Latest news with #womenentrepreneurs
Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Times
Too female to fund? The gendered gap in business investment
Debbie Wosskow tells Gaby Griffith that if women entrepreneurs had the same support as men, it could add £250 billion to the UK economy – and she has a plan to make it happen Entrepreneur Debbie Wosskow is co-chair of the Invest in Women Taskforce When entrepreneurs Debbie Wosskow OBE and Anna Jones set out to raise capital for their latest venture, wellness company Better Menopause, they encountered a familiar obstacle. Despite a formidable track record – Wosskow founded the home-swapping platform Love Home Swap, Jones is the former UK CEO of Hearst Magazines – one well-known male investor said he loved them but he thought the idea was 'a little niche'. This, says Wosskow, is what happens when women founders pitch female-focused businesses to male investors. Ventures addressing the needs of half the population are too often dismissed as marginal. Women, she argues, are still expected to prove legitimacy twice over – once for the idea, and again for daring to lead it. New research from the wealth management firm Charles Stanley bears this out. Just 24.8 per cent of female founders say it's easier to secure funding as a woman. More than half – 55 per cent – report facing heightened scrutiny because of their gender, while 63 per cent say they have to work harder than men to be recognised as leaders. There is, in other words, significant ground to gain. The UK is home to 7,696 high-growth companies with at least one female founder, accounting for 13.7 per cent of the country's high-growth business population. Of these, 4,224 are majority female-founded. According to the Invest in Women Taskforce – co-chaired by Wosskow – if women were supported to scale their businesses at the same rate as men, it could add as much as £250 billion to the UK economy. Alongside plans to create a dedicated investment fund for female founders, Wosskow and the taskforce are focused on encouraging more women to become investors themselves. As she points out, women are twice as likely to invest in other women as men are. 'We need to create systemic change,' she says. But it isn't only about capital. 'Mentoring is super important,' says Mia Kahrimanovic, chartered financial planner at Charles Stanley. 'I love that quote – 'You can't be what you can't see.' Women need access to mentors and advisers who can help them build and scale. Taking an idea and making it work becomes easier when you know someone else has already walked the path.' A sense of community among women entrepreneurs is key here. Research by Charles Stanley found that 70.8 per cent of female founders expressed a desire to support other women – something that has been evident throughout Wosskow's career. After exiting her first business, Love Home Swap, in 2017, she co-founded AllBright the following year with Jones. The global community connects ambitious women through female-only members' clubs in London and Hollywood, as well as a thriving online network. It's a space for sharing expertise, offering support and building lasting professional relationships. 'Women's networks are just not as strong as men's – for all sorts of reasons – and we wanted to create a global sisterhood of women who had each other's backs,' says Wosskow. Whether formal or informal, having a trusted network to turn to is invaluable for female founders. 'Most of the entrepreneurs I work with say the journey is lonely,' says Kahrimanovic. 'Advisers are an ideal extension of a start-up team, especially when navigating funding, legal or financial issues.' Following the closure of Allbright, Wosskow went on to co-found WJV – an investment firm focused on backing diverse founders – once again teaming up with Jones. 'I've backed only female entrepreneurs in the past six years of investing,' she says. 'As women, when we have money, we tend to show up for each other.' Her goal now is to drive greater economic empowerment among women and encourage them to become investors themselves. She wants women to build wealth, speak openly about it, and use their capital to support the next generation of female founders. 'There is a great wealth transfer coming,' says Wosskow. 'Partly through divorce, partly through inheritance – and I want to equip those women with the understanding that angel investment is a powerful tool.' For some, as she points out, wealth may come from personal transitions, such as divorces. But for founders, it's business exits that unlock the capital needed to reinvest in others. According to Charles Stanley's latest research, 2024 saw 82 exits by female-founded high-growth companies – a promising signal for the future of women backing women. The average age of the female founders behind those exits was 51. As a multi-exit entrepreneur herself, Wosskow has advice for those considering it. 'I have always started a business with a clear plan for how I'm going to sell it,' she says. 'You might mess everything up the first time, but in my experience, you just get better at it. That's why I want women to do it again and again.' For many women founders, however, an exit can feel like a distant prospect as they work through the realities of building a business. For those still in the trenches, Wosskow offers one piece of advice: 'When things go wrong – which they will – give yourself 24 hours to mourn it, then move on. Take a day to lie on the couch, moan and wail, but that's it. Get up and keep going.'
