The BOSS Network, an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through digital content, programs, and event-based networking, announces its BOSS Impact Fund.

It has been reported that the single greatest barrier to success for new businesses and startups is access to capital, and minorities make up less than 1% of founders that receive that investment. The BOSS Impact Fund will focus on investing in Black women led businesses and preparing these entrepreneurs to build scalable companies. The goal is to raise investment funding for 500+ Black women entrepreneurs over the next three years.

As part of its efforts, The BOSS Network is partnering with Sage. Sage is the global market leader for technology that provides small and medium businesses with the visibility, flexibility, and efficiency to manage finances, operations and people, for the launch of theSage “Invest in Progress” Grant Program, a $1.5MM commitment over three years. Sage and The BOSS Network are working together to remove the barriers that many entrepreneurs face by providing funding to support Black women entrepreneurs in the first five years of their business.

Through the Sage “Invest in Progress” Grant Program, 25 Black women entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to receive a capital investment of $10,000 toward successfully starting and growing their business. In addition, they’re also providing a entrepreneurial mentor program in support of Black women-owned small businesses. To register or for more information, visit BOSSImpactFund.com. The deadline for submissions is February 25.

The Sage “Invest in Progress” Grant will also provide coaching, curriculum, and connections while removing capital barriers to help this group achieve success. The grant application process is powered by HelloAlice, a grant funding platform designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The BOSS Network has had a long-standing commitment to women entrepreneurs. Founded by CEO Cameka Smith, the mission of The BOSS Network, which stands for “Bringing Out Successful Sisters,” is to promote and encourage the small business spirit and career development of women of color.  The BOSS Network is changing the way enterprising women are viewed among the masses and becoming a resource for companies seeking female minority influencers as their target market. It has supported the careers and small business developments of more than 200,000 women of color nationwide through initiatives such as BOSS Business University—a digital platform that provides comprehensive mentorship programming through industry business experts.

For more information, please visit: BOSSImpactFund.com.