026-01-20
- December 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Iconicake 2026-01-20
- 2025 Year-End Business Grant Awarded to Child's Play School 2026-01-06
- 2025 Year-End Startup Grant Awarded to SparkFR 2026-01-06
- 2025 Year-End Amber Grant Awarded to Cranberry Oysters 2026-01-06
2025 39 pages
- November 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to No Women No Spice 2025-12-17
- November 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to Piel de Miel 2025-12-17
- November 2025 STEM Grant Awarded to Cirdia PBC 2025-12-17
- October 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Yoga Bands 2025-11-18
- October 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to CareSteps Mobile Foot Care 2025-11-18
- October 2025 Creative Arts Grant Awarded to Ella West Gallery 2025-11-18
- September 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Blue Cowgirl Productions 2025-10-20
- September 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to SparkFR LLC 2025-10-20
- September 2025 Education & Childcare Grant Awarded to Child's Play School 2025-10-20
- August 2025 Haircare & Skincare Grant Awarded to Beauty Bar Academy 2025-09-17
- August 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Gloucester Sea Hive 2025-09-17
- August 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to MHS Glass Polishing 2025-09-17
- July 2025 Animal Services Grant Awarded to Campfire Cutz Campground Dog Grooming 2025-08-26
- July 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to West Village Homeschool Co-op 2025-08-18
- July 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to Farmer Analytics LLC 2025-08-18
- June 2025 Business Support Services Grant Awarded to FloraMetrics LLC 2025-07-20
- June 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to The Good Food CFO 2025-07-20
- June 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to Blue Moves Media LLC 2025-07-20
- May 2025 Mental and Emotional Support Grant Awarded to Hope & Wellness, PLLC 2025-06-18
- May 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to Wildbatch Co. 2025-06-18
- May 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Neckglasses, LLC 2025-06-18
- April 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Cranberry Oysters 2025-05-21
- April 2025 Sustainability Grant Awarded to Shuggie's Trash Pie + Natural Wine 2025-05-19
- April 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to Tegner Mill 2025-05-19
- March 2025 Food & Beverage Grant Awarded to Flour and Salt Bakery LLC 2025-04-21
- March 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to The Clean Machine 2025-04-21
- March 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Eco Bandage 2025-04-21
- February 2025 Health & Fitness Grant Awarded to DoryWoman Rowing 2025-03-20
- February 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Hand-Grown Greens 2025-03-20
- February 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to Sunday's Something 2025-03-20
- January 2025 Startup Grant Awarded to The Mossery 2025-02-20
- January 2025 Amber Grant Awarded to Courtney Ray's Peanut Brittle 2025-02-20
- January 2025 Skilled Trades Grant Awarded to K & M Home Repairs 2025-02-20
- December 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to MelanBrand Skin 2025-01-20
- December 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Muse Cheesecake & Bakery 2025-01-20
- December 2024 Fashion & Interior Design Grant Awarded to At First Glance 2025-01-20
- 2024 Year-End Amber Grant Awarded to Moy Studios 2025-01-05
- 2024 Year-End Business Grant Awarded to Alicia Dietz Studios 2025-01-05
- 2024 Year-End Startup Grant Awarded to Holiatry Health and Wellness 2025-01-05
2024 38 pages
- November 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Aurora Heat 2024-12-18
- November 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Kasbo’s Market 2024-12-18
- November 2024 STEM Grant Awarded to Studiocart 2024-12-18
- October 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Moy Studio 2024-11-20
- October 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Coderre Conservation 2024-11-20
- October 2024 Creative Arts Grant Awarded to Alicia Dietz Studios 2024-11-20
- September 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Hazy Fudge 2024-10-20
- September 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Serene Moms 2024-10-20
- September 2024 Education & Child Care Grant Awarded to Nutripath 2024-10-20
- August 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to AQUA Waterproof Headwear 2024-09-19
- August 2024 Hair & Skincare Grant Awarded to Hollywood Hair Witch 2024-09-19
- August 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Holiatry Health & Wellness 2024-09-19
