This isn’t just about a check; it’s about a catalyst.

At HerSuiteSpot, we know that for a woman, a microgrant isn’t just “seed money.” It’s an endorsement. It’s a signal that her vision is seen, her business model is viable, and her community is standing right behind her.

The 2025 HerRise Microgrant winners aren’t just running businesses; they are solving deep-seated cultural gaps, disrupting stale industries, and building legacy-driven infrastructure. From mobile studios to AI-driven estate planning, these 10 women are the blueprint for what modern, soul-centered leadership looks like.

Meet the powerhouses who are redefining the marketplace.

The Cultural Curators & Community Architects

These leaders are using their businesses to preserve heritage and create safe spaces for those who need them most.

• Rosebrune Vixamar (Chez Nous Enterprises): Rosebrune is tackling the economic instability of Haitian artisans head-on. By bringing Haitian art to the global stage, she’s providing sustainable income for women artisans and ensuring a vibrant culture gets the representation it deserves.

• Courtney Paulsen-Martin (The Somerset House Inn): In the heart of Provincetown, Courtney is operating more than just a historic B&B. She’s curated a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ tourists, proving that hospitality is at its best when it’s inclusive, safe, and soulful.

• Janna Rodriguez (The Innovative Daycare Corp.): Janna is an advocate for the “essential infrastructure” of our lives: childcare. In NY, she’s providing bilingual, inclusive care with extended hours, ensuring that working families and children with special needs aren’t left behind.

The Experience Disruptors

Who says business as usual has to be boring? These women are injecting creativity and wellness into our daily routines.

• Pamela Jackson (Dip N’ Double): Pamela is on a mission to kill the “forgettable dessert.” Through bold creativity and polished service, she’s turning ordinary events into premium, standout moments.

• Crystal Nicole Freeman (HOME by C. Freeman): Crystal is blending self-care with sensory experiences. Her CBD-infused candles and hands-on workshops aren’t just products; they are invitations for women to pause, breathe, and create.

• Akudo Ngomo (Kuddy Empire): Specializing in alopecia coverage, Akudo is restoring confidence for Black women in Atlanta. Beyond the chair, she’s a job creator and mentor, providing free training to ensure the next generation of stylists is just as skilled.

The Innovation & Accessibility Pioneers

These winners are using tech and mobility to meet their customers exactly where they are.

• Imani Johnson-Jordan (Maven Haven): High-quality storytelling shouldn’t be reserved for those with a Hollywood budget. Imani’s first-of-its-kind mobile content studio brings pro-level gear directly to creators and podcasters.

• Astin J. Hayes (InHeirit): Legacy building is often a heavy topic, but Astin is making it lighter. Her AI-based platform organizes legal forms and documents, helping families handle the “hard stuff” so they can get back to the joy of living.

• Alexis Pappas (Trapezi Foods LLC): Health-conscious consumers shouldn’t have to choose between convenience and clean ingredients. Alexis is bringing the Mediterranean diet to the modern kitchen with all-natural, Greek-inspired dressings.

• Tarra Lyndelle Driskell (TDash Timing): In the world of Florida youth sports, accuracy is everything. Tarra is filling a critical local gap as a minority woman-owned timing company, ensuring that the next generation of athletes has reliable data to chase their dreams.

Why We Invest in the “Her”

When we fund a woman-owned business, the ripple effect is documented. According to the 2025 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, women-owned firms account for nearly 40% of all U.S. businesses, yet they still only receive about 2% of total venture capital funding, Black women less than 1%. Microgrants like HerRise bridge that gap.

By providing microgrants to all women, we are addressing a $10 trillion opportunity, the estimated amount the U.S. economy would gain if women-owned businesses reached revenue parity with their male counterparts. We aren’t just giving out grants; we are fueling the engine of the American economy.

These ten women represent more than just successful applications. They represent the grit, the pivot, and the “becoming” that we celebrate every day at HerSuiteSpot. They saw a problem, built a solution, and had the audacity to ask for the resources to make it grow.

Congratulations to our 2025 Winners! We can’t wait to watch you soar.