Our 2014 Top Ten List

The Most Womenabling Research Facts of the Year

We've kept tabs on womenabling facts and figures published throughout the year (naturally), so - to close out the year - we offer you our list of the ten most impactful research-based facts about women business owners and their enterprises of 2014. They fall into four general categories - money, mentoring, metrics and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) - and include a two-for-one listing.

A brief factoid and a link to the full reports follow. For more detailed commentary on these studies, click any of the "Learn More" links to go to our more detailed Womenabler blogpost.

Money

Closing the credit cap for women-owned SMEs across the developing world as a whole could boost the growth in per capita income by over 110 basis points (1.1%) on average. ~ Giving credit where it is due
The fundraising success rate for women on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter was 69.5%, compared to 61.4% for men. ~ Gender Dynamics in Crowdfunding (Kickstarter): Evidence on Entrepreneurs, Investors, Deals and Taste Based Discrimination
Among firms receiving venture capital investments, businesses with a woman on the executive team are more likely to have higher valuations at both first and last funding (64 percent higher and 49 percent higher, respectively). ~ Women Entrepreneurs 2014: Bridging the Gender Gap in Venture Capital
Women-owned ventures accounted for 23% of the entrepreneurs that were seeking angel capital and 19% of these women entrepreneurs received angel investment in 2013. ~ The Angel Investor Market in 2013: A Return to Seed Investing

~ Learn More ~

Mentors

An analysis of high-growth women entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean finds that they are more likely than average to seek mentors to guide their growth. However, while high-growth men entrepreneurs seek mentors from outside their family, women tend to receive guidance from within their own families. ~ WEGrow: Unlocking the Growth Potential of Women Entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean
A survey of women in technology firms launched between 2002 and 2012 finds that they have not had role models to inspire their entrepreneurial journey. ~ Sources of Economic Hope: Women's Entrepreneurship

~Learn More~

Metrics

The United States (with a score of 83), Australia (80) and Sweden (73) are the top-ranked countries (among 30 analyzed) for the conditions most conducive to growth-oriented women's entrepreneurship. ~ The Gender Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index
As of 2012, just under one-third (29%) of the 40.6 million business owners in Europe are women, up from 26% in 2003. ~ Statistical Data on Women Entrepreneurs in Europe
On average over the past 17 years, there has been a net increase of 591 women-owned businesses in the United States each and every day. Start-up activity is increasing: just in the past year, there have been an estimated 1,288 net new women-owned firms launched each and every day. ~ The 2014 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report

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STEM

Women have increased their representation in STEM graduate enrollment. However, across all STEM fields, female PhDs have lower rates of entrepreneurship than their male colleagues (5% compared to 7%), and file fewer patents (15% vs. 28%). ~ Understanding the Gender Gap in STEM Fields Entrepreneurship
(A 2-for-1 listing; this study also appeared in the 'mentors' category) A comparison of a survey of women in technology firms launched between 2002 and 2012 with a more general sampling of technology firms founded in 2004 (the Kauffman Firm Survey) finds that there is a financing gap when it comes to high-tech and high-potential women entrepreneurs. That financing gap turns into a growth gap in terms of company outcomes. ~ Sources of Economic Hope: Women's Entrepreneurship