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North Wales Live
6 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
Study reveals one in three female entrepreneurs feel overlooked by investors
A recent study has found that nearly one in three female entrepreneurs feel overlooked by investors, with 20 per cent believing they face greater hurdles to success than men, largely due to restricted access to funding and investment. According to the survey involving 500 women business owners, the predominant challenges they confront include gender biases and balancing work with personal life. An alarming 40 per cent faced stereotypical perceptions around 'emotional' versus 'rational' decision making, while a quarter struggled to find a supportive team to help them reach their goals. These figures have been compiled as part of the Women in Business Report, by AXA, which examines the obstacles faced by female business owners and shares inspiring stories from female entrepreneurs. The research was carried out in partnership with the AXA's Startup Angel competition, which annually awards two new businesses top prize packages of £25,000 plus mentoring from the AXA Startup Angels' four successful SME owners. Mike Crane, director of small business insurance at AXA UK, which commissioned the research, said: "Starting your own business is a huge challenge and our research has highlighted areas where women feel disadvantaged." Mike added: "It's clear that while the business world has made progress in recent years, it's sometimes still not a level playing field for women. "More than half of the small business owners we surveyed said gender bias and stereotyping were a problem, while almost a third felt they weren't taken seriously by investors, clients or suppliers." The survey shed light on various other hurdles women in business face, including underrepresentation in senior positions and societal expectations surrounding appearance and behaviour. However, nearly half of the women respondents stated that running their own business provided them with greater flexibility to spend time with their families. One in five shared that they started their businesses with the goal of empowering other women and promoting diversity, while 15 per cent aimed to positively impact their local communities. Furthermore, 43 per cent believed that being a business owner sets a positive example for their children. Mike added: "We believe being a woman shouldn't be a risk when starting out in business – everyone deserves the same opportunities regardless of gender. "We're committed to supporting all budding entrepreneurs to realise their dreams. The AXA Startup Angel competition provides a springboard to bring incredible ideas to life, offering funding and mentorship that can make a real difference in those early days. "Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, and we want to ensure they continue to grow and flourish with our support and encouragement." 10 THINGS THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR WOMEN TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS: Gender bias and stereotypes (59%) Gendered expectations around leadership styles (42%) Stereotypical perceptions of emotional vs rational decision making (42%) Difficulty in asserting authority without being viewed negatively (33%) Limited work-life balance support (29%) Underrepresentation in senior roles (28%) Lack of recognition for achievements or contributions (26%) Unequal division of domestic and childcare responsibilities (26%) Societal expectations around prioritising family over career (26%)
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Study reveals one in three female entrepreneurs feel overlooked by investors
Study reveals one in three female entrepreneurs feel overlooked by investors A fifth of female entrepreneurs believe it is harder for them to succeed than their male counterparts attributing this to limited access to funding and investment. A fifth find it difficult to secure funding (Image: Getty Images ) A recent study has found that nearly one in three female entrepreneurs feel overlooked by investors, with 20 per cent believing they face greater hurdles to success than men, largely due to restricted access to funding and investment. According to the survey involving 500 women business owners, the predominant challenges they confront include gender biases and balancing work with personal life. An alarming 40 per cent faced stereotypical perceptions around 'emotional' versus 'rational' decision making, while a quarter struggled to find a supportive team to help them reach their goals. These figures have been compiled as part of the Women in Business Report, by AXA, which examines the obstacles faced by female business owners and shares inspiring stories from female entrepreneurs. The research was carried out in partnership with the AXA's Startup Angel competition, which annually awards two new businesses top prize packages of £25,000 plus mentoring from the AXA Startup Angels' four successful SME owners. Mike Crane, director of small business insurance at AXA UK, which commissioned the research, said: "Starting your own business is a huge challenge and our research has highlighted areas where women feel disadvantaged." Article continues below A quarter found it difficult to find a supportive team to assist them with their goals (Image: Getty Images ) Mike added: "It's clear that while the business world has made progress in recent years, it's sometimes still not a level playing field for women. "More than half of the small business owners we surveyed said gender bias and stereotyping were a problem, while almost a third felt they weren't taken seriously by investors, clients or suppliers." The survey shed light on various other hurdles