How Women Entrepreneurs Are Overcoming Barriers to Business Growth

Women Leading Innovation

Every October, National Women’s Small Business Month reminds us of how far women entrepreneurs have come, and how much opportunity still lies ahead. At EventBuilder, this celebration feels personal: we’re proud to be a 100% women-owned and women-led technology and services company, helping organizations connect, grow, and thrive through inclusive virtual event solutions.

Across industries, women-owned small businesses are fueling innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening communities. Today, over 14 million women-owned companies in the U.S. contribute more than $2.1 trillion to the economy (source: National Women’s Business Council, 2024).

Yet despite this progress, many founders still face barriers, such as limited access to capital, gender bias, reduced visibility in high-growth sectors. Recognizing these challenges helps us share strategies, build awareness, and empower more women succeed.

How to Get Funding as a Woman Entrepreneur

Securing funding remains one of the most persistent challenges for women entrepreneurs. Despite record growth in women-led startups, female founders still receive less than 3% of all venture capital funding, representing a gap that slows innovation and limits access to growth capital.

But opportunity is growing fast. From female-focused investor networks to SBA-backed business loans, today’s women-owned businesses have more funding options and mentorship resources than ever before.

Here's where to start:

Seek Aligned Investors

Start with organizations that actively invest in women-led ventures. These groups understand your goals and provide more than just funding—they offer networks, mentorship, and credibility.

Recommended Networks:

• Female Founders Fund - Invests in early-stage startups built by women.
• Golden Seeds - Focuses on women-led companies with high growth potential.
• Astia - Connects women innovators with capital and expert guidance.

Explore Alternative Funding Paths

Venture capital isn’t the only way forward. Many women entrepreneurs succeed through SBA small business loans, crowdfunding, and federal or state grants tailored to women-owned companies. Check out organizations like Ladies Who Launch and SCORE, which offer free tools workshops, and funding strategy sessions for women founders.

Master the Data-Driven Pitch

When you meet with investors, let your data tell your story. Use performance metrics, market traction, and customer success evidence to demonstrate growth potential.

Example Pitch Metrics to Highlight:

• Customer acquisition cost (CAC)
• Lifetime value (LTV)
• Monthly recurring revenue (MRR)
• Market growth projections

Even though bias still exists, preparation builds confidence, visibility, and credibility in every conversation.

Overcoming Unconscious Bias in Business

Unconscious bias can appear in subtle ways, such as a raised eyebrow during a pitch, an assumption that you’re not the decision-maker, or a “compliment” that questions your authority. Over time, these small moments can impact funding, partnerships, and perception.

The good news: anticipating you may run into these issues and practicing your responses can turn those moments into opportunities for leadership.

Recognize the Signals of Bias

Understanding bias is the first step to overcoming it. Common signs include being interrupted more frequently in meetings, facing extra scrutiny on financial decisions, or being mistaken for a junior team member.

Dr. Tina Opie , author of "Shared Sisterhood," notes that awareness, "creates the foundation for allyship and action." Recognizing patterns helps founders prepare constructive responses instead of internalizing them.

Reframe the Conversation

Preparation helps you redirect bias into credibility. When asked a question rooted in assumption, reframe it to highlight your authority.

Biased Question: "Who handles the technical side of your company?"
Confident Response: "I lead our technology strategy and oversee our engineering team."

This assertive but calm response reinforces authority and expertise.

Build Advocacy Networks

No one succeeds in isolation. Build a network of advocates and allies that includes both women and men who will champion your work when you’re not in the room. Seek mentors who have navigated similar experiences, and offer that same support to others. Every advocate you cultivate becomes part of a system that challenges bias and amplifies impact.

At EventBuilder, we’ve seen firsthand how women mentoring women in technology transforms company culture and drives innovation. 

Confronting Bias in Investment Pitches

A Harvard Business School study found that 70% of venture capital investors preferred pitches from male entrepreneurs, even when the content was identical.

While progress is happening, this data underscores the importance of showing measurable traction, strong storytelling, and clear leadership in every investor conversation.

