The Doyenne Evergreen Fund is specifically designed to support ventures led by women and people of color. The Evergreen Fund focuses on Wisconsin-based businesses that are doing something INNOVATIVE in their industry and are able to SCALE to a national level.
While Doyenne supports all-types of businesses through our professional development programs (coaching, Triple Threat Venture Training , Iso-Learning, Learning Lab), the Evergreen Fund dollars are committed to supporting innovation and significant growth. Research shows that businesses led by women are significantly smaller than those led by men. Doyenne believes this is because women-led businesses, that have potential to scale, are not adequately funded. In an effort to close this significant gap, the Evergreen Fund focuses on innovative businesses that can scale to a national level.
Please note: This focus on innovation and scaling means that some businesses, unfortunately, will not fit the selection criteria. In particular, it will be challenging for brick-and-mortar retail stores and some service-based businesses to get funding from this particular mechanism. This doesn’t mean these businesses are not valuable, it just means they may not fit the Evergreen Fund.
Businesses must meet the following criteria to apply for Doyenne funding. Only entrepreneurs who can answer “YES” to all of these questions, will be granted access to the full application.
- The business is 51% women and/or minority owned.
- The business is intending, and has the potential, to scale to a national level.
- The business demonstrates innovation in its industry.
- The business is registered with Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
- The business is registered as a C Corporation, S Corporation, or LLC.
- The business is headquartered in Wisconsin.
- The business has fewer than 100 employees, 51% of whom are based in Wisconsin.
- The business has the potential to increase jobs in Wisconsin.
- The business has been in operation for fewer than 10 years.
- The business has not received more than $10M in private equity investment.
WHAT KINDS OF FUNDING ARE AVAILABLE?
The Doyenne Evergreen Fund has offers two types of financial support to businesses, each with specific amounts:
- Grants ($5K) - Doyenne has allotted all Grant dollars to companies at this time. All applicants, regardless of meeting criteria, who are seeking grants will not be awarded funding
- Equity investments ($25-50K)
As a general guideline, Doyenne will not commit more than $50,000 in total to any one business, unless there are special circumstances that warrant it. If you need more than $50K in funding, we suggest you look for additional sources of funds that could be combined with Doyenne dollars.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING?
Doyenne has designed a multi-step application process. Depending on the type and amount of funding you are seeking, the process may be more or less complex. The funding process may take a number of weeks to complete, so please plan accordingly.
Step 1: Complete the Screener Tool
To save both you and Doyenne time, we have designed a Screening Tool that, based upon your answers, will help us decide if you qualify to submit an application. Please review the selection criteria above to determine if your business is eligible for these dollars. As part of the screening process, you will be asked to review and agree to our Terms of Service (click here for a pdf version).
Step 2: Complete the Application
Only businesses that meet the criteria to apply, as indicated by the Screening Tool, will have the opportunity to complete the initial Doyenne Funding Application. We encourage you print and review the full application before you begin completing the online version. You will be able to save your application and return to it later.
Step 3: Internal & Committee Review
Doyenne staff & community members who are part of our Investment Committee will review your initial application and follow-up with you if there are any issues or if anything seems missing. Once your application is deemed complete, it will be forwarded to the Evergreen Fund Selection Committee for review. The committee meets quarterly to review applications for funding.
Doyenne staff will contact you with the results of the selection committee review and, if appropriate, what your next steps will be. If you are applying for an equity investment AND you are chosen to move forward, you will be asked to provide additional information (pitch).
Step 4: Doyenne Accelerator
Every entrepreneur who receives funding for her business is required to participate in the Doyenne Accelerator. We know that financial support is only ONE of many types of assistance entrepreneurs need. Our Accelerator is designed to help entrepreneurs build their skills and network, all of which contribute to the success of the venture.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A BUSINESS IS NOT FUNDED?
If your business meets the requirements in order to apply, but does not receive funding, we encourage you to apply again after six months. We receive lots of applications and have limited dollars available so we have to choose the businesses that best meet our goals.
Even if you don’t receive funding from us, you can still join Doyenne and participate in our programming, which can help you develop the skills and network to grow your business. We hope that all applicants join our powerful and inspiring community of entrepreneurs.