women in business face, including underrepresentation in senior positions and societal expectations surrounding appearance and behaviour. However, nearly half of the women respondents stated that running their own business provided them with greater flexibility to spend time with their families. One in five shared that they started their businesses with the goal of empowering other women and promoting diversity, while 15 per cent aimed to positively impact their local communities. Furthermore, 43 per cent believed that being a business owner sets a positive example for their children. Mike added: "We believe being a woman shouldn't be a risk when starting out in business – everyone deserves the same opportunities regardless of gender. Article continues below "We're committed to supporting all budding entrepreneurs to realise their dreams. The AXA Startup Angel competition provides a springboard to bring incredible ideas to life, offering funding and mentorship that can make a real difference in those early days. "Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, and we want to ensure they continue to grow and flourish with our support and encouragement." 10 THINGS THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR WOMEN TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS:
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
One in three women in business aren't taken seriously by investors
A fifth of women who run their own businesses think it's harder for them to succeed than men, according to a new study which has highlighted the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs Almost one in three women in business feel they are not taken seriously by investors, according to a recent study. A fifth believe it is more difficult for them to succeed than their male counterparts, with 22% attributing this to limited access to funding and investment. The survey of 500 female entrepreneurs revealed the main challenges they face as business owners, including gender bias and juggling personal and professional life. Four in ten reported they have faced stereotypical perceptions around 'emotional' versus 'rational' decision making, while a quarter struggled to find a supportive team to help them reach their goals. These figures have been compiled as part of the Women in Business Report, by AXA, which examines the obstacles faced by female business owners and shares inspiring stories from female entrepreneurs. The research was carried out in partnership with the AXA's Startup Angel competition, which annually awards two new businesses top prize packages of £25,000 plus mentoring from the AXA Startup Angels' four successful SME owners. Mike Crane, director of small business insurance at AXA UK, which commissioned the research, said: "Starting your own business is a huge challenge and our research has highlighted areas where women feel disadvantaged." "It's clear that while the business world has made progress in recent years, it's sometimes still not a level playing field for women. More than half of the small business owners we surveyed said gender bias and stereotyping were a problem, while almost a third felt they weren't taken seriously by investors, clients or suppliers." The survey also highlighted other challenges faced by women in business, including a lack of representation in senior roles and societal pressures around appearance and behaviour. Despite these challenges, nearly half of the women said running their own business gave them more flexibility to spend time with their families. A fifth shared they started their own businesses to empower other women and promote diversity, while 15% hoped to make a positive impact on their local communities. Moreover, 43% believe that being a business owner sets a good example for their children. Mike added: "We believe being a woman shouldn't be a risk when starting out in business – everyone deserves the same opportunities regardless of gender. "We're committed to supporting all budding entrepreneurs to realise their dreams. The AXA Startup Angel competition provides a springboard to bring incredible ideas to life, offering funding and mentorship that can make a real difference in those early days. "Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, and we want to ensure they continue to grow and flourish with our support and encouragement." 10 THINGS THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR WOMEN TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS: Gender bias and stereotypes (59%) Gendered expectations around leadership styles (42%) Stereotypical perceptions of emotional vs rational decision making (42%) Difficulty in asserting authority without being viewed negatively (33%) Limited work-life balance support (29%) Underrepresentation in senior roles (28%) Lack of recognition for achievements or contributions (26%) Unequal division of domestic and childcare responsibilities (26%) Societal expectations around prioritising family over career (26%) Social pressure around appearance and behaviour (25%)
North Wales Chronicle
30-04-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
One in three women suffer discrimination running businesses
