More Women Are Angel Investing: Key Advice From 3 Industry Leaders

In a world teetering on the edge of economic and cultural upheaval, one interesting trend gives reason for hope. That is the number of women starting businesses in unprecedented numbers. In April, Forbes reported on findings from a Gusto report which showed that 49% of all new businesses in the U.S. in 2024 were female founded- a 69% increase since 2019 and the highest share recorded in the report’s five-year history. Yet a funny contradiction also exists in the parallel gap in venture capital allocations. Data shows that sole female founders received an average of just 2.4% of global VC funding over that same period, a figure that has not budged above a single percentage point in the industry’s history.

So if women are starting businesses at record rates, with little movement in venture dollars, the key question is who is writing them checks?

A potential answer lies in the rise of female angel investors. While total U.S. angel investment dropped from $22.3 billion in 2022 to $18.6 billion in 2023, the share of women in angel investing surged to 46.7%, representing a 39% increase in two years. It marks a remarkable shift in a space long dominated by men, signaling a new era where women are shifting norms and vying for a more inclusive and sustainable startup ecosystem.

>>Read the Forbes article in its entirety here.