BUY WOMEN BUILT’s Post

🎉 Tonight, we celebrate 6 incredible female founders as they pitch their ventures after going through a transformative Tramshed programme, tailored to get female-led tech businesses investment-ready 🌟 It's staggering that only 3p of every £1 of funding goes to female-led teams, and that’s why it’s so important that programmes like this exist - supporting women entrepreneurs as they break barriers and shape the future. 🚀 Proud that Welsh ICE as partnered with this initiative alongside, British Business Bank , M-SParc, and Women Angels of Wales. The passion, drive, and ambition of these founders is inspiring, and I can't wait to see their continued success! 💪💡✨ #FemaleFounders #WomenInBusiness #InvestmentReady #Entrepreneurship #DiversityInBusiness

Surge in Female Entrepreneurship in the UK After 35 years immersed in the world of entrepreneurship, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report is an annual must-read. This year, it uncovers a fascinating shift: women starting ventures have tripled since 2002, climbing from 3.5% to 10% by 2023. It's a testament to changing times and growing opportunities. However, not all the news is positive. Young Company Finance (YCF) highlights a troubling trend in Scotland: investment in female-founded businesses is dwindling. In 2023, women raised less than a quarter of the funds that male-led firms secured per round. This disparity calls for urgent attention and action. If you want to level the field, as a founder or investor, it is well worth engaging in programmes such as AccelerateHer Elizabeth Pirrie Jackie Waring FRSE https://lnkd.in/eX6AFXiC

Get in the lift! We’ve seen the depressing statistics where women founders receive a mere 2% of VC funding, change is on the horizon. Spearheaded by Mary McKenna, MBE, Denise McQuaid, Sinead Crowley, Clare McGee, Mary Ann Pierce, and a formidable alliance of successful professionals, an impactful initiative is underway. AwakenHub and AwakenAngels are a dedicated team not just talking the talk but walking the walk with a mission to uplift female founders from the island of Ireland. The phrase 'We're bringing the lift down' encapsulates their commitment to open doors, extend their networks, attract angel investors, and provide real support through mentorship, training, and opportunities that are truly game-changing. I had the honour of being among selected female founders who experienced this transformative journey firsthand during a meticulously planned week in New York and Boston. The agenda was packed with curated networking events and introductions to top-tier US  supporters, all eager to back and support female leaders ready to make their mark. The magic unfolds when you're surrounded by individuals who not only believe in your potential but are also ready to champion your cause. AwakenHub is more than just an organisation; it's the beginning of a significant movement aimed at leveling the playing field for female entrepreneurs. If you're a woman with entrepreneurial aspirations, 'get in the lift' with AwakenHub And if you're contemplating angel investing and yearn to make investments that truly matter, AwakenAngels awaits you. The past week I had the opportunity to showcase Scopey to US businesses who will beta test Scopey, and warm introductions to angel investors. And of course made lifelong friends with an incredible group of women. Be part of the change we all wish to see, get in the lift! Yvonne Comer, MBA Sinéad Ward Jennie Mc Ginn Emma Meehan Claire O'Kane Sheelagh Brady Justina Anulika Ugwah (MRSC) Edel Owens The WholeFoodHero Romona Harron-Harding Naomi McGregor Karen Yates Ellen Yates Mary McIntaggart Rachel McCausland Noreen Breathnach FCCA Lisa Hughes Olivia Mcveigh #femaleentrepreneurs #irishbusiness #angelinvesting

Another drum roll please... 🥁 🥁 I have been following the new release of the movie "Show Her The Money" for a while now (if you haven't yet checked it out, definitely do!). Of course, as female founders who have raised (and continue to raise) capital, this is an incredibly important topic to stacey and me. Not just for us, but for every single one of our female entrepreneurial friends who are in the trenches. On a whim, I decided to reach out to its Executive Producer, Catherine Gray, to thank her for her efforts, then told her about our Summit for Female Product Entrepreneurs and Inventors in a LinkedIn message. We got on a phone to tell her more about it and honestly felt like we were talking with a long time friend. Her heart for raising the bar for female entrepreneurs is both beautiful and contagious. SO... imagine how THRILLED stacey and I were when we asked her to come be a keynote speaker at our Summit, and she. said. YES. We've been hearing that this Summit is so needed, and we literally can't wait to get 250 women in the room together, raising the bar for all. We hope you'll join us - or tell someone you know about this so they can join the fun! For more info on the Summit, here's the link - https://lnkd.in/gb_iBNDj #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #femalefounders #entrepreneurship #productdevelopment #womenentrepreneurs #getshitdone

🚀 Yesterday, FundMyPitch hosted our second virtual pitch event, and I’m proud to say that 3 out of the 4 opportunities were led by female founders. This isn’t new for us – since day one, FundMyPitch has been committed to supporting female-led businesses. Recently, there were concerns about Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation awards, but thanks to community efforts, all 50 awards will now be issued, rather than the 25 initially planned. While this is a positive outcome, the broader issue of funding disparity for female founders remains, and it's something we’re dedicated to addressing. At FundMyPitch, we believe in levelling the playing field. Our network of investors actively seeks female-led opportunities, and we will continue to advocate for greater funding and support for these talented entrepreneurs. Yesterday’s event, following our first pitch that led to £330k in introductions, is just the start of what we can achieve together. If you're an investor interested in supporting female-led businesses, we’d love to hear from you. #FemaleFounders #StartupInvestment #FundMyPitch #WomenInInnovation #DiversityInBusiness

