2018 Grant Program

BEACON is a community-led
campaign to make Washington, DC
the most influential and supportive
city for women entrepreneurs in the
United States.

Donate to support our business directory and flagship programs

Resource Providers, see what you can do to support DC's women founders:
Building Inclusive Ecosystems with Intentionality: A Strategy to Enhance Support for DC's Women Founders

What is BEACON?

BEACON is a community-led initiative to make D.C. the most influential and supportive city in the nation for women entrepreneurs. With partners across the public and private sectors, BEACON amplifies opportunities and connects women entrepreneurs to each other, and to the resources they need.

Entrepreneurs can:

Sign-up for the BEACON Newsletter.

Register for the BEACON Directory as a woman-identifying business owner (it's free!).

Submit an event that supports women entrepreneurs.

Find a resource to support your needs

Identify and connect with women entrepreneurs

Ecosystem Builders can:

Sign-up for the BEACON Newsletter.

Add a resource to the BEACON Resource Index.

Submit an event that supports women entrepreneurs.

Help Us Build DC's Most Complete Directory of

Women-Owned Businesses

Founder, Owner, Designer

Meaning “smile/laughter” in Swahili, Kicheko Goods is a socially conscious company that designs distinctive pieces which invest in education. Founded in 2014, Kicheko is an emerging brand made in DC. Concepts for the brand’s small batch collections are inspired by geometry, nature, and travel. Kicheko's aesthetic shares an unrefined boldness, sophisticated earthiness and playful simplicity..

Just Rock Enterprises

Just Rock offers music, dance and pe instruction via private, group and workshop experiences throughout the DMV.

Vanessa Ferragut

Greenease is a mobile app that connects consumers with restaurants, cafes and grocers that buy from local and/or sustainable farms.

Krystin Hargrove

Empowomant is a for-profit social impact organization, empowering women to live with intention. We explore 3 core areas: self, family, and career applying our 3 step method of vision, work, and follow through to support women seeking personal and professional alignment. Through collaboration, we work to empower women around the world.

Find the support for your women-owned business

Resources

Advancement Strategist

Halcyon is a creativity incubator for both social entrepreneurs and socially-conscious artists. Halcyon Incubator, our flagship program, is a competitive, 13-month fellowship program, which includes a 5-month residency, to support the most promising early-stage social entrepreneurs in the world. Incubator accepts 2 cohorts of 8 social enterprises each year and has worked more than 60 ventures.

Young African Professionals Network (YAP)

The Young African Professionals (YAP DC) Network is the premier conveners of events and opportunities for young African diaspora professionals ages 21-40. We provide timely and relevant resources, we facilitate innovative professional development experiences, we foster inspirational networking, and we encourage impactful community building.

Associate Vice President

Innovation and Entreprenurship at George Washington U

The George Washington University (GW) Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is housed under the Office of the Vice President for Research. The office provides programming around innovation, education, venture creation, and making connections to support GW entrepreneurs and the Mid-Atlantic startup community.

Executive Director

THE GENX is for women specifically between the ages of 35 and 50 to provide a platform to provide resources and host events to network, train and inspire aspiring and established female entrepreneurs.

Events

For Women, By Women, We All Belong Here

Step It Up! -- A Business Accelerator

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Step It Up! is a 4-month business coaching program for women entrepreneurs who want to grow their revenue and clients. Participants will work with two coaches to design a customized action plan. This program is a perfect mix of both personalized one-to-one coaching, and group coaching. Only a few spots left!

Hera Launch Program

Are you a high-achieving professional in public/private career looking for autonomy & flexibility as a next step? Wonder how you can keep from giving your services away for free at a meeting?
The Hera Launch Summer 2019 Cohort starts on 8/5/19 from 5-7 pm on Mon & Thurs for 3 weeks with a group of like-minded professional women building a thriving business. Check website for more info & to apply.

Wine Down Wednesday Fempreneur Mastermind Reception

Industrious Alexandria

Please join us on August 21 from 6-8pm to officially celebrate the launch of the Fempreneur Mastermind with Wine, refreshing beverages, tasty nibbles and great quality connections. This reception is to network, connect, learn more about this upcoming program and how to be a part of it!

Community