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Cambodian women turn tide in seafood trade, now other nations want in
PHNOM PENH, May 31 — Cambodian women are stepping up in the fishery products sector, transforming their roles from traditional producers to key players in the global market. Enterprising women entrepreneurs, dominating at least 60 per cent of the micro and small informal enterprises, are now upgrading their post-harvest processing skills in the fishery sector to penetrate high-end markets. The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation's (UNIDO) CAPFISH-Capture – a post-harvest fisheries development project – is helping Cambodian women to upskill, shifting from their archaic fish processing techniques to world-recognised standards. 'We supported over 51 fishery enterprises and their value chain actors in upgrading their businesses. Thirty-five of these enterprises are led by women and three persons with disabilities. 'We are now linking them with global buyers from the EU (European Union). Some of the enterprises have already started exporting to China, South Korea and Australia,' UNIDO's CAPFISH-Capture Chief Technical Advisor Dr Shetty Seetharama Thombathu told Bernama. CAPFISH-Capture is a five-year project, co-funded by the European Union and implemented by UNIDO in coordination with the Cambodia Fisheries Administration. Fishing is a vital economic lifeline for Cambodia. About six million people are employed both directly and indirectly in the domestic fisheries sector. The post-harvest fishery activities alone employ an estimated 33,000 workers, the majority of them are women. Fish remains a staple diet for Cambodians and their per capita consumption of fish is 54 kilogrammes, considered higher among its Asean peers. Cambodian Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry revealed that total fisheries and aquaculture production reached 926,936 metric tonnes last year. Locally-made fishery products – fish sauce, fermented fish, fish balls, and smoked fish – are widely produced but seldom exported due to a lack of value addition and food safety compliance. According to UNIDO, Cambodia's low competitiveness in terms of value addition makes it tough to compete in the domestic market flooded with imported fishery products and, at the same time, unable to enter regional or global markets. The CAPFISH-Capture project has stepped in to revitalise this untapped lucrative sector to compete with high-quality international exporters by equipping local producers with modern techniques. 'The ultimate goal is to boost the competitiveness of the fishery products to promote trade, both domestic and export, and to protect public health by ensuring safe and high-quality fishery products for consumers. 'We work on various issues and elements of the value chain such as governance, food safety, capacity building and skills development, marketing and branding, access to finance, research and development, gender empowerment, environment and climate resilience,' said Shetty. Cambodia's new success story is going beyond its borders. Neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines, where the fishing industry plays a critical role in their economy, are recognising the CAPFISH-Capture project. Meanwhile, Egypt, Chile and Kyrgyzstan have expressed their willingness to replicate UNIDO's training model. 'Listing Cambodia as an eligible country to export to the EU is our main goal. We have already established all the requirements to meet EU food safety requirements and are ready for an audit by DG SANTE (European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety),' said Shetty. Cambodian women are now shining in the often-neglected and shunned occupation by many due to its laborious work and paltry income. But the fortunes could now favour them. — Bernama
CNA
5 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Cartier Impact Awards 2025: These remarkable women are using business to drive social change
'With great power there must also come great responsibility" – this line from a Spider-Man comic has become a defining pop culture moment, symbolising the moral obligation that comes with influence. Reflecting on today's interconnected world, the quote rings especially true – businesses wield huge influence, not just over economies, but over societies and the environment. This principle forms the foundation of the Cartier Women's Initiative (CWI), which was incepted in 2006 to recognise and support women entrepreneurs who are using the power of business to become 'forces for good', driving meaningful change and creating impact in their communities. According to Cartier, the programme has supported 330 awardees (known as 'fellows') from 66 countries, providing over US$12 million (S$15.5 million) in funding and nurturing a growing community of more than 500 changemakers. In 2025, the CWI marked another milestone by holding its second-ever Impact Awards, celebrating nine former fellows of the programme whose ventures have significantly scaled their missions over time. The 2025 Impact Awards Ceremony took place on May 22 at the Sakai Performing Arts Centre in Osaka, Japan, coinciding with the official opening week of Cartier's Women's Pavilion at Expo 2025. The first edition of the Impact Awards was held in 2022 at the Dubai Expo 2020. The Impact Awardees are selected across three categories – Preserving the Planet, Improving Lives, and Creating Opportunities, aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Fellows from previous editions of the CWI apply for the awards and undergo a rigorous selection process. 