Accelerate: A WBDC Grant Program
Propelling Continued Growth for Small Businesses
The Women’s Business Development Council offers grants of up to $25,000 to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut.
The Accelerate Grant Program is designed to take your business to the next level!
This grant program is open to women-owned businesses that received a WBDC Equity Match Grant, Ignite Grant, or Municipal Grant at least 12 months ago and have demonstrated revenue growth as a direct impact of receiving WBDC grant funding.
A select number of applicants will be given the opportunity to participate in a Pitch Event, where an external review committee will select the grant recipients.
The grant funds cannot be used towards operating expenses (e.g. inventory, on-going marketing expenses, salaries), for past purchases, or for debt repayment.
The next round of funding will open on June 15, 2026.
This is a highly competitive process, and only a select group of applicants will be funded.
Learn about Accelerate
This grant program is open to women-owned businesses that received a WBDC Equity Match Grant, Ignite Grant, or Municipal Grant at least 12 months ago and have demonstrated revenue growth as a direct impact of receiving WBDC grant funding. In addition, to be eligible, your business must:
- Be 51% or more woman-owned
- Have a record of annual sales/revenue in the last 12 months greater than $100,000 and less than $2,500,000
- Be headquartered in Connecticut
- Be registered in Connecticut
- Be owned by a Connecticut resident
- Be in good standing with the Connecticut Dept. of Revenue Services
- Have an established business checking account
- Utilize a formal, digital bookkeeping/financial system (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, FreshBooks, Wave Accounting)
- Be a for-profit business
- Be owned by a woman at least 18 years old
The following businesses are not eligible:
- Non-profit organizations
- Sole proprietorships
- Real estate agencies
- Current vendors or contractors of WBDC (former vendors and contractors are eligible to apply a year after working with WBDC)
PDF version of the FAQs: Click here
Versión de PDF de preguntas y respuestas en Español aquí
How to Prepare
Click here for the PDF English version of the application.
Haga clic aquí para la versión en PDF en español de la solicitud.
There are five sections in the application:
Section A: Business Description
Section B: Impact of Equity Match Grant/Ignite Grant or Municipal Grant Funding
Section C: How you would use the $25,000 grant
Section D: Business Plan
Section E: Supporting Documents
Well-developed picture of your business that displays continued growth and long-term potential
What is the potential for job creation?
What is the return on investment?
Will the grant have a meaningful impact on the business?
Use of funds that is focused and detailed (project should have a direct link to growth and/or profitability improvement)
Thorough and complete historical financials
Financial projections that reflect your business seasonality, market trends, and financial impact of the grant
A select number of applicants will compete in an in-person pitch competition where an external panel of judges determines grant awardees. The pitch competition will be held in the fall.
