Last updated: September 3, 2025
By applying to the Makers Mindset x The Equity Studio Grant, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms:
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
- All applicants must submit the official online application by October 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST to be considered.
- Limit one entry per business.
- Applications will be reviewed based on eligibility and alignment with the program’s goals.
- Ten (10) finalists will be selected and notified by October 31, 2025. Finalists must confirm participation in Pitch the Panel session within 48 hours or their spot will be forfeited.
- Finalists who do not attend the Pitch the Panel session on November 4, 2025 (date subject to change) may also forfeit their spot.
- Five (5) awardees will be selected by the end of November 2025. Awardees must confirm acceptance within 48 hours or their award may be forfeited.
- Makers Mindset and The Equity Studio reserve the right to disqualify any applicant who provides false or misleading information.
- Any participant engaging in harassment, inappropriate conduct, or violations of program guidelines may be removed at the discretion of the organizers.
ELIGIBILITY
To apply, your business must meet all of the following requirements:
- Legally registered in the United States.
- Operate in the CPG sector across Beauty (skincare, color cosmetics, haircare, scalp care, bodycare, oral care, fragrance, hygiene, family & baby care) or Wellness (supplements, ingestibles, nutritional powders & products, functional foods and beverages, better-for-you food, longevity & performance support, hormone care).
- Have no more than 10 employees.
- Be at least 51% women-owned.
- Have annual revenue over $100,000 and no greater than $2 million.
- Have been generating revenue for at least two full years.
- Be available to attend the Pitch the Panel Session on November 4, 2025 (date subject to change), if selected as a finalist.
- Applicants who are employees of Makers Mindset, The Equity Studio, participating judges, and their immediate family members are not eligible.
PARTICIPATION
- The Makers Mindset x The Equity Studio Grant is a free program designed to provide equity-free funding, mentorship, and visibility.
- Finalists must attend the live Pitch the Panel session and present their business to the judging panel.
- This is a grant opportunity; participants will not receive financial compensation for applying or presenting.
IP & CONFIDENTIALITY
- Any information considered proprietary, confidential, or trade secret in your application or pitch session will not be shared outside of the program. The organizers are otherwise not responsible for protecting or enforcing intellectual property rights.
- Participants retain full ownership of their business ideas and materials shared during the program.
- Makers Mindset, The Equity Studio, and affiliated partners reserve the right to share general insights, testimonials, and success stories from the program for promotional and educational purposes.
GRANT AWARDS
- Five (5) winners will each receive a $10,000 USD equity-free grant.
- Judging criteria: Innovation, scalability, clarity of vision, and potential impact.
- Winning businesses must use grant dollars only toward marketing, manufacturing, or research & development.
- Grants will be disbursed as Expenditure Responsibility Grants.
- Grant recipients will be required to provide regular progress reports, including itemized expenditures and measurable outcomes, to comply with the grantor’s legal monitoring requirements.
- Recipients are responsible for any applicable taxes on awarded funds.
MEDIA RELEASE
- By applying and/or participating, applicants grant Makers Mindset and The Equity Studio permission to use their name, image, business name, and likeness in promotional materials, social media, press releases, and other marketing efforts related to the program.
- The program reserves the right to highlight awardees and participants across Makers Mindset and The Equity Studio platforms, including websites, newsletters, media outlets, and social channels.
- Upon completion of the program, winners may be asked to provide a testimonial detailing their experience, which may be used for marketing purposes.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
- Participation in the Makers Mindset x The Equity Studio Grant is voluntary, and Makers Mindset, The Equity Studio, Nancy Twine, Anna Sweeting, judges, and partners are not liable for any business outcomes resulting from participation in the program.
- The organizers reserve the right to modify pitch schedules, judge availability, or grant distribution if necessary, without prior notice to participants.
AGREEMENT TO TERMS
- You meet all eligibility requirements and understand that non-compliance may result in disqualification.
- You understand that participation is voluntary and does not guarantee grant funding or business success.
- You agree to the media release terms and allow Makers Mindset and The Equity Studio to feature your participation in promotional content.
- You acknowledge that grant funds, if awarded, may be subject to taxation and reporting requirements.
If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact hello@makersmindset.com.