Empowering Women’s First Steps into Business
Every business starts with a first step. First Woman is here to encourage and support women at that moment.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, First Woman provides mentoring, encouragement, and small startup grants to women in Minnesota who are launching their first business.
Whether it’s a farm, bakery, boutique, food truck, service business, or storefront, we believe early support and community belief can make all the difference.
Starting something new takes courage. No one should have to take that first step alone.
Community-funded. Minnesota-based. Woman-founded.
Your Dream Deserves a Begining — Apply for a Grant Today!
Starting a business can feel overwhelming — but it can also be life-changing. First Woman provides early-stage support through small startup grants, community connection, encouragement, and visibility.
Our goal is simple: help women move from idea to action with confidence. Sometimes, all it takes is one community saying, “We believe in you.”
THREE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Three Ways to Get Involved
There’s a place for everyone in the First Woman community
💛 Apply
Starting your first business? Take that first step and apply for a First Woman grant.
💛 Support
Your donation directly funds future grants and helps women turn ideas into action.
💛 Attend
Join us at an event and be part of a community that believes in bold beginnings.
Building Confidence. Creating Opportunity. One Woman at a Time.
At First Woman, we don’t just celebrate finished businesses.
We celebrate the women brave enough to begin.
Because every thriving business once started with a first step — and every first step deserves support.
Meet Our 2025 First Woman Grant Recipient
Each year, First Woman awards a grant to a woman taking her first bold step into entrepreneurship.
Samantha Prechel, is transforming a historic 1938 Standard Service Station into a vibrant small business space called Livin’ the Dream / The Legacy. Her vision brings new opportunity to her rural community while honoring its history. Her story is proof that belief, support, and determination can spark meaningful change.
How We Fund the Mission
First Woman is powered by community. Our events bring people together while raising funds to support first-time women entrepreneurs. From high-energy bingo nights to special fundraising events, every ticket purchased helps fund future grants and future dreams. When you attend an event, you’re not just having fun — you’re helping a woman begin.
