The Ambire Awards
for women entrepreneurs
National awards for women entrepreneurs who build good businesses and show up for the people around them. Anyone can be nominated, and the winners are chosen by our members, women who run businesses of their own.
Women in business awards, voted on by women who actually get it
Plenty of business awards ask for an entry fee and hand the decision to a panel you've never met. We built the Ambire Awards so a win means something to the women who know what it takes.
Chosen by women who run businesses
Our co-founders pick up to four finalists per award, then Ambire members vote. Every voter is building a business of her own, so a win means your peers looked at your work and chose you.
Free from start to finish
There's no entry fee, no fee to win, and no plaque to buy afterward. A nomination costs the five minutes it takes to fill in.
Community counts double
Every nominee has to show how she shows up for others, and that answer counts twice in our scoring. We believe community is the business plan, so it's part of every award.
Every winner gets
- A feature in The Perch, our magazine
- A spotlight in our newsletter and on social
- A free year of Ambire membership
- A winner badge for her website and socials
- A place on this page, for good
The 2026 award categories
Nine awards for women entrepreneurs. Seven are open to any woman entrepreneur in the US, from freelancers and creators to founders of growing companies. Each nomination is for one award, so pick the one that fits her best.
Ambire Entrepreneur of the Year
A woman whose business and community work both stood out this year.
Rising Entrepreneur
She started her business in 2024 or later and is already making her mark.
Community Builder
She creates the rooms, events or networks where other women find each other.
Business for Good
Her business gives back, through donations, its mission or who it hires.
Reinvention
A pivot, comeback or second act that worked.
Ingenuity Award
She's doing something nobody else is doing.
Creator of the Year
For podcasters, writers, YouTubers and newsletter writers.
The Villager awards
These two go to Ambire members, and nobody needs to nominate. We shortlist members from event attendance and activity in The Hub, and members vote.
Villager of the Year (IRL)
The member who shows up in person, at Member Meetups, Member Dinners and the AVL Coffee Meetup.
Villager of the Year (Digital)
The member who shows up in The Hub, answering questions, cheering others on and making introductions.
How the awards work, from nomination to winner
Nominate
Nominate a woman, or yourself. It takes about five minutes.
She confirms
We email her, and she confirms her details. That makes her an official nominee, with a badge to share.
Finalists
Rachel and Ashley choose up to four finalists per award.
Members vote
One vote per member per award. Finalists can't vote in their own category.
Winners
Announced here, in our newsletter and on social.
What every nominee, finalist and winner gets
| Perk | Nominee | Finalist | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badge for social and her website | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ready-to-post captions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Listed on this page | No | Yes | Yes, with her story |
| Named in the newsletter and on social | No | In the finalist roundup | Her own feature |
| Feature in The Perch | No | No | Yes |
| A free year of Ambire membership | No | No | Yes |
Who's behind the awards
Hi, we're Rachel Africh and Ashley Sterken. We co-founded Ambire Collective (say it AM-by-er), a membership community for ambitious women entrepreneurs, based in Asheville, NC and open to women anywhere in the world. We started these awards because the women who hold everyone else up rarely get thanked for it in public. More about Ambire
Nominate a woman entrepreneur
Think of the woman who sends referrals without being asked, or the one who started the group everyone's in now. You can nominate yourself, too.
The answer that matters most is how she shows up for her community. One real example goes a long way, and it counts double.
Nominations close December 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. By nominating, you'll get Ambire's newsletter. We send it about once a month, and you can unsubscribe anytime. Read the full award rules.
2026 finalists and winners
We'll add finalists here in mid-January and winners at the end of January. Every year stays up, so a winner's badge always links back to her story.
Questions about the Ambire Awards
Who are the Ambire Awards for?
Women entrepreneurs, founders and business owners based in the US, aged 18 or older, who own or co-own a business that's operating now. Freelancers, creators and service businesses all count. Rising Entrepreneur nominees must have started their business in 2024 or later.
Is it really free?
Yes. It's free to nominate, free to be nominated and free to win. There's nothing to buy at any point.
Can I nominate myself?
Please do. Self-nominations go through the same steps as everyone else's.
Does she need to be an Ambire member?
No. The seven public awards are open to any woman entrepreneur in the US. Members can be nominated for those too, and the two Villager awards are for members only.
Can I nominate more than one woman?
Yes, as many as you like. Each nomination is for one award, so choose the one that fits her best. If several people nominate the same woman, we read every nomination.
What happens after I nominate someone?
We email her to let her know, and she confirms her details by December 30. You'll start getting our newsletter, which goes out about once a month.
Who picks the winners?
Rachel and Ashley choose up to four finalists per award, scoring community (which counts double), fit for the award, what she built in 2026 and the proof provided. Then Ambire members vote in mid-January.
Every detail is in the official rules.
Want a say in the 2027 winners?
Ambire members pick every year's winners. Join the waitlist and we'll let you know when membership opens.