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Entrepreneur awards for women founders who refuse to do business as usual.
Building a company that puts culture first? Prioritizing flexibility over crusty corporate rules? Proving you don’t need to sacrifice your values to scale? This is for you. The V-List honors US-based women entrepreneurs who are rewriting the rules — building businesses that prioritize people over profit, impacting communities, and human-first culture and practices.
Open to US-based, women-owned (50%+) businesses. Deadline to apply: May 29, 2026.
What is the V-List?
The V-List is Visionaries’ annual awards program celebrating women (or non-binary) entrepreneurs who are building businesses that actually give a sh*t about people, culture, and showing up with integrity. (We’re not saying “eff the patriarchy”… but we’re not not saying that either 😉)
We recognize exceptional founders in two tiers:
V-List Honorees are the core of this program. These are women building businesses across every industry, revenue stage, and business model — the common thread is that they’re doing it with intention and integrity.
Spotlight Awards are chosen from the V-List Honorees and recognize 25 specific achievements — from Visionary of the Year to industry-specific honors like Tech Founder of the Year and Personal Brand of the Year. These awards are announced live at the Visionary conference each fall. All V-List Honorees are also eligible for the People’s Choice Award, which is decided by public vote.
The application is completely free for the 2026 application cycle.
Why apply for the V-List?
Look, we know you’re not building your business for awards — you’re doing it because you saw a problem that needed solving, or because you couldn’t stomach another day in corporate America, or because you knew there had to be a better way to do this whole business thing.
But here’s the thing: winning an award creates credibility and visibility that directly impacts how clients, press, and investors see you, which means it impacts your bottom line in ways that substantively matter.
Here’s how…
You’ll differentiate yourself in a crowded market
There are probably hundreds (probably more like tens of thousands) of businesses doing something nearly exactly like what you do, which means potential clients are constantly comparing options and trying to figure out who’s actually worth their money.
Being named a V-List Honoree helps set you apart with more than just messaging — as an award-winning entrepreneur, you’re a founder who’s been recognized for doing exceptional work, and that distinction matters when someone’s deciding whether to hire you, buy from you, or partner with you.
You’ll shortcut the credibility-building process
Some buyers buy quickly and others… don’t. It’s also no shock that buying cycles are getting longer in today’s economy. There are going to be customers, clients, media professionals like editors or podcast hosts, event organizers, and more that need a little more assurance that what you’re doing and that your business is legit. (And honestly… rightfully so!)
An award helps to do that work for you because it’s third-party validation from an independent panel of judges who’ve evaluated your business and decided you’re worth recognizing, which means there is someone other than YOU (or your most loyal clients) who is tooting your horn.
You’ll get exposure to thousands of women entrepreneurs
V-List Honorees are featured on the Visionaries website and highlighted in our newsletter and social channels, which reaches 15,000+ women business owners across platforms who are actively looking for services, products, and founders to learn from.
You’ll also receive a digital winner badge to use across your website and marketing materials, and you’ll automatically be considered for one of the 25 Spotlight Awards (including heavy-hitters like Visionary of the Year, which gets announced live at our annual conference in front of hundreds of attendees).
How It Works
Step 1: Submit your application
Complete the application with information about you, your business, and what makes you stand out. You’ll answer questions about your story, your traction, how you operate, and why you deserve recognition. Applications close May 29, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
Step 2: Judging and selection
An independent panel of judges will evaluate all applications based on our five criteria: Vision & Innovation, Growth & Impact, Leadership, Purpose & Values, and Business Strength.
Step 3: Winners announced
V-List Honorees (100-250 winners) will be announced in mid-July 2026. Spotlight Award winners (25 total) will be revealed live at the Visionary conference in Los Angeles, September 27-29, 2026.
Timeline
February 2, 2026
Applications open
May 29, 2026
Applications close at 11:59pm EST
Mid-July 2026
V-List Honorees announced
July 2026
People’s Choice Award voting open
September 29, 2026
V-List Honorees are recognized at the Visionary conference in Los Angeles
September 29, 2026
Spotlight Award winners announced live at Visionary conference in Los Angeles
Who Should Apply
This is open to founders who:
- Identify as women and own at least 50% of the applicant business
- Are aged 18 or older
- Are actively operating a business (or nonprofit) that is already generating revenue
- Have a U.S.-based business with a physical presence or operations in the United States
Nonbinary applicants assigned female at birth or who feel aligned with the intent of this program are also welcome to apply.
