Hawaiʻi FoundHer Accelerator
Hawaiʻi FoundHer (Purple Maiʻa Foundation)
$20,000 + $4,000 stipend
$20K grant + $4K stipend accelerator for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian women founders in Hawaiʻi; 2027 cycle expected.
Hawaiʻi FoundHer is a six-month accelerator for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian women founders across Hawaiʻi. Accepted participants receive a $20,000 non-dilutive grant, a $4,000 ʻohana care stipend, six months of workshops, two dedicated mentors, two in-person retreats, and a community of wāhine founders. Two tracks are offered: Pae ʻĀina (statewide, all industries) and Kapalili (Hawaiʻi Island, agriculture/food systems). Applications for 2026 are closed; 2027 announcements are expected.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Foundation
- Amount range
- $20,000 – $24,000
- Realistic amount
- $20,000 grant plus $4,000 stipend for each accepted founder
- Deadline
- 2026 applications closed; 2027 dates to be announced
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- HI
Who qualifies
- For-profit business (LLC or corporation)
- Proof of concept: sales, partnerships, or active users
- 51% women founders of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Asian descent
- Early stage (under 3 years)
- Values aligned with FoundHer
- Pae ʻĀina: based anywhere in Hawaiʻi, any industry
- Kapalili: based on Hawaiʻi Island, agriculture/food systems
Who is not eligible
- Nonprofits and 501(c)(3) organizations
- Businesses over 3 years old
- Businesses not based in Hawaiʻi
- Businesses without Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Asian women founders
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Business operations and growth
- Keiki or kupuna care (via stipend)
- Inventory and production
- Marketing and retail expansion
- Technology and systems
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses unrelated to the business
How to apply
-
1
Confirm eligibility and track fit
Verify your business meets the founder-demographic, location, stage, and entity requirements, and choose Pae ʻĀina (statewide) or Kapalili (Hawaiʻi Island agriculture/food).
~0.5 hrs
-
2
Prepare application materials
Gather business formation documents, proof of concept (sales, partnerships, active users), and founder background information.
~2 hrs
-
3
Submit application when cycle opens
Apply via the FoundHer application portal when the 2027 cycle opens (dates announced on Instagram/LinkedIn).
~1.5 hrs
-
4
Participate in selection process
If selected, complete first-round conversation, due diligence, and final interview with the selection committee.
~3 hrs
FoundHer selects for values alignment and early traction, not just revenue. Businesses that demonstrate cultural grounding and community impact alongside proof of concept are strong fits.
Deadline & timing
Applications for the 2026 cohort are closed; follow @hifoundher on Instagram or LinkedIn for 2027 announcements.
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Required documents
- Business formation documents (LLC or corporation)
- Proof of concept (sales, partnerships, active users)
- Founder background and demographic information
- Business plan or growth narrative
Related programs
This program is not taking applications today — these are
Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on August 25, 2026 — all 183 open grant programs · filter the database.
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Researched and verified 2026-08-24 against the official program source. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.