'In this edition, when selecting fellows for the Impact Awards, we looked for those who have created extraordinary impact through their businesses. That impact can be measured in terms of breadth – reaching a large number of beneficiaries – or depth, such as introducing a truly innovative model that transforms how we think,' said Wingee Sin, global programme director of the CWI. The nine awardees each received a US$100,000 grant to help further their mission. They will also take part in a one-year fellowship programme designed to enhance their capacity for impact measurement, refine leadership skills, and scale their operational reach. PIONEERING SOLUTIONS The awardees hail from across the globe, with three representatives operating social impact businesses in India representing those from the Asian continent. Namita Banka is an awardee from the Improving Lives Category. She is the founder of Banka Bioloo, a company that provides sustainable water and sanitation solutions across India, including biotoilets, biodigesters and sewage treatment plants. The former jewellery designer was selling ink cartridges and green office supplies to Indian Railways when she discovered that one of their biggest problems is sanitation. 'An estimated 100 million households do not have access to toilets and 60 per cent of people are forced to defecate in the open, posing health hazards, environmental concerns and leading to water contamination," said Banka. With an average 18 million people travelling by train every day, Indian Railways is 'our lifeline', but its toilets were 'in a pitiful state'. Since Banka Bioloo's inception in 2012, it has installed 3,000 biotoilets for Indian Railways and supplied 30,000 biotoilets to rural areas, impacting millions of people by providing them with a clean, safe and hygienic environment to take care of their needs. Banka's goal is to 'bring a toilet to every household in India'. Also in India, Kristin Kagetsu, an awardee from the Preserving the Planet category, is the founder of Saathi, which produces and distributes 100 per cent all-natural, biodegradable sanitary pads made of banana fibre. Conventional sanitary pads on the market contain toxic chemical agents, and women in rural parts of India commonly dispose of them by burning them due to a lack of waste facilities. Saathi converts banana fibre, a natural byproduct of banana farming, into a soft absorbent pad via a patented fibre-processing technology. The pads degrade within six months of disposal. The company also provides subsidised pads for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) committed to improving access to sanitary pads and health education for women. In the Creating Opportunities category, American Jackie Stenson is the co-founder of Essmart, a social enterprise that aims to bridge the gap between life-improving technologies and underserved rural communities in southern India. Recognising that many innovative products fail to reach those who need them the most, Essmart curates a catalogue of over 350 cleantech and agricultural tools – such as solar dryers and battery-powered sprayers – and distributes them through a network of more than 5,000 local retailers. ROLE MODELS AS BUSINESSES FOR GOOD Other awardees leading innovative companies include Kresse Wesling from the UK. Wesling is the founder of Elvis & Kresse, a company with a mission to convert waste products into luxury goods. It turns industrial and commercial waste, including fire hoses, coffee sacks and scrap leather into luxury bags and other accessories. Hailing from Armenia, Mariam Torosyan created Safe YOU, a mobile application that provides women suffering gender-based violence with emergency support, access to relevant resources and a safe online community. Yvette Ishimwe from Rwanda is the founder of IRIBA Water Group, which created a smart self-service water ATM that makes purified water available, accessible and affordable for low-income communities across Africa. For many awardees, the true value of the Impact Awards goes beyond visibility and funding. It lies in the recognition and affirmation of their efforts to build businesses that drive positive change, said Sin. 