ChallengeHer – The Government Contracting Education Initiative for Women Entrepreneurs Returns

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the return of ChallengeHer—a government contracting education initiative to help women-owned small business gain access to federal contracts and encourage participation in the SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program, alongside partners from Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and American Express (AMEX), during an event in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, ChallengeHer is free for all registrants as part of a national initiative designed to promote the WOSB Federal Contract Program, bring more women-owned firms into the federal government’s supply chain, and provide an avenue for government agencies to meet qualified women-owned small business contractors.

“Throughout the past decade, ChallengeHer has helped tens of thousands of women-owned small businesses break glass ceilings and grow their revenue by selling to the world’s largest buyer: the U.S. government,” said Administrator Guzman. “Thanks to the SBA’s collaboration with Women Impacting Public Policy and American Express, ChallengeHER continues to level the playing field in the federal marketplace by investing in and empowering more women-owned firms, connecting federal buyers directly with women entrepreneurs via matchmaking, and providing continued advocacy on behalf of WOSBs in every sector of the economy and every corner of the nation—and we are committed to ensuring it continues to open doors to revenue for women entrepreneurs for decades to come.”

“WIPP is honored to co-sponsor this much-needed and well-respected program, now in its 10th year, as we provide women-owned small businesses with the education and resources needed to navigate the road to success and sustainability during these historical times,” said Candace Waterman, President & CEO, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP).

Last month, the SBA announced that the Biden-Harris Administration exceeded its small business federal contracting goal, awarding 27.2 percent or 154.2 billion in federal contract dollars to small businesses in FY21. Alongside a pledge to encourage more investment in Women-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), the Agency also noted that WOSBs received more than $26 billion in federal contracts. Following the passage of President Biden’s bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, women-owned small manufacturers stand to benefit from direct federal investment, helping grow our domestic manufacturing footprint and lower costs for Americans by bringing supply chains home.

The ChallengeHer events provide matchmaking opportunities between women-owned businesses and government contractors and networking opportunities. It also provides world-class programming and training, facilitated by subject matter experts, on entering into and navigating the public sector supply chain. These sessions are offered in-person and online in a virtual environment.