Shannon Pestun · National
The Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs Bursary
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for a bursary supporting Indigenous women who want to become entrepreneurs. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider doesn't post a fixed dollar amount — contact Shannon Pestun to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As a bursary, this money is yours to keep and there is nothing to repay. This is for you if you are an Indigenous woman who wants to start your own business and needs financial support while you study. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Shannon Pestun how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Shannon Pestun during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Shannon Pestun whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain. How to apply: This funding is administered through Indspire's Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships program. Students complete one central application that's evaluated against all 360+ of Indspire's funding pools (including this one) — you don't apply to the sponsor directly. The Apply button on this page routes to Indspire's portal automatically. For the full program description, all three application deadlines, and detailed eligibility, see Indspire Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships on FundMyCourse.
Can you get it?
- Indigenous — citizenship requirement
- Post Secondary — study level
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is giving a vague answer about wanting to start a business.
Winners instead describe a specific problem they want to solve or a product they want to build.
Detail your business idea clearly in your application.
The biggest mistake is applying without mentioning your community ties.
Winners instead show how their success will help other Indigenous women.
Mention any mentors or community groups that support your goals.