'A big part of the initiative is to drive the idea that business is an important force for good. Not only is it possible, but many people are already doing it. Highlighting these individuals as role models is important to us,' Sin shared. CONTINUING THE MISSION Cartier will hold the 20th edition of the CWI in 2026, which will culminate in a global awards ceremony to be held in Bangkok, Thailand. It will spotlight 30 women impact entrepreneurs, selected as top three candidates across nine Regional Awards alongside the Science & Technology Pioneer Award. Singapore's presence in the CWI is steadily growing. In recent years, two fellows have been inducted into the programme. They include Mint Lim, founder of inclusive learning centre School of Concepts, who was a fellow from the 2023 edition. In the 2024 edition, Singapore surgeon Dr Lynne Lim, founder of medtech start-up NousQ, took home the top prize in the Science & Technology Pioneer category. Cyrille Vigneron, chairman of culture and philanthropy at Cartier, emphasised Singapore's important role in advancing Cartier's philanthropic efforts in the region. 'Singapore's strategic location and global connectivity position it as a key regional hub for collaboration and scaling social impact. By forging partnerships with local and regional institutions, such as social enterprises, cultural foundations, and universities, Cartier can amplify its impact across Asia-Pacific,' Vigneron commented. 'The upcoming 2026 Cartier Women's Initiative in Thailand underscores the region's growing role in fostering social change, with Singapore poised to lead in shaping and advancing these efforts,' he concluded.
Associated Press
25-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Federal Cuts Threaten 100,000 Women-Owned Businesses in New York – Contact Your Senator Now to Save SCORE
New York Women in Business (NYWIB) urges immediate action to preserve vital entrepreneurial support The future of 100,000 women-owned small businesses in New York hangs in the balance. Proposed federal budget cuts to SCORE —a critical nonprofit partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration—threaten to eliminate the foundation behind one of the city's most vital entrepreneurial networks: New York Women in Business (NYWIB). Founded in 2016 by marketing veteran Mary Tan, a longtime SCORE mentor, NYWIB was built by—and continues to operate because of—SCORE's resources, volunteers, and infrastructure. Without SCORE, NYWIB will not survive. For nearly a decade, NYWIB has helped women turn ideas into income, passion into purpose, and side hustles into sustainable livelihoods. That entire ecosystem is now at risk. 'This isn't just a funding cut. It's a direct hit to women fighting to build something for themselves and their families,' said Tan, who has mentored more than 2,000 entrepreneurs through SCORE. 'Defunding SCORE means the end of NYWIB—and silencing thousands of women's voices, dreams, and economic potential.' The True Cost Of Defunding SCORE Nationally, SCORE's 10,000+ volunteer mentors serve over 100,000 small business clients annually, helping to create and sustain jobs while generating billions in economic impact. In New York alone, SCORE's network supports thousands of entrepreneurs each year. Without SCORE's guidance, the ripple effects would be devastating: SCORE clients are 3x more likely to start a business and 2x more likely to remain in business after two years compared to non-clients. If SCORE disappears, the entire NYWIB network disappears with it—taking critical mentorship, workshops, and startup success stories along with it. Act Now — Your Voice Can Save NYWIB and Women-Owned Businesses Across New York NYWIB is urging entrepreneurs, families, and allies to take immediate action. Contact your New York State Senator and demand continued federal funding for SCORE. Without it, NYWIB—and the thousands of women-owned businesses it supports—will cease to exist. Speak up. Show up. Stand with the women who keep New York's small business economy alive. Find your senator: About New York Women in Business (NYWIB) New York Women in Business (NYWIB), founded by SCORE NYC in 2016, is a coalition of organizations representing approximately 100,000 women entrepreneurs in the New York Tri-State area. Through expert mentoring, free workshops, and targeted resources, NYWIB helps women start, manage, and grow successful businesses. It is powered by SCORE—and cannot exist without it. Learn more at and follow NYWIB on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. About SCORE SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow, and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. SCORE's 10,000+ volunteer business mentors have relevant experience and training to help you succeed. Learn more at Media Contact Melissa Ortiz +1 408-772-0972 [email protected] ### SOURCE: New York Women in Business (NYWIB) Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Beyond Financial Inclusion: What Drives Financial Health for Women Entrepreneurs?