We welcome applications from across industries. At this time, cannabis companies, online gambling operations, and businesses involved in federally illegal activities are not eligible.
The Awards
We’re recognizing 100-250 V-List Honorees in our inaugural year (since this is our inaugural year, the exact number will depend on the strength and volume of applications we receive).
Here’s what matters to us: you’re already generating at least *some* revenue, you have a clear vision for where you’re going to impact others, and you’re building your business with intention and human-first practices… because you genuinely give a sh*t about people.
We don’t care if you launched last year or ten years ago, if you’re doing $20K in annual revenue or $20M — if you’re doing business with integrity and prioritizing people (and doing right by your people), we want to see your application.
Spotlight Awards
From all V-List Honorees, we’ll select 25 Spotlight Award winners who exemplify exceptional achievement in specific areas.
On your application, you’ll have the option to put yourself forward for up to three Spotlight Awards (or you can skip this section entirely if you prefer to only be considered for V-List Honoree status).
Here’s a full breakdown…
People-Focused Spotlight Awards
The top honor…
Visionary
of the Year
For the founder who exemplifies exceptional all-around leadership, innovation, and clarity of vision. This is the biggest honor we give. It goes to someone who’s building a wildly impactful business while redefining what’s possible in their industry — with a proven track record of visionary leadership across multiple areas of their business.
Community Champion
of the Year
For the founder who shows up for their community — whether that’s their local neighborhood, their industry, a specific demographic, or a cause they’re committed to championing. These are the founders actively contributing to and advocating for the communities they care deeply about.
Change-maker
of the Year
For the founder disrupting industry norms, challenging conventional systems, and creating meaningful change beyond their own business — who are actively working to shift their industry or create systemic change.
Culture Builder
of the Year
For the founder setting the standard for how businesses should treat their teams who’ve intentionally built exceptional workplace culture. They’re leading with empathy, flexibility, and genuine care for employee wellbeing.
Impact Driver
of the Year
For businesses with measurable social, environmental, or community impact woven into their core mission and is central to the core of how the business operates.
Innovator
of the Year
For the founder pushing boundaries with creative solutions, new business models, or thoughtfully unique approaches to old problems, bringing some type of genuine novelty to their industry or business model.
Startup
of the Year
For businesses under three years old making waves early with innovative ideas, clear traction, and remarkably effective execution. Eligible founders have businesses which launched in 2024 or later and are demonstrating exceptional early momentum.
Growth Leader
of the Year
For the founder achieving exceptional revenue, team, or market growth in the past 1-2 years while maintaining their values and culture.
Mission-Driven Leader
of the Year
For the founder whose mission is the lens through which every decision gets made and demonstrable through the core of every part of the business.
Excellence in Operations
for 2026
For the founder who’s built sustainable systems, processes, and operations that make their business run exceptionally well without sacrificing humanity, balancing efficiency and flexibility.
People’s Choice
Award
Every V-List Honoree will be eligible to compete for this award through public voting, which opens in July 2026. Rally your community, team, and audience — this one’s decided by the people who believe deeply in you and what you’re building.
Industry-Focused Spotlight Awards
Agency
Founder of the Year
For marketing, creative, PR, or service agencies delivering exceptional client results and differentiated approaches.
Advisor
of the Year
For coaches, consultants, mentors, and strategists across industries creating transformative results for their clients.
Educator
of the Year
For course creators, trainers, workshop leaders, and educational founders who’ve created measurable transformations for their participants.
E-comm
Founder of the Year
For DTC brands, online retailers, and product-based businesses with strong sales growth and differentiated brand positioning.
Tech
Founder of the Year
For SaaS, software, apps, AI, and tech platform founders with proven user adoption and innovative products.
New Product
of the Year
For products or services launched within the past 1-2 years showing exceptional innovation and market traction.
Creative
Entrepreneur of the Year
For creative professionals building sustainable businesses around their creative work.
Media & Content
Founder of the Year
For podcasters, publishers, media companies, and content platforms with demonstrated audience growth and sustainable monetization.
Professional services
Founder of the Year
For law, accounting, finance, HR, and other traditional professional services who’ve modernized or innovated within their field.
Health + Wellness
Founder of the Year
For prioritizing accessibility while creating measurable transformations for clients in fitness, mental health, nutrition, and holistic wellness.
