JLNO Women Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2024 Applications Open

The Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) Women Entrepreneur (WE) Fellowship, presented by Fidelity Bank Power, is now accepting applications for the 2024 cohort. This one-year initiative is intended to give full support to female company owners in the form of cash, mentorship, and in-kind help. Applications for this one-of-a-kind opportunity must be received by January 8, 2024.

The WE Fellowship strives to empower female entrepreneurs by increasing their access to mentors, tools, and role models in a country where 42% of firms are owned by women, employing over 9.4 million people. As a women's training organization, JLNO uses its varied, professional membership to mentor and develop women in business.

"The WE Fellowship goes much beyond simply giving financial assistance to small businesses. This is consistent with JLNO's purpose of developing women's capability via mentorship, training, and support," said JLNO President Ashley Cangelosi Llewellyn.

The program, which began in 2016, stresses women's particular aptitude for innovation and tenacity. The JLNO VE Fellowship Committee will carefully analyze each entry before selecting six finalists to give a 10-minute pitch to a development consulting firm. The judging panel will then choose the Fellows for 2024.

The JLNO VE Fellowship Committee's chair, Diana Vasquez, stated, "The program provides an opportunity to develop [the Fellows'] potential while providing a platform to showcase their products, talents, and skills."

The 2024 Fellows will receive a $5,000 cash grant from Fidelity Bank Power, access to meeting space at JLNO's renovated Uptown headquarters, participation in JLNO's nonprofit board training program, TrapWise tuition for strategic business consultation, a featured story in JLNO's Lagniappe publication, and a year's complimentary membership in the Junior League of New Orleans.

Fidelity Bank's Chief Marketing Officer, Tammy O'Shea, stated the bank's dedication to supporting women entrepreneurs, saying, "By providing financial resources and support, we aim to foster innovation, growth, and success within the women-owned business community."

Previous JLNO VE Fellowship grantees include renowned companies such as Pilar Homecare, Bomb Ass Fro, Water Block Kidz, Cocktails & Sons, and Windowsill Pies. Fidelity Bank Power and TrapWise have made substantial donations to the WE Fellowship program and pitch competition.

Applicants must possess at least a 50% ownership in a business, have been in operation for one to five years, and earn less than $750,000 to be eligible. Interested female entrepreneurs are invited to apply before the January 8, 2024 deadline.