‘Show Her the Money’? 🎥 Let’s break down the barriers for female entrepreneurs and foster economic growth and innovation! 🚀 💡 Did you know that women-founded startups accounted for 2% or less of venture capital (VC) funding invested in Europe and the United States in 2023? What an economic & societal potential still to unlock! 💥 🎥 The award-winning documentary 'Show her the money' provides a powerful eye-opener on the challenges female entrepreneurs face in securing VC funding. The film highlights the systemic barriers that prevent many talented women from accessing the capital they need to grow their businesses. Boards of directors can play a crucial role in addressing this inequality: - By championing diversity & inclusion: Prioritizing the inclusion of female directors to bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the table. - By advocating for equal opportunities: Using your influence as a Board to promote initiatives that support female entrepreneurs and their businesses. - By investing in female-led startups: Considering allocating funds to VC firms that focus on empowering female entrepreneurs. Together, let’s break down these barriers and create a more equitable and inclusive business landscape where female entrepreneurs can thrive! ⚡ Warm regards, Women on Board 📅 An exclusive showing of 'Show her the Money' will be organised on Monday 4/11/2024 at Kinepolis Antwerpen. For more info: ℹ https://lnkd.in/eTAbKwUa #femalefounders #VCfunding #diversityandinclusion #leadership #business #showherthemoney

🌟 Reflecting on an incredible experience at the Female Founders Rise Growth Summit in Edinburgh this Thursday! 🌟 I had the privilege of hearing from so many seasoned speakers who spoke from their hearts and shared valuable insights from their journeys. One session that left a lasting impact was with Sahar Hashemi OBE, whose passion and motivation were truly contagious. She said something that struck a chord with me and is so relevant for any founder/intending founder: 💬 "If you wait for the fear to go away, the opportunity will go away, so LEAP and it will appear." Such a powerful reminder to act boldly and embrace opportunities! 🚀 I also had the chance to join Ozlem Tuskan's workshop on Scaling beyond imposter syndrome—a topic that resonates deeply with me. For those who know me well, you know my struggle with imposter syndrome. It was comforting to see other women relate to this, but even more eye-opening was Ozlem’s insight on how to leverage it. I’m excited to dive into Sheryl Anjanette's book "The Imposter Lies Within" which is now at the top of my reading list! Another special highlight for me was attending Sam Smith's session, especially because her background in financial services aligns so closely with my own experiences. It was beyond inspiring to see the possibility for women to "superscale" their businesses. 🌱✨ And of course, Dechomai Ltd was proudly represented as a community partner, with Bayile Adeoti FRSA as a panelist during the live strategy session, which featured real-time pitches and expert advice. Seeing that live feedback was just amazing! To top it all off, I had the pleasure of attending with my sisters Ndetu Shamaki Lisah Kangoni Alice Gababyat Mo Foresythe and meeting many more strong, inspiring women who are making waves in their own businesses. 💪💼 I’m already looking forward to attending more summits like this and continuing to grow alongside this fantastic community of female entrepreneurs. 🙌 #FemaleFounders #Entrepreneurship #GrowthSummit #Inspiration #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #Empowerment #Networking

🌎 Calling all global female founders and fund managers... Tomorrow, join our partner, the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) / #ChooseWOMEN for their breakfast celebration in New York City - or join virtually. This is a fantastic opportunity to listen to investors who control BILLIONS of dollars, and want to invest it in #womenintech. 💰 Read more about this great event, below, from the founder - Wendy Diamond, then sign up and get involved! #femalefounders #diversityintech #investinwomen

Be & Become - A beautiful way to close August with the Austin Business Woman Red Gala event celebrating women entrepreneur award recipients across the diverse zones of ingenuity and talent! Here are a few interesting stats: 99.9% of American businesses are considered small businesses. 84.8% of establishments in rural areas are small businesses. Women own 43.2% of all small businesses (NAWBO.org. Feb. 9th, 2024) More than 70% of women reported job scarcity to be the motive behind their startups (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor – Women's Entrepreneurship Report 2022) Delaware has the country's highest women's VC funding deal count rate per women-owned businesses --6% of women-owned businesses in Delaware receive VC funding compared to the rest of the states, averaging at 1.16% of women-owned businesses receiving VC funding. (The Business Journals Aug 29, 2024) Special thanks to regional female Chamber leaders for serving as insightful panelists, sharing their wisdom, and dedicating themselves to fostering a thriving community of all businesses across our communities. I am grateful to know and walk alongside courageous women who challenge professional growth through collaboration over competition. Onward! #WomenInBusiness #RedGalaCelebration #WomenSupportingWomen #CollaborationOverCompetition

Ahead of International Women's Day tomorrow, our Entrepreneurs Economy series focuses on female entrepreneurs and the funding gap. Some interesting insights from the team below!