Moods by Michelle Founders Grant

Backing the courage to begin.

2 Founders. $500 Each. Every Month.

The Moods by Michelle Founders Grant is a privately funded, merit-based entrepreneurial award program created to support emerging founders as they build, launch, and strengthen their businesses.

Each month, Moods by Michelle awards two founders $500 each to help move one meaningful business milestone forward.

Selection is based on merit and published judging criteria. Recipients are not selected by random drawing.

Why I Created the MBM Founders Grant

Building Moods by Michelle has required determination, sacrifice, patience, and the willingness to keep moving forward even when funding was difficult to find. Along the way, I applied for grants myself—sharing my vision, explaining what funding could help me accomplish, and hoping someone would believe in what I was building.

I wasn't selected. But those experiences stayed with me.

They taught me what it feels like to be the entrepreneur on the other side of the application: the founder with the vision, the plan, and the determination—but who may simply need a little help reaching the next milestone.

That is why I created the Moods by Michelle Founders Grant.

Each month, MBM will award two founders $500 each to help remove one real obstacle standing between where their business is today and where they are trying to take it next.

The goal is to help remove one obstacle and help a founder keep moving forward.

As Moods by Michelle grows, I want supporting other entrepreneurs to become part of what this company stands for. Because sometimes one opportunity—and one person willing to believe in your vision—can help you take the next step.

Grant at a Glance

$500 Award per recipient	2 Founders selected monthly
$1,000 Awarded each month	$12,000 Planned annual investment in founders

Application Window: 1st–20th of each month
Recipients Announced: 28th of each month
Geographic Scope: 50 United States and District of Columbia
Application Fee: $10 USD

Who Can Apply?

You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter a binding agreement.
You must be a legal resident of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.
You must be the founder, co-founder, or controlling owner of the business submitted.
Your business must be based in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.
Your business must be a legitimate for-profit startup or early-stage business, from pre-launch through three years of active operations.
Your business must operate in a lawful industry.
You may submit only one application per founder/business for each monthly cycle.

Previous MBM Founders Grant Recipients

Previous recipients must wait six complete monthly grant cycles following the cycle in which they received an award before applying again.

Example: A January recipient is ineligible for the February, March, April, May, June, and July cycles and may apply again beginning with the August cycle.

Once eligible again, a previous recipient is judged under the same published criteria as every other applicant. A previous award provides no preference, bonus points, penalty, or guarantee.

What We're Looking For

Eligible applications are evaluated using a 100-point merit-based scoring rubric:

Judging Area	Points
Business Concept & Clarity	20
Founder Initiative & Execution	20
Use of Funds	25
Potential Impact	20
Readiness & Feasibility	15

Financial need alone does not determine selection. Judges evaluate the quality, clarity, readiness, proposed use of funds, and potential business impact described in the application.

How the Grant Works

1. Apply — Submit a complete application during the monthly application window.

2. Eligibility Review — MBM reviews submissions for completeness and program eligibility.

3. Merit-Based Judging — Eligible applications are scored using the published 100-point rubric.

4. Two Founders Selected — The two highest-rated qualifying recipients are selected after verification.

Monthly Timeline

1st: Applications open at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
20th: Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
21st–26th: Eligibility screening and judging.
27th: Final selection, verification, conflict review, and tie resolution.
28th: Two recipients announced after successful verification.
Within three business days after announcement: Each $500 award is issued after required recipient documentation is completed and accepted by MBM.

Before You Apply

$10 Application Fee

The application fee is $10 USD per submitted application. Paying the fee does not increase an applicant's score, guarantee finalist status, or guarantee funding.

The fee is nonrefundable after a complete application enters review, except where a refund is required by law. If MBM cancels a grant cycle before substantive review begins, MBM will refund the applicable application fee. Duplicate charges and verified payment-processing errors will be corrected.

No selected recipient will ever be required to pay an additional release, processing, tax, shipping, or redemption fee to receive the award.

Applicants still within the six-cycle waiting period following a previous award are screened for eligibility before the $10 application fee is collected.

What You'll Need

Your legal name and contact information.
Your business name, structure, stage, industry, website and/or social link if available.
A clear description of your business and the problem it solves.
Your founder story and what you have accomplished so far.
Your next business milestone and the obstacle currently standing in the way.
A specific breakdown of exactly how you would use the $500 award.
The measurable difference the funding could make within approximately 30–90 days.
Optional supporting materials such as product photos, launch materials, a pitch deck, or a business-plan excerpt.

Do not submit Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, bank credentials, or other highly sensitive financial information with the initial application.

Ready to Apply?

If you have reviewed the eligibility requirements, application process, and Official Rules, you are ready to begin. The application starts with the required eligibility check.

Application process: Check Eligibility → Complete Application → Review & Certify → Submit → Pay $10 Application Fee → Payment Confirmation.

Apply for the MBM Founders Grant

Official Rules

1. Sponsor

The Moods by Michelle Founders Grant (the “Program”) is sponsored and administered by Moods by Michelle (“MBM” or “Sponsor”).

2. Nature of Program

The Program is a merit-based entrepreneurial competition. Awards are determined through evaluation of eligible applications using published criteria. Recipients are not selected by random drawing.

3. Award

MBM awards two $500 USD business awards during each monthly grant cycle, for a total of $1,000 USD per cycle.

4. Entry Period

Each monthly cycle opens at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the 1st day of the month and closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the 20th day of the month. Late submissions are not eligible for that cycle.