A poll of 500 female small business owners found 35 per cent have faced biased behaviour at work, with 53 per cent feeling pressure to prove themselves more than their male counterparts. It also emerged 47 per cent believe there are more risks when setting up a business as a woman due to not being taken seriously, balancing professional and personal life, and imposter syndrome - the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved. The research comes against the backdrop of a decline in the number of women business owners as Government research of 7,800 small businesses, found only 15 per cent were owned or led by women in 2023, down from 18 per cent in 2022 and 19 per cent in 2021. It was commissioned by AXA UK, which aims to support entrepreneurs with its Startup Angel competition offering new and would-be businesses the opportunity to win two top prize packages of £25,000 plus mentoring from small business experts. Mike Crane, director of small business insurance at insurance company, said: 'Our research shows that women can feel disadvantaged when branching out on their own, struggling to find the support and investment they need to grow their ideas into a fully-fledged business. 'We want to make sure everyone with a brilliant business plan has the opportunity to make their dreams a reality. 'For those just setting out on their journey, the Startup Angel competition offers an injection of much-needed funding to get them started plus support from some of the country's best entrepreneurs who've walked the walk themselves and can offer expert guidance.' Despite the various challenges, a huge 92 per cent of the 500 female small business owners surveyed would encourage other women to launch their own business. Almost half said starting their own business had many benefits such as giving them the flexibility to have more family time, while 43 per cent claimed it has helped set a positive example to their children. In terms of financing their business, the main ways women raised money was through personal savings (65 per cent), as well as family and friends (36 per cent). And 11 per cent also entered competitions which help to fund small businesses. Setting boundaries for work-life balance and building a strong support network were among the strategies cited for overcoming challenges. While prioritising mental health and self-care played a key role for 35 per cent of those surveyed via Mike Crane from AXA UK added: 'Despite the challenges faced by women setting up in business, it's clear that launching their own startup has been a game-changing decision. 'Our research shows there's a multitude of positive ways in which running a business has been transformative for those who have taken the plunge. 'The Startup Angel competition could be the first stepping stone for a budding entrepreneur to take that next step and be their own boss.'
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
One in three women suffer gender discrimination running their business
More than a third of women have experienced gender discrimination while running their business. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A poll of 500 female small business owners found 35 per cent have faced biased behaviour at work, with 53 per cent feeling pressure to prove themselves more than their male counterparts. Poll reveals that more than a third of women have experienced gender discrimination while running their business | SWNS It also emerged 47 per cent believe there are more risks when setting up a business as a woman due to not being taken seriously, balancing professional and personal life, and imposter syndrome - the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The research comes against the backdrop of a decline in the number of women business owners as Government research of 7,800 small businesses found only 15 per cent were owned or led by women in 2023, down from 18 per cent in 2022 and 19 per cent in 2021. It was commissioned by AXA UK, which aims to support entrepreneurs with its Startup Angel competition offering new and would-be businesses the opportunity to win two top prize packages of £25,000 plus mentoring from small business experts. Mike Crane, director of small business insurance at the insurance company, said: 'Our research shows that women can feel disadvantaged when branching out on their own, struggling to find the support and investment they need to grow their ideas into a fully-fledged business. 'We want to make sure everyone with a brilliant business plan has the opportunity to make their dreams a reality. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'For those just setting out on their journey, the Startup Angel competition offers an injection of much-needed funding to get them started plus support from some of the country's best entrepreneurs who've walked the walk themselves and can offer expert guidance.' Women who have started their own business had many benefits | Shutterstock Getting women into entrepreneurship Despite the various challenges, a huge 92 per cent of the 500 female small business owners surveyed would encourage other women to launch their own business. Almost half said starting their own business had many benefits such as giving them the flexibility to have more family time, while 43 per cent claimed it has helped set a positive example to their children. In terms of financing their business, the main ways women raised money was through personal savings (65 per cent), as well as family and friends (36 per cent). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And 11 per cent also entered competitions which help to fund small businesses. Setting boundaries for work-life balance and building a strong support network were among the strategies cited for overcoming challenges. While prioritising mental health and self-care played a key role for 35 per cent of those surveyed via Mike Crane from AXA UK added: 'Despite the challenges faced by women setting up in business, it's clear that launching their own startup has been a game-changing decision. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our research shows there's a multitude of positive ways in which running a business has been transformative for those who have taken the plunge. 'The Startup Angel competition could be the first stepping stone for a budding entrepreneur to take that next step and be their own boss.'
