Cartier has announced their selection of finalists for their 2020 Cartier Women’s Initiative, which provides 21 women with the chance to receive major financial backing in their new social-impact business ventures. Since 2006, the program has bolstered more than 200 companies led by female entrepreneurs and created over 7,000 jobs in doing so.
The seven winners, one from each region of the world, will receive $100,000 worth of funding towards their businesses; the remaining 14 will receive $30,000, for a total reaching more than $1 million in grants. To qualify, all finalists must meet the criteria: being in the initial phase of operations (under five years); creating revenue for at least one year; and meeting at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to financial funding, the finalists also receive one-on-one strategy coaching and support from INSEAD Business School.
The three finalists from North America are Sarah Tuneberg, Stephanie Benedetto and Kelly Nguyen.
Tuneberg’s business, Geospiza, is an information system that evaluates risk for climate-exposed organizations and visualization tools to assist in decision-making strategies. The idea for the company stemmed from her 15 years working as an emergency manager and the lack of clear software during Hurricane Sandy.
Benedetto’s Queen of Raw is an unused fabric marketplace that connects businesses like factories, mills and retailers with buyers, in hopes to cut down on fashion production waste. She modeled her business from her great grandfather’s, an Austrian immigrant who started a textile business that included repurposing fabric from discarded garments.
Nguyen started IDLogiq to help medical patients manage and verify medications in efforts to eradicate the counterfeit drug market. Combining her background in pharmaceuticals with a drive to create a democratic, easy-to-use consumer product, she hopes to arm users with the information to handle their medications properly.
The winners will be announced in June. You can find information on all the finalists at cartierwomensinitiative.com.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORY
-
Princess Kate's Sculpted Cheeks Could Be the Work of This Insider-Loved TreatmentThe technique also has Meghan Markle's stamp of approval.
-
32 Great TV Shows That Capture What We Love About Our Closest FriendshipsWatch these with your bestie (or when you miss them).
-
Kaia Gerber Test-Drives Selena Gomez's Winter Shoe Styling HackThere's still a way to wear those open-toe heels.
-
The Top Five 2025 Denim Trends Call Back to BasicsFar-from-fleeting styles like straight-leg jeans and denim maxis are here to stay.
-
8 Classics From Amal Clooney’s Capsule WardrobeFrom fitted blazers to delicate kitten heels.
-
10 Holiday Gifts Marie Claire Editors Are Giving and GettingUse our guide to simplify your shopping experience.
-
Fashionable Gift Ideas for Every Type of Personal StyleFrom the classic dresser to the eccentric trendsetter.
-
Strathberry's Black Friday Sale Majorly Discounts Meghan Markle and Jennifer Lopez's Favorite BagsStrathberry's best styles are 25 percent off.
-
How Do You Find Your Personal Style?From Gen Alpha to an almost-centenarian, we asked six stylish people to share how they discovered their formula for getting dressed.
-
The Loewe Bags Everyone's Manifesting Right NowFrom modern styles to heritage classics, these are the most coveted styles of the moment.
-
7 Late Fall Essentials Marie Claire Editors Bought for NovemberHere are all the fashion and beauty must-haves to covet for the kickstart of the holiday season.
