SmallBizResource Blog -- Startups

10 Grand Up for Grabs for Women Media Entrepreneurs

Posted by Gayle Kesten Monday, Mar 3, 2008, 11:25 AM ET

It's good to be queen.

New Media Women Entrepreneurs is looking out for the female journalist species, with plans to award $10,000 to fund three women-led start-ups involved in news and information that “will rock the world of journalism."

That's right in line with the overall idea behind NMWE, a product of the University of Maryland's J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism -- "to spotlight the creative assets of women and help address issues of opportunity and innovation, recruitment and retention for women in journalism."

So if you 1) are a woman and 2) have an original idea to create a new Web site, mobile news service or other initiative that offers interactive opportunities to engage, inspire and improve news and information in a geographic community or a community of interest, this could be what you need to jump-start your entrepreneurial motor. Of note, part of the deal is winners will have to blog (on their own dime) about the process of launching their ideas.

Guidelines are spelled out here, along with a link to register and apply online. Proposals are due May 1.

Separately but related, last week Enterprising Women magazine honored dozens of outstanding North American women business owners with its 2008 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards. The winners, including the Bun Lady who I blogged about last month, had to "demonstrate that they have fast-growth businesses, they mentor or actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship, and they stand out as leaders in their communities," according to Monica Smiley, the magazine's publisher and CEO.

Startups