It’s March and we’re honoring women’s achievements, strengths, and dedication. In the female entrepreneurship context, there’s still a lot to strive for, and that’s why we’ve gathered insightful data to reflect on.
Besides, the Founder Institute has curated an exciting lineup of global startup events throughout the month, to showcase remarkable women entrepreneurs. We’re eager to share more information on that as well.
Why Talk about Women Entrepreneurship?
Despite the narrative that women are unprivileged and often financially dependent, that is not the real reason why women-led startups are important. They deserve recognition because they are successful and inspire aspiring entrepreneurs to follow their passions and found companies.
For instance, a standout revelation from the recent Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report is the tremendous growth trajectory observed in women-owned enterprises. Between 2019 and 2023, these businesses outperformed their male counterparts by substantial margins, with growth rates soaring to 94.3% in the number of firms, 252.8% in employment, and 82.0% in revenue.
At a global scale, the statistics are even more eloquent:
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One in six women globally intends to start a business soon.
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One in ten women globally is in the earliest stages of starting a business.
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In low-income countries the intention rates are higher.
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Women entrepreneurs prioritize sustainability over economic goals more than men.
However, there’s no shortage of obstacles on the path of female-led startups. According to a Global Entrepreneurship Monitor analysis, the three main difficulties for women entrepreneurs are:
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Women are more likely to be solopreneurs globally.
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Stereotypes regarding women entrepreneurs' competency.
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Women often have different motivations and sense of accomplishment than men.
Founder Institute’s Graduates in 2023
Our best examples of fulfilled women startup founders are Founder Institute’s alumni. Last year, they made 23% of all enrolled entrepreneurs in our Core Accelerator program.
These are the most common industries they were engaged in:
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Consumer / Music & Entertainment / Art & Creative / Gaming
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EdTech / Education / Career Development / Online Learning
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HealthTech / MedTech / BioTech / Mental Health / Sports, Exercise, and Wellbeing
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Web3 / Blockchain / Crypto / NFTs / DAOs / Metaverse
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RetailTech / eCommerce / Marketplaces / Sharing Economy / Rentals / Apparel & Beauty
And we had the highest number of female graduates in the following cities:
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Top Cities
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Ulaanbaatar
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Spain
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Canada
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Zurich
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Brasil
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Perth
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Luxembourg
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Los Angeles
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Hanoi
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Chicago
Finally, in terms of funding, in 2023, 37% of the startups that successfully secured investment were led or co-founded by women.
These figures tell us, that despite existing challenges, women entrepreneurship is experiencing a significant surge, and we’re going to see more femtech advancements and successful fundraising rounds in 2024. Meanwhile, it’s helpful to acknowledge what unique qualities women bring to the table and to respect their abilities.
Last but not least, in celebration of International Women’s Month, we’ve planned an array of exciting events. Be sure to mark your calendars:
How to Tackle the Gender Gap in Funding: Facts & Initiatives from Investors Mar 11
How to Drive B2B Sales Growth with LinkedIn & Social Selling Mar 18
How to Optimize Fundraising Efforts through Strategic Marketing Techniques Mar 20
Crafting a Compelling Pitch: Secrets to Capturing Investors' Interest Mar 25
The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our highly-structured accelerator programs have helped entrepreneurs raised over $1.85BN in funding across over 200 cities worldwide.
Learn more about the Founder Institute at FI.co, join an upcoming startup event at FI.co/events, or subscribe to our Insights Newsletter.