Beauty + personal care
Founder of the Year
For beauty, skincare, haircare, and personal care product or service businesses with strong brand differentiation and growth metrics.
Food + Bev
Founder of the Year
For restaurants, CPG food/beverage brands, catering companies, and food businesses with proven market traction and sustainable operations.
Personal brand
of the Year
For influencers, thought leaders, and creators with engaged audiences who are successfully monetizing their personal platforms and building diverse revenue streams.
Social Enterprise
Founder of the Year
For businesses with social impact or mission at their core — B Corps, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies — balancing impact with financial sustainability.
Ready to be recognized?
You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.
Who can apply for the V-List?
The V-List is open to women and non-binary founders who own at least 50% of a revenue-generating business based in the United States. You must be 18 or older and actively operating your business. We welcome applications from all industries and revenue stages.
If your business has male co-founders, only the woman should complete and submit the application — if you have female co-founders, you should apply together as one entry.
Do I need to be generating a certain amount of revenue to apply? What counts as "revenue-generating"?
Your business needs to be generating at least some revenue, but there’s no minimum amount. Revenue-generating means you’ve made money from selling your products or services — whether that’s $5,000 or $5 million. Pre-revenue businesses (those that haven’t made any sales yet) are not eligible.
Do I need to have a team, or can solo founders apply?
Solo founders are absolutely welcome to apply. You don’t need to have employees or a team to be eligible — whether you’re running the business solo, with contractors, or with a full team, you can apply.
Is there a cost to apply?
No, the V-List application is completely free for the 2026 cycle. This will likely be the only year with no administrative fee upon applying.
When do applications open and close?
Applications open on February 2, 2026 and close on May 29, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
How many times can I or my business apply?
If you own multiple businesses, you can submit a separate application for each one. However, each business can only submit one application — if you have co-founders, you should apply together with one joint entry rather than submitting separate applications for the same business.
Do Visionaries Collective members or Visionaries clients get preference?
No. The Visionaries Collective is our paid networking membership for business owners — but all applications are reviewed equally. Being a member or client does not impact your chances.
How are winners selected? What is the process?
All applications are evaluated by an independent panel of judges based on five criteria: Vision & Innovation (20%), Growth & Impact (20%), Leadership (20%), Purpose & Values (20%), and Business Health (20%). Judges review your responses, assess your achievements, and select winners based on how well you demonstrate excellence across these areas.
How many V-List Honorees will be selected?
We’ll select between 100-250 V-List Honorees in our inaugural year. The exact number will depend on the strength and volume of applications we receive.
What's the difference between V-List Honorees and Spotlight Award winners?
V-List Honorees are the core award — founders recognized for building exceptional businesses with intention and integrity. Spotlight Award winners are chosen from that group of V-List Honorees and receive additional recognition in 25 specific categories. All Spotlight Award winners are V-List Honorees, but not all V-List Honorees receive Spotlight Awards.
Do I need to be present at the Visionary conference to be honored as a winner or receive a Spotlight Award?
No, you don’t need to be present to win. V-List Honorees will be announced in mid-July 2026 separately from the conference. Spotlight Award winners will be announced live at the Visionary conference on September 29, 2026 — but you can win regardless of whether you attend. That said, if you do attend the conference, you’ll be recognized and get to celebrate in person, which is pretty special!
When will I find out if I won? How will winners be notified?
V-List Honorees will be notified via email in mid-July 2026, before the public announcement. Spotlight Award winners will be notified in advance of the Visionary conference (September 27-29, 2026) so they have the option to attend the live announcement if they choose.
If I don't win, will you tell me why?
No, we won’t be able to provide individual feedback on applications. With the volume of applications we expect to receive, it’s not feasible to give personalized feedback to every applicant. However, we encourage you to reapply in future years if you don’t win this time.
Can I reapply next year if I don't win this year?
Yes! If you don’t win in 2026, you’re absolutely welcome to reapply in 2027 or any future year. We encourage you to keep building, keep growing, and try again.
Can past winners apply again in future years?
Yes! Past winners are welcome to apply again in future years.
Where can I see the full rules rules, eligibility requirements, and details?
Click here for full terms and conditions.
What if I have another question?
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, reach out to us at hello@visionaries.co and we’ll be happy to help.
Doing cool sh*t in business deserves recognition… so are you ready to do this?
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