- July 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Full Spectrum Learn & Play 2024-08-19
- July 2024 Animal Services Grant Awarded to Swell Gelato 2024-08-19
- July 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to CargoB 2024-08-19
- June 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to San & Wolves Bakeshop 2024-07-17
- June 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Vermont Literacy Network 2024-07-17
- June 2024 Business Support Services Grant Awarded to Mosaic Makers Collective 2024-07-17
- May 2024 Mental & Emotional Support Grant Awarded to SPARK Relationship + Sexual Wellness 2024-06-19
- May 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Cedar + Branch 2024-06-19
- May 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Ivory Raine Candle Co. 2024-06-19
- April 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to A Novel Princess Party 2024-05-21
- April 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Hiker & the Hound 2024-05-21
- April 2024 Sustainability Grant Awarded to Reclaim Timber 2024-05-21
- March 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to SpiritThread Studio and Stitches 2024-04-17
- March 2024 Food & Beverage Grant Awarded to Yeah Baby Boards 2024-04-17
- March 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Joystream 2024-04-17
- February 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to JTP math 2024-03-19
- February 2024 Health & Fitness Grant Awarded to Legacy Chiropractic Center 2024-03-19
- February 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Womads 2024-03-19
- January 2024 Startup Grant Awarded to Zemlia 2024-02-20
- January 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Dr. Kanks 2024-02-20
- January 2024 Skilled Trades Grant Awarded to Rowdy Fabrication 2024-02-19
- December 2023 Startup Grant Awarded to Yona Care 2024-01-17
- December 2023 Fashion Design Grant Awarded to Slow Goods Studio 2024-01-17
- December 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to Excel Science Consulting 2024-01-17
- 2023 Year-End Business Category Grant Awarded to Sallie Plumley Studio 2024-01-02
- 2023 Year-End Amber Grant Awarded to ZZ's Ice Cream Puffs 2024-01-02
2023 32 pages
- $10K Startup Grant Awarded to The Wildflower Company 2023-12-19
- November STEM Grant Awarded to Sustainable Chemicals 2023-12-19
- November 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to The Sinfonietta Collection 2023-12-19
- October 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to Linda Diak Quilts 2023-11-21
- October Creative Arts Grant Awarded to Kate McFadden Designs 2023-11-07
- September 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to Stacy Electric 2023-10-21
- September Education & Child Care Grant Awarded to Inquisicook 2023-10-04
- August 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to Jensin Okunishi Studio 2023-09-20
- $10K Startup Grant Awarded to 3 Queens Soul Cuisine 2023-09-20
- August Hair Care & Skincare Grant Awarded to La Marcotterie 2023-09-05
- July 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to ZZs Ice Cream Puffs 2023-08-23
- July Animal Services Grant Awarded to Heartwood Haven 2023-08-04
- June 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to Your Sober Pal 2023-07-19
- June 2023 Business Support Grant Awarded to Wild Thing Tax Inc 2023-07-05
- May 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to Paintillio 2023-06-21
- $10K Startup Grant Awarded to Sanctuary Juice’n Smoothies 2023-06-15
- May Mental & Emotional Support Grant Awarded to Firefly Wellness Counseling 2023-06-07
- April 2023 Amber Grant Awarded to North Country Creamery 2023-05-22
- April Sustainability Grant Awarded to BTF Net Zero Designs 2023-05-09
- March 2023 Amber Grant awarded to SwitchGrocery 2023-04-19
- March 2023 Food & Beverage Grant Awarded to Luna y Sol Cafe 2023-04-05
- $5K Startup Grant Awarded to Montana Vogue 2023-03-23
- $10K Startup Grant Awarded to Valet My Bag 2023-03-23
- $5K Startup Grant Awarded to Increase Your Vibrations 2023-03-23
- February 2023 Amber Grant awarded to Earthling Foods 2023-03-20
- February 2023 Health & Wellness Grant Awarded to The Birthing Place 2023-03-07
- January 2023 Amber Grant awarded to Diesel Engine Repair 2023-02-22
- January 2023 Skilled Trades Grant Awarded to Sallie Plumley Studio 2023-02-08
- December 2022 Amber Grant awarded to Spicekick 2023-01-23
- December 2022 Fashion Design Grant Awarded to Sirens & Sailors 2023-01-04
- 2022 Year-End Business Category Grant Awarded to Curl House 2023-01-04
- 2022 Year-End Amber Grant Awarded to The Sweetest Bean 2023-01-04
Also cited: WomensNet FAQ · Past recipients. GrantCompass is independent and not affiliated with WomensNet.