Work-Life Integration Strategies for Female Founders

The idea of "balance" often feels unrealistic for founders juggling leadership, caregiving, and growth. Instead of striving for a perfect balance, focus on work-life integration, which offers a system that supports both your goals and your well-being.

Automate to Reclaim Time

Automating repetitive tasks like scheduling, payroll, or reporting can save hours each week. Free up your creative energy!

Tools to Try:

• Calendly or Clockwise: Great tools for time blocking.
• QuickBooks or FreshBooks: Streamline finances and bookkeeping.
• AI Workflow Assistants: Manage emails, summarize data, and help you focus on strategic growth.

Treat Boundaries Like Business Goals

Boundaries protect performance. Create a list of non-negotiables and focus on them as intentionally as you manage your budget or client pipeline. Review it monthly, just like financial KPIs

Expert Perspective: Leadership coach Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, reminds us: "We need to stop teaching women to strive for balance and start designing systems that let us rest." Integrating this mindset builds long-term resilience.

Build Support Systems Early

Collaborate with co-founders, partners, or family members to share responsibilities and prevent burnout.

Joining women’s business networks like the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) or Ellevate Network provides mentorship, collaboration opportunities, and emotional support.

Rest as Strategic Investment

High performance requires recovery. Schedule downtime into your calendar as intentionally as client meetings or deadlines. Rest fuels creativity, innovation, and stronger leadership.

Mentorship and Community: The Power Behind Successful Women Entrepreneurs

For female founders, mentorship is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success.

Studies from the National Women’s Business Council show that founders with mentors are five times more likely to grow their business and secure funding. Mentorship provides not just guidance—but confidence, connections, and accountability.

Why Mentorship Matters

Mentors help you navigate challenges, refine strategy, see possibilities beyond your current scope, and open new networks.

How to Find the Right Mentor

Seek mentors who understand your journey and are transparent about both their successes and setbacks. Shared experience builds trust and helps you grow faster.

Practical Ways to Connect:

• Join local women’s business organizations like NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) or Ellevate Network.
• Explore virtual mentorship programs through SCORE, Hello Alice , or Mentor Her .
• Attend industry conferences where women in leadership share lived experiences and form peer-to-peer networks.

The Power of Community

Beyond one-on-one mentoring, community is what sustains growth. Joining a supportive network keeps founders connected, informed, and inspired—even through challenges.

Mentorship at EventBuilder

At EventBuilder, mentorship and collaboration are built into our DNA. As a women-owned and led technology company, we’ve seen firsthand how women supporting women in tech sparks creativity, accelerates problem-solving, and drives innovation. As EventBuilder's CEO, Lauren Meyer says, "Always be training your replacement." Sharing knowledge and helping others develop skills is always a winning endeavor.

Some of our most successful initiatives started with a single mentoring conversation that evolved into lasting partnerships. We’ve seen how these connections strengthen both our team and our client communities.

Building a More Inclusive Future for Women Entrepreneurs

Being a woman entrepreneur today means leading with resilience, innovation, and purpose. Challenges with funding inequities, unconscious bias, and limited representation still exist, but the success stories are stronger than ever.

Today, women-owned small businesses are fueling economic growth, redefining leadership models, and shaping the future of technology, finance, and community impact. Each success story strengthens the foundation for the next generation of female founders.

How EventBuilder Champions Inclusion in Tech

At EventBuilder, inclusion is part of our identity. As a 100% women-owned and led technology and services company, we know firsthand what it takes to overcome barriers and create equitable opportunities.

We design secure, accessible, and scalable virtual event solutions that help organizations grow, connect, and collaborate—no matter where their teams or audiences.

Let's Keep the Momentum Going

Every conversation, collaboration, and investment in women’s entrepreneurship pushes the world closer to equity. When women succeed in business, communities thrive. According to McKinsey & Company , advancing gender equity could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2030, offering us a powerful reason to keep the momentum going.

This National Women’s Small Business Month, and every month after, let’s continue to celebrate progress, share resources, and open doors for the next generation of women leaders.

A Conversation With Our Leaders

Watch the on-demand recording of our special webinar, "Women-Led Innovation in Tech," where our leaders share their wit, wisdom, and insights into running a successful, all-women owned tech and services business.