Rent the Runway Just Launched a Competition and Mentorship Program for Women Entrepreneurs The women-led fashion tech company is partnering with UBS Americas to educate and empower women business owners.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Rent the Runway

Rent the Runway dresses women for success. Now, it's also working to help women find success as entrepreneurs, too.

Today, the New York City-based fashion tech company's new non-profit arm, Rent the Runway Foundation, and the financial services giant UBS Americas announced a joint competition and mentorship program to support and encourage women entrepreneurs.

Called Project Entrepreneur, the mentorship program is calling on female entrepreneurs with an existing business plan, prototype or some technology in beta (you have to have more than an idea and a pipe dream) to apply online at projectentrepreneur.org starting now and through January 8. Two hundred applicants will be selected attend a workshop in New York City in April. Three finalists will win a $10,000 cash prize and a ticket to participate in a five-week accelerator program.

Related: Why These Ecommerce Front-Runners Are Building Brick and Mortar Stores

"There are so many passionate, entrepreneurial women founding businesses today, but only 4 percent of these women-owned businesses are generating $500K or more in annual revenue," says Hyman in a statement announcing the new program. "Project Entrepreneur offers the experience, training and networks needed to ignite bold ideas and help women build economically impactful companies."

In addition to the pitch competition and accelerator program, Project Entrepreneur will include a handful of free resources for entrepreneurs, including live three summits for lady entrepreneurs: one in New York City, one in Austin and another in Washington D.C.

Rent the Runway itself is run by powerhouse lady entrepreneurs, Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss. Founded in 2009, the company has 5 million members, 375 employees and has taken on $100 million in venture capital.

Related: What You Can Learn From Misty Copeland About Achieving the Impossible
Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business Models

3 Business Models That Will Shape the Future of Entrepreneurship in 2025 and Beyond

This article helps entrepreneurs to understand how they can improve business using AI and other models for growing their business.

Business News

Elon Musk and Sam Altman Clash Over $500 Billion Stargate AI Plan Touted By Trump: 'Don't Have the Money'

The two tech billionaires argued on X over the massive new AI project.

Marketing

Cross-Channel Marketing Can Transform Your Small Business — Here's How to Build a Winning Strategy

Struggling to decide where to focus your marketing efforts? Learn how a cross-channel marketing strategy can help small businesses increase customer retention, boost sales and create seamless brand experiences across social media, email, websites and beyond.

Franchise

Buying or Selling a Business? This Top-Ranked Franchise Makes the Intimidating Process Straightforward.

With a proven system and a global network, Transworld Business Advisors makes business transactions easier for everyone involved.

Career

Don't Expect to Get a New Job in 2025 If You Lack These 2 Skill Sets, New Report Reveals

It takes more than a polished resume to stand out from the competition.