April 2026: $200K in grants open right now
Since we last chatted, the LWL team reviewed nearly 700 applications for the 2026 Launch Program: The Impact Founders Cohort!
We are absolutely blown away by all of the women-led businesses that are prioritizing intentional social impact alongside of revenue. To all you incredible leaders who are making a difference in this world, IT MATTERS! 🙏🩵
Here's what's useful to know for the month of April:
💰 Grant Opportunities: Nearly $200K in open grant opportunities close this month. Links are below!
📺 Event Recording: Last month's AI in the Real World webinar was so much fun! Nearly 100 Launchers joined us live.
🎧 The History of AI, Explained: In 20 minutes, Harvard PhD candidate and Historian, Shae Omonijo, walks through why it feels like AI only just burst on the scene even though it's been 75 years in the making.
🩵 Meet Georgina: The award-winning founder of YNNY Limited opens up about the power of vulnerability.
🌎 Earth day is Wednesday April 22, 2026! How will you take action?
In your corner,
The Ladies Who Launch team
🤑 GRANT DEADLINES (US-ONLY)
We maintain a free database of grants for US-based businesses. If you are not based in the United States, please reach out to the funding organization directly to learn if your business qualifies.
[$4K] Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program. In partnership with Autism Angels Network, this program aims to increase business leadership opportunities for people with developmental and/or cognitive differences. Deadline: April 15, 2026
[$10K] Lenovo Backing Every Business. This creative program pairs similar businesses together as "twins" for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and insight, along with a grant for AI & technology use. Deadline: April 15, 2026 at 11:59pm PT
[$25K] Inclusive Beauty Fund Grant. L'Oréal has teamed up with NAACP to offer SIX grants at $25K each to eligible businesses in the hair, beauty, and spa industries. Deadline: April 23, 2026 at 6pm ET
[Up to $5K] Enthuse Foundation Grant Program. Get access to 8 different grants for the price of one click! This foundation supports women-owned CPG brands on a variety of business needs. Deadline: April 27, 2026
[$20K] Robin Hood x Blue Ridge Labs Founder Fellowship. This one is for those who have a social impact tech venture, and are ready to start building towards a more equitable world. Deadline: May 3, 2026
💥 POWER PICKS
Power Picks is your monthly shortcut to better decisions: handpicked listens, curated reads, and expert events that will level up your thinking and expand your skills.
📺 AI in the Real World: How One Founder Gets a 400% Increase To Her Bottom Line By Using AI. This practical conversation between Katie Blouin, Samantha Gold, and Anika Gupta name drops more than 20+ different AI tools that are getting each of them real results. A list of tools is available at the link above. We promise you will feel smarter after listening to this one!
📚 Michelle Cordeiro Grant Shares The Multimillion-Dollar Marketing Playbook Behind Gorgie. The founder of Lively shares how she took her second brand from idea to retail shelves in just 6 months. While we acknowledge the privilege a successful exit can lend, her core lesson is too important to pass by.
🎧 The AI Lessons That Will Change How You Operate. This conversation between Allie K. Miller and Emma Grede is an absolute banger! Allie's personal goal is to teach 1 billion people how to use AI, and you'll definitely walk away from this episode with new ideas.
🎧 The History of AI Explained: 75 Years Of Trying To Build Thinking Machines. While it might feel like AI only boomed onto the culture stage in the past 3 years, it's actually a technology that's been in the works since the 1950s. Understanding history helps ground us in how we choose to engage with AI in the here and now.
🩵 LAUNCHER SPOTLIGHT
Launcher Spotlight is where we shine a sparkly beam on a woman-owned business that’s blasting forward with gumption. Be sure to give her some love on IG!
Georgina Tang of YNNY Limited
2025 Funded & Fearless Vendor
"As an award-winning founder, I’ve never separated my personal story from my business, because the two are intrinsically linked.
I initially created my skincare products to help my severely disabled son, Alessio, and once I saw the difference they made to him, and then to friends and family, I realized I could help far more people. That’s how the YNNY brand grew - including creating white-label products for high-profile brands and celebrities.
Consistent PR has come from being open about that journey, sharing what I’ve learned over the past decade, and backing it up with real expertise."