Keller’s Addie Gundry, the founder and CEO of Pluie, is among five women-owned small business winners of the “Fund Her Future” grant program announced by Block Advisors by H&R Block.
The winners were awarded a combined total of $100,000 in grants and a year of Block Advisors services, including bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and business formation.
“While we have surpassed our goal to help 500,000 small business owners by 2025, we specifically launched this grant to empower women small business owners who are often underrepresented,” Jamil Khan, chief strategy and small business officer at H&R Block, said in a statement. “The response was overwhelming, with thousands of applications from talented women founders who represent the diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences of women entrepreneurs across the nation.”
Revolutionizing diaper changing with sanitization and style
Gundry is one of four honorable mention winners, each receiving a $12,500 grant and a year of small business services from Block Advisors.
Pluie is known for revolutionizing diaper changing tables installed in restrooms across 40 U.S. states.
As a new mom, Gundry experienced firsthand the challenges of changing diapers in unhygienic public bathrooms, so she created a patent-protected self-sanitizing changing station.
Last month, Pluie introduced its first consumer product, in partnership with The Beaufort Bonnet Company: the Pluie Pret Changing Clutch, which is made from “soft and durable” BPA-free material, and can be easily wiped or machine washed, providing “a cozy and clean experience” for babies during diaper changes.
The clutch’s lightweight and compact design makes it easy to carry in a purse, backpack, or diaper bag, allowing parents and caregivers to stay “prepared and stylish while on the go.”
The Pluie Pret Changing Clutch is a winner of the 2024 Parents’ Picks Award and was created by moms with families in mind, the companies said.
More on Fund Her Future
Grand prize grant winner Heather Jiang founded Allégorie in 2019 to provide leather alternatives through plant-based fashion accessories, ultimately helping to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
The New York City-based company repurposes discarded fruits and recycled plastic into durable, stylish bags, backpacks and wallets, bringing innovative sustainability practices to the fashion and food industries. Jiang will receive a $50,000 grant and a suite of small business services from Block Advisors.
“Knowing that our customers keep coming back over the years and love our products is what gets me out of bed,” Jiang said in a statment. “Fund Her Future will help us unlock our scalability potential and increase Allégorie’s awareness so we can reach more customers and expand our sustainability impact.”
The other three honorable mentions include:
Ashley Ugarte of Austin-based Hijita: Using regenerative and agroforestry practices in her small-batch chocolate company, Ashley, a first-generation American, shares her rich Mexican heritage and passion for chocolate with her customers.
Erica Cole of Richmond, Virginia-based No Limbits: As someone with a limb difference, Erica created her company to provide stylish but functional options for those with different mobility, sensory, and functional needs.
Ameka Coleman of Pearl, Mississippi-based Strands of Faith: A former healthcare professional, Coleman started her company after noticing many healthcare patients lacked access to non-toxic haircare products that celebrated their textured hair.
More than 6,000 applicants submitted to the grant program, Block said.
The company said that narrowing down the winners from the thousands of submissions was a rigorous process handled by a selection committee composed of more than 40 H&R Block associates, including members of H&R Block’s Women’s Network Belonging Group.
The five winners representing several industries—including fashion, food, haircare and wellness—will partner with Block Advisors over a 12-month period, receiving grant funding and access to a suite of tax preparation and business services from Block Advisors, including business formation, bookkeeping, payroll, and Beneficial Ownership reporting.
“We look forward to witnessing how addressing business challenges with additional resources and support can result in significant change,” Khan said. “It’s an honor to join these women entrepreneurs on their journey toward intentional growth and help them realize their aspirations for business expansion.”
Sandra Engelland contributed to this report.
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