Accelerate Action: Bridging the Gender Gap in Business and Investment

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global event that honors the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The 2025 theme, #AccelerateAction, emphasizes the urgency of advancing gender equality. 

So what are the challenges still facing women business owners? 

Challenges Faced by Women in Business and Funding

Despite progress, women continue to encounter significant hurdles in the business and investment sectors:

  • Access to Capital: Women entrepreneurs often struggle to secure funding. In 2023, startups founded solely by women received just 2% or less of venture capital (VC) funding in both Europe and the United States. 
  • Leadership Representation: Women remain underrepresented in senior business roles. For instance, the Big Four accounting firms are projected to fall short of their gender diversity targets, with women facing barriers to promotion, especially when balancing caregiving responsibilities. 

Strategies to Accelerate Gender Equality in Business

To address these challenges, companies can implement the following actions:

  1. Reflect on Existing Biases: Evaluate the nature of questions posed during pitch interviews. Research indicates that women are often asked “prevention” questions focusing on potential risks, while men receive “promotion” questions about potential gains. This discrepancy can influence funding outcomes.
  2. Analyze the Founder Pipeline: Assess how your organization connects with founders. If outreach is primarily through male-oriented networks, consider creating avenues that are more accessible to female entrepreneurs.
  3. Diversify Decision-Making Teams: Check that investment and leadership teams include female decision-makers to bring different perspectives and foster an inclusive environment.
  4. Foster an Inclusive Ecosystem: Create a company culture that actively supports and encourages female founders, making the business environment more welcoming and equitable.
  5. Reevaluate Pitch Processes: Recognize that traditional pitching methods may not appeal to all. Studies have shown that women often find pitching unappealing due to its competitive nature. Exploring alternative presentation methods can create a more inclusive platform for all entrepreneurs.

A Positive Path Forward

Implementing these strategies is both feasible and beneficial. Organizations seeking guidance on enhancing their inclusiveness can consult with experts or reach out to Next Chapter Raise to accelerate their women business owners empowerment programs.

Is your company truly advancing its women empowerment initiatives? Contact us to advance your programs to support your female entrepreneur customers

Together, we can accelerate action towards a more equitable future.

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