The Creative Business Boost Initiative: $5K Grants

Introducing the Creative Business Boost Initiative, presented by Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), with support from Etsy’s Uplift Fund! 100 creative entrepreneurs will be selected from eligible entrants to receive a $5,000 grant and access to an exclusive Boost Camp coaching program, helping them access capital and resources they need to foster growth and success.

The Creative Business Boost Initiative is designed to help empower entrepreneurs who contribute to the creative economy. By providing grants, educational resources, and access to a community of business owners, the program strives to bolster the cultural vibrancy of communities through the entrepreneurial endeavors of creative individuals.

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To be eligible, you must be an entrepreneur who is the leading executive (i.e. Founder) of a small business that meets the below business criteria:

  • A legal resident of one of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico
  • Eighteen (18) years of age or older (19 in AL and NE)

Other eligibility criteria includes: 

  • Must be a creative entrepreneur as defined here
  • Must have a business that has been in operation for at least 12 months 
  • Must have an existing product or service currently on the market
  • Must be willing to participate in an 8-week virtual business Boost Camp
  • Being a for-profit business located and registered in one of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico

For a full list of eligibility criteria, including restricted businesses, see the terms and conditions.

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Application Timeline

The Creative Business Boost Initiative will accept applications from March 31, 2025 to May 9, 2025 at 6 p.m. ET. 

Applications will be reviewed by a committee in accordance with the review criteria outlined in the terms and conditions. Recipients will be notified by email on or around June 23, 2025 and boost camp will kick off the first week of July.

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Celebrate Their Success

Announcing the 2024 Creative Business Boost Initiative Recipients!

Etsy, Hello Alice, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) are thrilled to announce the recipients of the Creative Business Boost Initiative. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 grant and access to an exclusive Boost Camp coaching program designed to provide the capital and resources needed for business growth and success.

Review the full list of recipients below, and visit the Small Business Funding & Growth Center to find more grant opportunities and lending options.

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