Two Woman Entrepreneurs Receive $10K Each from the Enthuse Foundation to Grow Their Amazon Businesses

As any woman entrepreneur will tell you, running a business as a woman is not without its challenges. With established networks for financing and mentorship still male-dominated, prescribed business wisdom often overlooks uniquely women’s hurdles, while avenues for funding can be stubbornly narrow.

The Enthuse Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women founders in the consumer-packaged goods space, exists to balance the scales by providing community, education, and capital. Since its inception in 2018, the Foundation has directly invested approximately $1M in women-owned businesses nationwide in cash and services. Now in its fourth year, the Enthuse Foundation Grant Program has awarded funds to support 34 women entrepreneurs at critical stages of growth.

“These are more than just grants,” said Rachel Robins, Senior Manager of Development and Education at the Enthuse Foundation. “They’re catalysts for stability, confidence, and long-term success.”

This year, two Amazon sellers—Jill Weissman, founder of Beyond the Bib, and Miranda Tripp, founder of Tuck and Bundle—were each awarded $10,000 each through an Amazon sponsored Enthuse Foundation Grant. Each showcased their products in New York City as part of a Support small with Amazon pop-up at the 7th Annual Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition on November 6.

The grant offers more than just funds; it connects founders with mentorship, community, and new opportunities.

Power in connection

For Tripp, that mission to support women entrepreneurs was every bit as appealing as the cash infusion to grow her business.

“I’ve been in business for nine years, and I’ve never seen an organization this committed to supporting women entrepreneurs,” Tripp said. “I think they’re doing something truly novel in this day and age.”

As an Army veteran and entrepreneur with an engineering background, Tripp was familiar with male-dominated environments. Previously, Tripp often found herself one of the few women in the room at founder workshops and retreats. The advice she received, she said, rarely reflected the realities of being at the helm a brand while raising three children. Participating in Enthuse Foundation’s all-women events, by contrast, felt like a breath of fresh air.

“When you’re in a group of women, no one’s going to tell you, ‘Oh, you should get up earlier, or work at night, or go to a hotel for a week to rid yourself of distraction.’ No one’s going to give you unrealistic advice for your business,” she said.

The Amazon-sponsored grant is helping Tripp grow her inventory so she can fully transition to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), which will store, pick, pack, and ship her baby carriers, freeing up her time and ensuring products reach new moms faster.

“This is how babies calm, sleep, and bond. Moms need our product quickly, and Amazon makes that possible,” she explained.

Tripp is also using part of the grant to develop a new product: a functional, comfortable hospital gown designed for skin-to-skin bonding after birth.

Building brand awareness

For Weissman, who first connected with the Foundation as a vendor at its Pitch Competition in 2023, the organization has been pivotal in helping her grow skills outside her supply chain background.

“I’ve really leaned into the Enthuse Foundation community to learn about marketing and sales,” she said.

That community has also provided personal support.

“One of my best founder friends now was the woman next to me at that marketplace back in 2023,” Weissman added. “We really leaned on each other for all things navigating being a solo, bootstrap founder.”

In addition to using the grant funds to expand her inventory, Weissman is investing in Amazon Creator Connections, which matches sellers with influencers to create content for their product pages, and Amazon Ads to boost visibility.

“We never want our Amazon store to show we’re out of stock,” she noted. “Since we're a relatively small and new brand, brand awareness right now is really the key game. We’re tracking 40 percent year-over-year growth, and with this support, I expect that number to climb.”

Momentum for the future

For Weissman and Tripp, the grant arrived at a pivotal stage of growth. Robins said that's by design.

“Many early-stage founders are bootstrapping, pouring every dollar back into production and operations just to keep moving forward,” she explained. “Our grants give founders the breathing room to cover essential expenses, so they can redirect their energy and resources toward growth.”

For the two entrepreneurs, the grant represents more than financial support; it’s validation that their work matters and that their businesses have room to thrive.

“I love that Amazon and the Enthuse Foundation are putting so much care into small businesses,” Weissman said. “It makes me feel like they’re invested in our success.”

With fresh resources, stronger networks, and renewed confidence, Weissman and Tripp are already looking ahead, scaling their Amazon presence today while laying the foundation for long-term growth tomorrow.