Principle - Inclusive Support and Finance
- Increasing the visibility, accessibility and equity of the support programmes and financing schemes in the entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Improving financial and investment literacy among nascent entrepreneurs
Wider Context
Documents & Articles
Cotton (2019) Why do women find it harder than men to access funding?
In this debate, Business Leader asked four highly respected thought-leaders in the investor space: Why do women find it harder to access funding?
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EIB (2017). Protect, Impact, Invest: The EIB Group Strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment
The document aims at embedding gender equality and, in particular, women’s economic empowerment in the Group’s activities, covering EIB lending, blending and advisory activity both inside and outside the European Union.
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Tischendorf (2021) Narrowing the funding gap for female entrepreneurs
How finance is allocated can have transformative effects on women, especially across the developing world. The World Bank estimates that the gender finance difference is $1.7tn.
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Leitch et al. (2018) Women entrepreneurs’ financing revisited: taking stock and looking forward
New perspectives on women entrepreneurs and finance (Special Issue).
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Burns (2021) Financial Literacy Is Crucial For Female Entrepreneurs
The article presents some facts of lower earnings of women compared to men and delivers advice of a successful women entrepreneur Nicola Jackson.
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EIB (2019) Access to Finance for Female Entrepreneurs: creating opportunity
European Investment Bank (EIB) and guests will take a look at the EU environment for female entrepreneurship, assessing the challenges and vast range of opportunities in today’s economy. The article offer links to other documents and video on financial support for empowerment of women entrepreneurs.
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OECD (2017) Do women have equal access to finance for their business?
Women are less likely than men to report that they can access the financing needed to start a business, graph and short analysis with link to the whole report on Entrepreneurship.
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Skonieczna & Castellano (2020) Gender Smart Financing. Investing In and With Women: Opportunities for Europe
This study examines the multiple reasons behind the gender investment gap, with a specific focus on the lack of female investors. It also discusses how InvestEU could stimulate gender-smart financing.
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Workshops / Courses / Online tools / Quizzes
Courses: TRUIC Startup savant (2022) 6 Free Digital Courses for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs
Compiled list of free online business courses, specifically designed for women entrepreneurs. These online business courses for entrepreneurs offer everything from getting you started and setting up a strong foundation, to pitching financiers and building support systems.
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Courses: Female Founder Space: Get Inspired, Build & Grow a Successful Business you deserve
Global supportive online academy and community for female entrepreneurs. They offer paid online courses and guidance in idea development and realization.
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Courses: The Fit project (2022) Financial literacy and new business models to boost women entrepreneurship possibilities
The FIT’s overall aim is to prepare and test an improved program, which is specifically designed to support women entrepreneurs in starting or reshaping their business, using circular economy business models with solid financial structure. Outputs include syllabus, Online course and thematic guidebook.
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Networks & Initiatives
EBRD: Finance and advice for women in business
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development goes out of our way to help women entrepreneurs succeed and be more engaged in business. They provide access to finance through credit lines to local banks dedicated to women-led SMEs, and business advice, training and support for women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses.
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European Commission: Women entrepreneurs
The Commission supports several tools, networks and initiatives providing opportunities specifically geared toward women entrepreneurs.
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Videos
WEConnect International (2020) The Business Case for Supplier Diversity & Inclusion
This video provides a high-level overview of global Supplier Diversity & Inclusion and how corporations and governments can benefit economically with inclusive sourcing efforts.
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Karia (2021) How EIC can foster inclusion and gender equality in tech
European Innovation Council efforts in addressing gender diversity, it provides statistical data on current gender distribution of active investors.
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TED (2019). The real reason female entrepreneurs get less funding | Dana Kanze
Women own 39 percent of all businesses in the US, but female entrepreneurs get only two percent of venture funding. What's causing this gap? Whether you're starting a new business or just having a conversation, learn how to spot the kinds of questions you're being asked -- and how to respond more effectively.
