As we observe International Women’s Day and celebrate the global social, economic, cultural, and political contributions of women, it’s clear that female leaders in business still face major obstacles, especially in sectors like food and climate tech.
While many female-founded and women-led startups are making impressive strides, they still encounter significantly more barriers to success compared to those run by men.
Heather K Terry, CEO of GoodSam Foods, told Green Queen that gender bias in investment isn’t new. “Women have always found it hard to raise funds,” she said, highlighting that many investors still hold unconscious biases and often lack an understanding of how women-led companies operate, even though these businesses frequently excel in financial discipline, sustainability, and realistic growth goals.
Several statistics emphasize how undervalued women are by investors, and why this needs urgent attention. In Europe, just 12–15% of venture capital (VC) decision-makers in the past year were women, and only 8–14% of VC firms had more women in leadership than men. This imbalance is a major barrier—greater representation of women among investors is crucial for boosting funding for female-led ventures.
According to PitchBook, increasing the number of women in roles with the power to write checks could open doors for female entrepreneurs, as they’re more likely to recognize and support promising businesses that others might overlook.
However, becoming a VC decision-maker often requires a long and winding career path, including experience as founders or operators, so progress will likely be slow. As PitchBook noted, female representation among general partners (GPs) in VC will lag behind improvements in overall deal flow, making sustained efforts essential for real change.
