This recent article in Entrepreneur shares one woman’s three takeaways from building businesses in male-dominated industries: the power of diverse teams to foster innovation, the importance of filling market gaps with unique solutions, and the necessity of managing growth and cash flow with discipline. Her journey highlights how resilience and strategic thinking can drive success, even in the toughest markets. Check out the article to read more!
Women entrepreneurs are highly confident in their abilities and ambitious to grow their businesses, yet systemic barriers such as limited access to finance, support networks, and digital skills hinder their potential. Addressing these challenges through tailored solutions and collaborative efforts between public and private sectors can unlock significant economic opportunities while empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive. Read more in this post on Morningstar.
As 2025 approaches, entrepreneurs remain optimistic about growth despite economic uncertainties. According to EY’s Entrepreneur Ecosystem Barometer, many entrepreneurs who experienced strong revenue growth in 2024 anticipate a stronger market next year.
Key trends include significant investments in AI, product development, and talent to drive productivity. Fundraising and strategic transactions, like mergers and acquisitions, are major priorities, with many entrepreneurs planning to secure capital to fuel further expansion. Women entrepreneurs are particularly leading in AI adoption, with nearly half having established AI systems and a strong inclination toward staying ahead of technological trends, underscoring their commitment to innovation and growth.
Finally, entrepreneurs are balancing productivity with personal well-being, maintaining an in-office presence while prioritizing rest and work-life balance to sustain success and avoid burnout.
“Show Her The Money” highlights the struggles and triumphs of female entrepreneurs as they battle for venture capital funding, which women receive less than 2% of, while also demystifying what venture capital is. Featuring successful female investors and visionary entrepreneurs, the film demonstrates how financial backing empowers women to turn innovative ideas into billion-dollar businesses, ultimately reshaping the American economy. See this link to learn about the film.
The 2024 Women CEOs in America Report, released by Women Business Collaborative (WBC) in partnership with Ascend, C200, and Catalyst, reveals both progress and challenges for women in corporate leadership. While women are making significant gains in smaller public companies and private enterprises, their representation in the Fortune 500 remains steady at 10.4%, showing the need for continued efforts to close the gender gap in corporate leadership. Notably, women entrepreneurs are also on the rise, with women now owning 34% of all small businesses and franchises, outpacing their male counterparts in business ownership growth. To read or download the report, click here.
A recent report compiled by PwC found that while women are increasingly starting businesses, they still get a tiny slice of the venture capital pie—around 2% in both Europe and the US in 2023. Gender bias and the fact that so few women hold decision-making roles in investment firms make it tough for female founders to secure funding. However, there are some encouraging signs, like the growing number of female angel investors.
Based on interviews with women investors, the report offers five key tips for women founders: learn the investment landscape, choose investors wisely, network smartly, be ready for tough questions, and aim high with your funding goals. Despite the challenges, now is actually a good time for women to raise capital, as many funds are eager to diversify their portfolios. While there’s still work to do, women entrepreneurs have a real opportunity to secure the funding they deserve. To read more, click the link above to download the complete report.
The growing presence of women in the restoration industry (this industry focuses on repairing and restoring properties damaged by events like fires, floods, mold, and other disasters) signifies progress in breaking traditional gender roles, with women taking on key roles as technicians, business owners, and leaders. Despite facing challenges such as gender stereotypes, women in this field are demonstrating strong leadership, multitasking abilities, and emotional intelligence, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse industry. To read more about this growing field for women, see this article in Forbes.
In a NPR “Marketplace” interview, Ruveyda Nur Gozen shared insights from her research on 19th-century female entrepreneurs, highlighting how she used historical data to uncover trends about women-owned businesses. Despite the challenges of limited data, her findings revealed that these pioneering women often started with less capital, focused on specific industries, and paid women higher wages, suggesting that boosting female entrepreneurship could significantly impact gender equality in today’s economy.
Women entrepreneurs face unique challenges such as balancing multiple roles, battling sexism, and overcoming financial discrimination, which can intensify stress and mental health issues. To thrive, they should let go of harmful ego traits, embrace an abundance mindset, actively seek support, utilize resources tailored for women, establish healthy boundaries, and prioritize their overall well-being. Read more in this article on “How to Navigate Challenges as a Woman Entrepreneur” from Psychology Today.
The glass ceiling, a metaphor for the barrier hindering women’s advancement in business, remains a persistent challenge despite some individual successes. According to this opinion piece in Entrepreneur, rather than solely fighting against the system, there’s a call for women to unite, support each other, and overcome self-limiting beliefs. Digital entrepreneurship presents an opportunity for women to bypass traditional barriers and achieve success independently. Taking proactive steps, rather than just discussing the issue, is emphasized, with the hope that female empowerment will continue to grow and eventually dismantle the glass ceiling for future generations.