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Empowering Advocates, Elevating Women Entrepreneurs
IWE is an initiative dedicated to sharpening advocacy strategies for women's entrepreneurship through consultancy services and mentorship. We connect policymakers, women entrepreneur advocates, public servants, and lobbyists with the resources and networks needed to create sustainable support systems for women-owned businesses.
Our MISSION
The Invest in Women Entrepreneurs (IWE) initiative is committed to creating wealth for women by amplifying access to capital, mentorship, and technical assistance. We empower a diverse coalition of advocates, policymakers, and women entrepreneurs to secure sustainable funding and support for women entrepreneurs, fostering economic robustness across California and beyond.
Our expertise has secured millions in funding for Women's Business Centers and continues to drive economic growth through empowered women entrepreneurs.
Women Pioneering the Next Economy
In 2019, women-owned businesses “generated $1 trillion in revenues,” as noted by Nancy Swift, Chair of California’s Women’s Business Center Network and ally of IWE. Empowering women entrepreneurs is not just about fairness—it's about fueling our economic engine.
“Women-owned businesses could produce $6.8 trillion if they [recieved proper support]... Morgan Stanley calls [this] missed opportunity a lost $4.4 trillion.”
Battling inequalities, only 5% of women business owners received PPP loans in 2020. IWE urgently works to support women entrepreneurs because of the massive economic contributions they make and the disproportionate challenges they face. Women business owners are the resilient leaders we need.
Close the Gap
On average, women-owned businesses start with $75,000, whereas their male counterparts start with $135,000 (Morgan Stanley, 2018).
IWE research: What women-owned businesses want
IWE collaborates with leading advocacy organizations to uncover the untapped potential of women entrepreneurs. In partnership with the Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBEC), our survey with WBEC-West and WBEC-Pacific highlights that women-owned businesses are ready to expand with debt financing. However, many women still rely on personal credit and savings. With the right financial guidance, this market can unlock significant growth opportunities.
Landscape of Women-Owned Businesses
12+ million women-owned businesses in the U.S.
SBA currently allocates $18 million to 100 WBCs
Doubling investment could support 300,000 women entrepreneurs
Potential impact: 1 million new jobs and $5.4 billion in economic value
ROI: $150 for every dollar invested
Our Findings:
38.5% of women-owned businesses will expand with debt financing.
Financing these women-owned businesses has the potential to create 1,088 jobs.
A Hidden Opportunity for Growth
Over 12 million women-owned businesses thrive across the US. However, the US Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Women's Business Ownership allocates a mere $18 million to 100 Women's Business Centers (WBCs), reaching just 145,000 women entrepreneurs in 2017.
Doubling this investment to $36 million could support 300,000 women entrepreneurs, potentially creating nearly a million jobs and adding $5.4 billion in economic value to local communities. This translates to an impressive $150 return for every dollar invested.
IWE advocates for increased funding and resources to unlock the full potential of women-owned businesses.