www.qld.gov.au
Innovation

Program overview

Who is it for?

The Female Founders Supply Chain Readiness program is a practical business development initiative designed to help Queensland women-founded and women-led businesses build the capability, confidence and connections needed to access opportunities within government, major projects and corporate supply chains.

Through practical workshops, tailored readiness and engagement planning, ongoing support and connections with potential buyers, participants will strengthen their understanding of how larger organisations buy, improve their supplier readiness and be better positioned to pursue new commercial opportunities.

What are the grant/program objectives?

The program will equip female founders with the tools, knowledge and networks needed to increase their supply chain readiness and successfully engage with large organisations. Participants will strengthen their business capability, refine their value proposition, build strategic industry connections, and improve their ability to access procurement, partnership and growth opportunities within corporate supply chains.

What does it involve?

A 12-week program with 3–4 Structured Hybrid Workshops and a curated Buyer Introduction Session

Workshop sessions focused on:

  • how corporates and Tier 1s buy and assess suppliers
  • positioning and clearly articulating business value
  • identifying relevant supply chain opportunities
  • addressing common gaps that stop SMEs from being considered.

Each participant develops a tailored Supplier Readiness Roadmap & Engagement Plan throughout the program. This is a practical, working plan that helps them:

  • clarify their positioning and value
  • identify relevant supply chains and opportunities
  • strengthen core business foundations required to engage with larger organisations
  • plan how they will engage with corporates, Tier 1s, and major projects
  • prioritise clear actions over the next 90 days.

What are the grant/program goals?

The program aims to:

  • build participants’ understanding of how to effectively engage with government, large organisations and corporate buyers
  • strengthen their ability to articulate and communicate their value proposition
  • develop a practical Supplier Readiness Roadmap and Engagement Plan to support market engagement
  • increase confidence, capability and readiness to pursue procurement and partnership opportunities
  • provide early exposure to relevant corporate and supply chain stakeholders
  • foster a supportive network of women entrepreneurs that encourages collaboration, peer learning and ongoing business growth.

What will recipients get?

Selected participants will receive:

  • continued guidance and direction
  • practical tools and resources
  • tailored Supplier Readiness Roadmap & Engagement Plan
  • mentoring
  • workshops with expert facilitators
  • a curated buyer introduction session
  • dedicated online community.

How do you apply?

Expressions of interest (EOI) open 9am, 12 November 2026 and closes 2pm, 16 January 2027.

Don't miss this opportunity to unlock your startup's potential through access to tools and knowledge to help you succeed!

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for funding, organisations must:

  • be a business headquartered in Queensland (operating and having its head office located in Queensland)
  • have an active ABN registered in Queensland
  • be majority female owned: have at least 50% of shares held by a woman/women
  • have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees
  • not be a subsidiary of a group of companies that has more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees in total
  • be at the stage of product/service development.

Resources

There are also numerous events and resources to support founder investment education. Below are some resources:

Subscribe

Additional support