LONDON — The second edition of the Makers Mindset x The Equity Studio Grant launches Wednesday, with a callout for applications from emerging female founders across beauty, health and wellness.
The grant program launched last year, attracting thousands of applications, of which five were successful. The grant program is the brainchild of The Equity Studio, which was founded by investor Anna Sweeting, and the entrepreneur Nancy Twine of Makers Mindset.
The 2026 program will again award $50,000 in equity-free funding, alongside support and mentoring “from those who have built, scaled and invested” in consumer companies.
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“The mission of this program has always been about expanding access — to capital, knowledge and the kind of real insight that can materially change a founder’s trajectory,” said Twine.
“Seeing what our inaugural founders have accomplished over the past year reinforces why this program matters. We’re incredibly excited to open applications again and discover the next generation of women building what’s next,” she added.
Sweeting said the most exciting brands in wellness today “are built by founders with real conviction about what they want to create, and the ambition to make it matter.”
She said the first cohort “has been a powerful demonstration of that. These women are building exceptional businesses, combining cultural relevance with standout commercial discipline. This grant gives us the chance to back that ambition with capital at important inflection points, and we couldn’t be more excited to do it again.”
Applications for the 2026 grant program open on Wednesday and close Oct. 9. Details and the application form are on the Makers Mindset website.
Sweeting and Twine said the inaugural 2025 program was positive all around, with the five recipients of the grant expanding in different directions.
Last year’s winning businesses took in hair care, supplements, personal care and wellness.
Viv, the company founded by Katie Diasti that specializes in sustainable, plant-based menstrual products, has launched throughout the U.K. with Whole Foods Market and Sprouts. It has also expanded its national sku footprint; grown three times year-over-year since receiving the grant, and raised more than $2.5 million in investor funding.
Diasti said, “Anna and Nancy have given us the real advice that you sometimes don’t want to hear, but really do need to hear, which has been my favorite part. The group of founders has also come together to cheer each other on, to exchange tips and growth strategies. Nancy and Anna have really embodied what it means to lift female founders up with both financial support and mentorship, which is frankly rare to see today.”
Gently Soap, founded by Kristen Dunning, deployed its grant directly into the inventory, operations and retail infrastructure required to prepare for its Walmart launch. The company has since secured its first Walmart purchase order and will launch nationally with the U.S. retailer this fall.
Dunning said, “The combination of funding and access came at an important inflection point for the business. The mentorship calls were easily one of the most valuable parts of the experience.”
She added: “There was a real openness to sharing knowledge and answering the questions founders actually have as we’re building our businesses. Nothing felt gate-kept — that kind of access and transparency is incredibly valuable for a founder.”
The Equity Studio is a consumer investment firm partnering with high-growth brands in wellness, beauty and conscious living. It partners with founders across the U.K., Europe and the U.S.
Makers Mindset aims to equip aspiring founders with the tools, knowledge and community to build businesses. It offers grants and digital resources with the goal of “democratizing access to entrepreneurship for underrepresented founders everywhere.”