The Entreprenista 100 is open to private, for-profit and non-profit business owners who are legal residents of the United States and Canada (residents of Quebec are ineligible due to Quebec's contest laws, which impose additional legal requirements the program cannot currently accommodate) and who are 18 years of age or older. To qualify, the business must have a woman founder or at least one active woman co-founder. Solo founders are absolutely eligible; you do not need a co-founder to apply, and having a male co-founder does not disqualify you as long as there is at least one active woman founder.

There is no minimum revenue, business age, or company size required to apply. Businesses at every stage, including pre-revenue, are welcome.

Each company may submit only one entry, though if there are multiple founders, they can all be indicated on the application. Full terms and conditions are available on Entreprenista's website.

Full terms and conditions are available on Entreprenista's website.

The Entreprenista 100 is an application-based award, so businesses apply directly rather than being nominated by a third party. If you know a founder who deserves recognition, the best way to support her is to share the application link with her. If you’d like to pay for someone’s application, please coordinate that with the applicant directly.

Applying celebrates the accomplishments you've achieved as an entrepreneur. Winning an Entreprenista 100 Award offers:

• Boost Brand Visibility – National exposure through Entreprenista.com, social media, and its network of members and partners.
• Highlight Your Authority – Strengthened positioning as an industry leader, drawing attention from new and existing clients or customers.
• Gain Instant Credibility – Award-winning status to enhance your business's credibility across your own marketing channels.

Winners gain extensive visibility across Entreprenista Media's platforms, including a dedicated feature on Entreprenista.com, social media spotlights, potential press opportunities, and inclusion in email newsletters.

Entreprenista League members also gain access to an exclusive networking room inside the private community platform, plus a special "Winners tag" on their community profile, visible to the 4,000+ Entreprenista members.

Winners also receive a digital winners kit with files for the official Entreprenista 100 winner's icon/badge and social graphics to use in their own marketing, on websites, packaging, and across platforms. The kit is delivered by email around the time winners are announced, so keep an eye on your inbox (and spam folder).

Finally, winners receive invitations to connect with other award-winning founders, both virtually and in person, including:

• The virtual awards ceremony in March 2027
• Founders Weekend 2027, which highlights and elevates that year's winners in person
• Special networking and business-boosting events for current and past winners throughout the year, held virtually and in-person.

The early entry application period runs through Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. The final application deadline is Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

Please note that all deadlines are Eastern Time, regardless of where you are located. For example, 11:59 PM ET is 10:59 PM CT and 8:59 PM PT. We encourage you to submit well before the final evening. The application closes automatically at the deadline, and late submissions cannot be accepted.

All application fees are non-refundable, including for applicants who are not selected. Payment of the fee does not influence judging in any way. Winners are selected solely on business excellence and impact.

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The application fee helps maintain the integrity and high standards of the program. It covers the costs of reviewing and selecting applications, producing digital features that amplify winners, and ensuring the program gains widespread visibility. It also helps reduce fraudulent or spam entries so every submission receives meaningful consideration. We keep the fee as low as possible while continuing to share free resources, visibility opportunities, and community support through our social platforms and weekly newsletter, "The Agenda." At this time, we are unable to offer fee waivers or scholarships.

No. The Entreprenista 100 Awards are open to all women business owners, and membership in the Entreprenista League is not required to apply. Membership has no effect on judging. Members and non-members are evaluated identically.

A few important notes about the member rate:

• Only active Entreprenista League members qualify for the member rate.
• Please apply using the same email address associated with your League membership.
• Not sure of your membership status or which email your membership is under? Email awards@entreprenista.com before you submit, and we'll confirm.

Joining the Entreprenista League after applying comes with a membership discount.

No. At this time, the award recipient must be a legal resident of either the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) in order to win.

Only one application per business will be accepted — co-founders cannot submit multiple entries for the same business, though all co-founders can be listed on a single application.

Yes. There are no restrictions on applying again, whether for the same business or a different/new one, even if you've won in the past.

You will receive a confirmation email shortly after submitting. If it doesn't arrive within a few minutes, check your spam folder, then contact awards@entreprenista.com and we'll confirm receipt.

If you receive a reminder email after you've already submitted, don't worry; your application is safe. Reminders are sent in batches and may occasionally overlap with recent submissions.

A few quick tips:

• In revenue fields, enter whole numbers only, without commas, dollar signs, or decimals. If your business is pre-revenue, enter 0.
• If you request a password reset and the email doesn't arrive, check your spam folder, then contact us.
• If a page freezes or a button doesn't respond, try a different browser or an incognito window before re-entering your information.

Still stuck? Email awards@entreprenista.com, and we'll help you complete your submission.

Yes. Your application responses, including all financial information, are confidential and are only viewed by the Entreprenista team and judging panel. Nothing from your application is published without your permission.

All applications are reviewed after the application window closes in November. The Entreprenista team and a panel of judges review applications based on business excellence and impact. Entreprenista 100 Judges also help select the top award honorees.

Winners of the Entreprenista 100 Awards will be announced in March 2027.

There will not be a physical award ceremony, but there will be a virtual, long-form ceremony to recognize and honor winners in March 2027 (date to be announced). Additionally, winners will be further celebrated through activations and programming on International Women's Day 2027.

Questions can be sent to awards@entreprenista.com.