Applications are currently being accepted for the TiE Women Program 2026, an initiative designed to provide women founders with a global platform for their innovative business ideas. The program is open to entrepreneurs across all industries and sectors, from early-stage startups to established businesses seeking to scale. It offers participants opportunities for visibility, networking with industry leaders and investors, and mentorship.
Program Vision and Mission
• Vision: To embrace, engage, and empower women entrepreneurs across the globe, irrespective of the size of their enterprises, origin, standing, or background.
• Mission: To achieve the vision through sustainable and easy-to-adapt programming for all 61 chapters of TiE Global. The program tracks the entire entrepreneurial journey with solid outcome metrics and is built on the Pillars of TiE Women: Learning, Mentoring, Access to Funding, Scalability, Safe Space, and Community.
Benefits for Participants
• Equity-free cash prizes: $50,000
• Mentoring by successful entrepreneurs
• Access to investors from around the world
• Networking opportunities with global participants and TiE members
• A global platform to showcase the startup
• Learning sessions and events
Eligibility Criteria
• Startups must be female-founded or co-founded. The pitching opportunity is provided only to the female founder or co-founder.
• Female co-founder(s) must hold a minimum of 33% equity in the company.
• Companies must have been in business for less than seven years, registered on or after January 1, 2019.
• Preference is given to startups that are actively raising funds.
• Idea-stage startups do not qualify for screening.
Program Timeline and Milestones
• Application Period: Applications open on March 8, 2026, at 8:00 AM and close on June 15, 2026.
• Step 01 - Applications Open (March 8, 2026): The portal opens for early-stage women entrepreneurs globally.
• Step 02 - Applications Close (June 15, 2026): Final deadline for all submissions.
• Step 03 - Chapter Mentoring & Regional Finals (June 16 – September 1, 2026): Chapter-level mentoring sessions and regional pitch competitions to select finalists.
• Step 04 - Global Knowledge Series (September – October 2026): An exclusive series for winners and runners-up covering global scaling, investor relations, and strategy.
• Step 05 - Mock Finals (November 2026): A final rehearsal round with expert judges to refine pitches.
• Step 06 - TW Final Global Pitch Competition (December 2026): The grand finale where top entrepreneurs pitch to a global panel of investors for the $50,000 grant.
Program Impact to Date
• Applications: 11,000+ across 62 countries
• Startups Accelerated: 500+ women-led startups
• Entrepreneurs Mentored: 1,000+ women entrepreneurs received chapter-level mentoring
• Mentors Engaged: 100+ mentors and experts
• Grants Awarded: 22 women-led startups received equity-free grants worth over $350,000
About TiE Global
TiE is the world’s largest network of entrepreneurs with a mission of fostering entrepreneurship globally.
• Charter Members: 3,000+
• Members: 15,000+
• Locations: 57 in 14 countries
• Wealth Created: Over $1 trillion
• Employment Generated: Over 2.5 million directly
• Investments: $50-70 billion
• Startups Mentored: 25,000+
This program represents a significant opportunity for women entrepreneurs with a passion for innovation and a drive to make a difference. It provides a prestigious platform for those in the early stages of launching a startup or those with an established business looking to scale, offering a chance to gain visibility, network with industry leaders, and access valuable mentorship.