The gender pay gap is well-documented, but less so is the fact that women are still significantly underrepresented when it comes to raising capital. According to data from PitchBook, companies founded by sole women only receive about 2% of venture capital (VC) investments in Europe and the United States. But there are signs that the gap may be closing.
While it’s still tough for women to access funding, a number of female entrepreneurs are fighting to change the narrative. Some are leveraging their personal experiences to market products they’re passionate about. Others are combining technology with traditional business models to create new opportunities. Still, others are tackling issues that have been long-debated—like menstruation and infertility.
For example, a woman-led startup called Luuna is bringing feminine care into workplaces by offering subscription-based tampon and menstrual pads. The company says it aims to give women a “stress-free” experience with their period, and has already received $123.2 million in funding. Another women-led startup that is changing the conversation around menstruation is Athena Club, which offers a full line of women’s personal care products. The site includes everything from tampons to panty liners and candles. The site also includes a community for its users to share advice and tips on their period journey.
Other startups are using the power of data to help women navigate their entrepreneurial journeys. One company, Thermaband, uses sensors to monitor sweat and heat levels in the body. It can then send a message to the user’s phone, which can help relieve symptoms and reduce pain. The founders are based at Yale, where the team launched their first product during the school’s Startup Founders Practicum and Innovator course. They’ve since secured $3 million in investment to expand the company.후토루마끼창업
In addition, some studies suggest that startups led by women perform better financially. A study by First Round Capital found that on average, for every dollar invested in a women-led startup, it generated 78 cents in revenue. In contrast, male-founded startups only generated 31 cents for every dollar invested.여자창업
One of the reasons for this gap is that many male investors don’t understand the need for women-led businesses, or the value in their offerings. Some of the female founders we spoke to for this article explained that they struggled to get male investors on board because their companies marketed products that reflected their own personal experiences.
Despite these challenges, the women we interviewed all expressed optimism that it’s an exciting time to be a woman entrepreneur. They believe the world is becoming more accepting of people who are not like the typical “norm” and that this will make it easier to raise capital for women-led startups in the future. Ultimately, they all agreed that it’s important to be authentic and not to limit yourself based on what society expects of you. This is why they’re empowering other women to follow their own path and start businesses that speak to them.