May 22, 2025 /3BL/ - Women entrepreneurs in emerging markets face considerable barriers that hinder their long-term success. While difficulties accessing small business credit and training are frequently cited challenges by small business owners, CARE's latest Strive Women report —based on the experiences of nearly 2,500 businesswomen in Pakistan, Peru, and Vietnam—highlights that access to finance during a crisis, digital tools, and support networks are equally crucial factors for woman entrepreneurs' business growth. The report uncovers how business outcomes for women are deeply tied to four interconnected factors: financial resilience, business management and growth, confidence and control, and quality of life. Strive Women, a four-year program led by CARE and supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, is aimed at strengthening the financial health of women-led small businesses. Women entrepreneurs are vital to economic growth, yet systemic barriers continue to undermine their overall financial health. To better capture the realities that drive or hinder their success, Strive Women has developed a comprehensive Financial Health Framework—grounded in research and designed to reflect the full scope of women business owner's lived experiences. Using this Framework to inform the research, the analysis reveals key insights: women often rely on personal savings to manage business shocks, limiting the potential for long-term business growth and stability. While 96% feel confident in growing their businesses, their progress is often held back by limited access to finance, digital tools, and strong support networks. The research also highlights the complex role of household dynamics—where spousal support can ease stress and boost resilience, even as caregiving demands continue to restrict the time and energy available for business growth. 'Even as a businesswoman, I come home to cooking, cleaning, and caregiving—there's no pause,' says Rosario Del Pozo, a Peruvian entrepreneur. 'For many women I work with, especially those without education or support at home, it's even harder. The biggest barrier we face isn't ambition—it's the huge number of responsibilities.' Key findings These findings uncover reality: women entrepreneurs want to grow their businesses-- but they need systems that work with their realities, not against them. 'This research highlights how financial health is about much more than income or confidence—it's about navigating complex systems, balancing roles, and accessing the right mix of resources,' said Rathi Mani-Kandt, Director of Women's Entrepreneurship at CARE. 'When we listen to women and design systems that match their realities, we don't just improve business outcomes—we build more resilient economies.' 'These insights reinforce that unlocking women's economic potential requires programs and systems to see and support the whole person,' said Payal Dalal, executive vice president for global programs at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. 'Through Strive Women, we are investing in the tools, networks, and insights that can drive lasting impact for women entrepreneurs around the world.' What needs to change? The Strive Women research findings call for bold, practical, women-centered interventions. To ensure women entrepreneurs can thrive, CARE is calling for: Looking ahead As Strive Women programming continues, further research will explore how tailored financial and business support can build long-term resilience, how digital tools support business growth, and how strong networks—both personal and professional—can enhance women's financial health and overall well-being. Notes to editors: Link to Strive Women Baseline Report Link to Baseline Learning Summary Press contact: [email protected] About CARE: Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. In 2023, CARE worked in 109 countries, reaching 167 million people through more than 1,600 projects. To learn more, visit About the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth: The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth advances equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world. The Center leverages the company's core assets and competencies, including data insights, expertise, and technology, while administering the philanthropic Mastercard Impact Fund, to produce independent research, scale global programs, and empower a community of thinkers, leaders, and doers on the front lines of inclusive growth. For more information and to receive its latest insights, follow the Center on LinkedIn, Instagram and subscribe to its newsletter. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Care USA