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Investopedia (2019) Sallie Krawcheck: Investopedia Profile
Should gender play a role in investing? Krawcheck is now the founder and CEO of Ellevest, a digital investment platform designed to support a woman's perspective on finance.
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Worldbank (2019) Unleashing the Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Through Finance and Markets
In most countries, women face legal, financial, and market barriers that stifle their entrepreneurial success. The event highlights innovative partnerships such as the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) and the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF), and will feature rising women entrepreneurs from emerging markets.
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Local Context
The Netherlands
Platform: Startup Map Amsterdam Female-founded startups & scaleups
Overview/article on the collection of female founded startups and scaleups in Amsterdam.
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Article: Maternity allowance for self-employed professionals (ZEZ)
Online webpage describing maternity leave financial policies in the Netherlands.
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Platform: Startup Map Amsterdam Region
Infographic on the when, how and where to look for impact capital.
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Article: Residence permit for foreign startups
The Dutch startup visa is a residence permit for people from outside the European Union (EU), who are looking to start an innovative business.
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Tool: Finance tool van social enterprise
An overview of funding options for social entrepreneurs.
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Initiative: SheCredit
Credit options for Dutch female entrepreneurs (Dutch website).
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Turkey
Article: Women's Entrepreneurship in Turkey: Recent Patterns and Practices
This article sets out to understand the recent patterns and practices of women’s entrepreneurship in Turkey. By investigating its demographics, the aim is to examine whether existing entrepreneurship opportunities and support mechanisms enhance women’s skills and potential.
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Trainings: Training & Networking Events (Phase II)
This is the section of all the training & networking activities under the Turkey in Horizon 2020 (now Horizon Europe) Phase II Technical Assistance Project (2019-2022). Links offer description and recorded events on different topics (Risk Financing, Writing a Project etc.)
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Training: KOSGEB / Online entrepreneurship training and support programs
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Turkey.offers different kinds of trainings for entrepreneurs.
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Network: The Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGIDER)
A non-governmental organization aimed at strengthening women entrepreneurs with 420 members representing 8% of the Turkish economy. KAGIDER’s goal is to strengthen women not only economically but also socially and politically.
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Platform: Turkish Start-up Ecosystem Intelligence
Discover all start-up and venture capital activity and get all insights and reports about the market beyond the border. Raise capital, browse investors, deals, inform investors.
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Ireland
Article: How female entrepreneurs can access resources and financial support to get ahead in business
The blog covers: barriers women face in entrepreneurship, access to funding, growing networking opportunities, resources and financial support, and untapped potential.
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Article: Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Ireland
Report on Policy Assessments of Inclusive Entrepreneurship Policies and Programmes.
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Training: AIB Women in Enterprise Programme
A unique education and mentoring programme specifically designed and delivered by The Entrepreneurs Academy.
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Croatia
Article: Closing the Finance Gap by Nudging: Impact Assessment of Public Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
The paper evaluates the effect of small business development gender-specific matching grants which a positive effect on firm survival, as well as positive effects on obtaining bank loans, turnover, value added, employment, and total factor productivity. The grants increase the chance of young women entrepreneurs’ firm survival and are even more effective for firms owned by mature women.
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Initiative: Entrepreneurship of young people, women and beginners
Overview of the loans for underrepresented and vulnerable categories of entrepreneurs (youth, women, beginners).
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Article: Women in the world of entrepreneurship
Overview of the women entrepreneurship with some statistics and encouraging video for women entrepreneurs.
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Initiative: Loans for women entrepreneurs
Tailor-made loan solutions for women entrepreneurs with reduced interest rates.
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Network: Krug (Circle) Croatian businesswomen association
The circle is the Association of Croatian Business Women who work to improve the position of business women in society, encouraging women's entrepreneurship, business culture and business ethics. The activities: education, networking, promotion of the achievements of business women, acting towards public organizations and institutions, and connecting with related associations in the country and abroad.
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Network: Women in Adria
Informing, inspiring and connecting business women.
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