5. Eligibility

Applicants must be legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, at least 18 years old, and the founder, co-founder, or controlling owner of a legitimate for-profit startup or early-stage business based in the United States or District of Columbia. The business may be pre-launch through three years of active operations. The Program is void where prohibited or restricted by law.

6. Application Fee

A $10 USD application fee applies to each eligible submission. Payment does not influence judging and does not guarantee an award. Applicants within the prior-recipient waiting period are screened before payment is collected.

7. Application Limits and Prior Recipients

One application per founder/business per monthly cycle. Attempts to circumvent application limits may result in disqualification. A recipient must wait six complete monthly grant cycles after the cycle in which the award was received before applying again. After the waiting period, the prior recipient may apply and is judged under the same criteria as other eligible applicants.

8. Application Certifications

Applicants must certify that application information is true and accurate, that they meet current-cycle eligibility requirements, and that they have read and agree to these Official Rules and the applicable Privacy Policy.

9. Judging

Eligible submissions are evaluated under the published 100-point rubric: Business Concept & Clarity (20), Founder Initiative & Execution (20), Use of Funds (25), Potential Impact (20), and Readiness & Feasibility (15). Ties are resolved by the higher Use of Funds score, then Potential Impact, then Founder Initiative & Execution. If still tied, an additional judge evaluates the tied applications using the same rubric.

10. Notification, Announcement and Verification

Selected recipients are contacted using information supplied in the application and must complete required eligibility, identity, tax, payment, and award documentation. Recipients are planned to be announced on the 28th day of each month after successful verification. Failure to respond or complete required documentation may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate based on judging results.

11. Award Payment

Each $500 award is issued within three business days following the recipient announcement after required documentation is completed and accepted. MBM will never require a selected recipient to pay an additional release, processing, tax, shipping, or redemption fee to receive the award.

12. Recipient Agreement

Before receiving funds, each recipient must confirm the material accuracy of the application and eligibility to accept the award. The award is intended for legitimate business purposes. MBM does not become an owner, investor, lender, partner, employer, or fiduciary of the recipient or business. No equity, repayment, revenue share, purchase obligation, endorsement obligation, or ownership interest is owed to MBM solely because of the award.

13. Taxes

Recipients are responsible for determining and satisfying applicable tax obligations. MBM may require taxpayer information and issue or file forms or reports required by law.

14. Originality and Intellectual Property

Applicants must have the right to submit all application materials. Submission does not transfer ownership of the applicant's business concept, trademarks, copyrights, confidential know-how, or other intellectual property to MBM. Applicants should not disclose trade secrets or confidential information unnecessary for judging.

15. Privacy

Application information is used to administer the Program, evaluate eligibility and applications, communicate with applicants, prevent fraud, maintain required records, and comply with law. Applying does not automatically enroll an applicant in unrelated marketing. See Moods by Michelle's Privacy Policy for additional information.

16. Social Media

Following Moods by Michelle on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or any other social platform is optional and does not affect eligibility, scoring, judging, or selection.

17. Publicity

MBM may request permission to feature selected recipients and their businesses on MBM's website, email, social media, press materials, or related Program content.

18. Disqualification

MBM may disqualify an applicant for material rule violations, fraud, misrepresentation, tampering, attempts to circumvent application or waiting-period limits, harassment, attempts to manipulate judging, or conduct that compromises the integrity or lawful administration of the Program.

19. Technical Problems and Program Changes

If fraud, technical failure, force majeure, legal restriction, or circumstances beyond MBM's reasonable control materially impair administration, MBM may suspend, modify, postpone, or cancel a cycle as permitted by law. MBM will not retroactively alter judging criteria to favor or disadvantage a particular applicant.

20. Geographic Scope

The Program is available within the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Residents and businesses based in U.S. territories, possessions, foreign countries, or other jurisdictions are not eligible unless MBM updates the Official Rules for a future cycle.

21. No Government Affiliation

The Program is privately sponsored by Moods by Michelle. It is not a federal, state, local, or other government grant and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.

Stay Connected With Moods by Michelle

Follow Moods by Michelle to stay up to date on grant announcements, upcoming application cycles, recipient announcements, grant updates, MBM news, launches, and other updates.

Following Moods by Michelle on social media is optional and is not required to apply. It does not affect eligibility, judging, scoring, or selection.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an established business to apply?

No. Qualifying founders may apply from pre-launch through three years of active business operations.

Can I apply again if I'm not selected?

Yes. Applicants who have not received an MBM Founders Grant may apply in future monthly cycles for which they remain eligible.

Can a previous recipient apply again?

Yes. A recipient must first complete six full monthly grant cycles after the cycle in which the award was received. After that waiting period, the founder may apply again and will be judged normally.

How are recipients selected?

Recipients are selected through merit-based judging using the published 100-point rubric. There is no random drawing.

What can the $500 be used for?

Applicants should propose a legitimate business use tied to a meaningful milestone, such as equipment, packaging, inventory, licensing, website expenses, marketing materials, or another reasonable business need.

Is the $10 application fee refundable?

The fee is generally nonrefundable after a complete application enters review, except where required by law. If MBM cancels a cycle before substantive review begins, the applicable fee will be refunded.

When are recipients announced?

Two recipients are planned to be announced on the 28th of each month after successful verification and completion of required documentation.

Do I have to follow MBM on social media?

No. Following MBM is completely optional and does not affect eligibility, scoring, judging, or selection.