The Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship published in March 2019, highlighted that up to £250 billion of new value could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled up new businesses at the same rate as men.
One would hope things have changed, but data showed in 2020 of the £12bn of UK VC investment invested, companies with an all-female founder team would have received just £120.1m. Whilst all-male counterparts, just shy of £10.7bn. This again though we fear if more about applications rather than decisions. A report on acceptance / rejection would be interesting but not easily put into context, but essentially female founders securing investment is increasing but still far apart from that taken up by all male founder businesses and the question should be why are there fewer female founders seeking investment?
There are many success stories and female founders calculated risks can reap rewards quicker and steadier
‘As a female founder that set up 14years ago I had no idea where to turn for advice & support. I had £5000 a suitcase of files and no clue. I was also, if you can believe this as a lawyer, asked by a potential legal partner ‘wasn’t I at an age where I would be considering a family ‘, which really knocks your confidence about being taken seriously. I was starting out in a male dominated City & traditional sector, so it was daunting. I didn’t let anything stop me though even where there were admittedly tears and battles to be had. If a door closed, I went on to another or bashed it down, but it was exhausting, sometimes demoralising and hard to stay motivated ‘Karen Holden List Legal 500 award winning law firm.
Looking back at the last 15 years there have been changes and progressive movement, but more is definitely still needed so how can ‘We’ work together to change this same old conversation !! many women want to remove the barriers and break the mould so as a disruptive, innovative female lawyer & founder and Karen says she want to change things, working with my fellow male and female peers to scale female businesses’.
Karen Holden wants to help these businesses grow and if we can help change the dynamics and work with our strengths this is what I want to be doing. I set up the www.femalefoundersgrowth.com program to do just this – not just investment, but professional advice, support and bringing partners to the table that have a genuine desire to help female founders.
We want to encourage equality, so we need to change who is in the room; improve the confidence of women so by brining partners men and women into the program who are proactive about female founders this starts everyone on an inclusive planning ground. A safe and proactive environment means they can thrive and be ready if a VC tries to later knock them back. The topics will largely be the same, but we know women, by in large, are not the same risk-takers, but are equally as dynamic so talks and advice are pitched around exactly their profiles. There are also topics that can be a taboo but are essential for women to thrive from being a working mum, to holistic needs, to confidence boosts required.
As a woman running my own business, I have seen many ups and down in establishing and scaling my business. I advise thousands of businesses getting ready to start, scale and seek investment right up until they exit or sell. It is never easy and there are always ups and downs, but the market is vibrant right now; investors are keen to enter the UK market and female founders are seeing more active interest than ever before.
Fundraising for many businesses is vital so being prepared is likewise the key. No more so for start-up technology companies who burn through a considerable amount of money, especially when pre-revenue. As such getting investment is essential, but being prepared for the deal, having robust contracts, good tax structuring advice, watching cashflow and projections is equally as important as the pitch and end game.
