Applications open for InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge

Deadline: 29-Sep-2026

The InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge supports female-identifying high school students interested in business and entrepreneurship through scholarships awarded for innovative business plan submissions. Students from any country can participate by submitting a concise two-page business plan for a real or hypothetical product or service. What Is the InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge? The InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge is designed to encourage young women to explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, and innovation. The programme recognizes that aspiring female entrepreneurs can face barriers such as: Provide realistic estimates rather than simply stating that the business will be profitable.

Consider:

How much it costs to launch. How much customers will pay. How the business will generate revenue. Major ongoing expenses. Keep the Plan Within Two Pages The two-page requirement means every section should have a purpose. Prioritize information that helps the judges understand the problem, solution, market, business model, financial potential, and impact. Selection Criteria The selection process considers both the quality of the business plan and the applicant’s entrepreneurial potential.

Important factors include:

Creativity. Clarity. Feasibility. Market understanding. Value proposition. Financial planning. Presentation. Ambition. Drive. Potential impact of the business idea. No essay is required as part of the application, allowing applicants to demonstrate their abilities primarily through their business concept and plan. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Choosing an idea without identifying a real problem. Making unrealistic financial assumptions. Targeting “everyone” as the customer. Failing to explain how the business makes money. Ignoring competitors or existing alternatives. Using complicated language unnecessarily. Including too much information in the two-page plan. Focusing only on creativity while ignoring feasibility. Forgetting to explain the potential impact of the idea.

Tip: A simple but well-developed business idea can be stronger than a complicated idea that lacks a realistic market or financial model.

Key Facts at a Glance

Programme: InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge

Purpose: Scholarships for innovative business plan submissions

Applicants: Female-identifying high school students

Geographic eligibility: Worldwide

Academic level: High school

Field: Business and entrepreneurship

Submission: Two-page business plan

Business concept: Real or hypothetical product or service

Evaluation: Creativity, clarity, feasibility, market understanding, value proposition, financial planning, presentation, ambition, drive, and potential impact

Essay: Not required

Frequently Asked Questions Who can apply for the InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge? Female-identifying high school students interested in business or entrepreneurship can apply. The opportunity is open to students from any country. What must applicants submit? Applicants must submit a two-page business plan describing a real or hypothetical product or service. Does the business idea have to be real? No. Applicants can propose either a real business they want to develop or a hypothetical business concept. What does the judging process consider? Judges consider creativity, clarity, feasibility, market understanding, value proposition, financial planning, presentation, ambition, drive, and potential impact. Is an essay required? No. The application does not require an essay as part of the submission. Can international students participate? Yes. The scholarship challenge is open to eligible female-identifying high school students from any country. What makes a strong InnovateHERs business plan? A strong plan clearly identifies a problem, presents an innovative solution, defines its target market, explains its competitive advantage, provides realistic financial thinking, and demonstrates the potential for meaningful impact. Conclusion The InnovateHERs Scholarship Challenge provides female-identifying high school students worldwide with an opportunity to demonstrate their entrepreneurial potential through a focused business plan. Applicants should use the two-page format strategically, presenting a clear problem, innovative solution, realistic market opportunity, strong value proposition, and credible financial plan. The challenge is particularly valuable for students who want to explore entrepreneurship and develop practical business skills while competing for scholarship support.