We have a severe lack of female entrepreneurs in the United States. In fact, according to the U.S. Census’ Survey of Business Owners, a mere 28% of businesses are owned by women, whereas a whopping 51% are owned by men, and only a small portion are equally owned by men and women. However, a wide variety of resources(such as VentureLab) are devoted to developing female business owners and young innovators. You just have to know where to look!
Are you a female entrepreneur? Want to help guide the young women in your life? Then check out these three entrepreneurial resources for women that we find inspiring:
- Women’s Business Centers – Started by the government’s Small Business Association in 1988, there are now more than 100 Women’s Business Centers across the country. These facilities aim to “level the playing field” between men and women in the business world. They provide resources, networking opportunities, training programs and much more to help women achieve their career goals. Women’s Business Centers also offer loan programs, which can assist female entrepreneurs in launching their own businesses and start-ups.
- Springboard Enterprises – Springboard was designed by female business leaders, for female business leaders. This organization offers many helpful educational opportunities, such as angel and venture capital help, and its online learning center is essentially a virtual boot camp for entrepreneurial women in need of guidance. At Springboard, you can learn about equity, creating pitches, making a business plan and more.
- Women’s Chamber of Commerce – The U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce is one of the nation’s top resources for women entrepreneurs. It aims to empower women and give them access to the tools they need to be successful in business. Through the USWCC, women can get their business certified, plan their retirement, learn about business management or even consider government contract work. The USWCC also advocates for better working conditions and benefits for women across the country.
These are only a few of the many resources for women entrepreneurs that are currently available. Stay tuned for more great resources next week!
