Each has raised many millions of pounds in investment, reaching into the billions at the top end.
According to Beauhurst’s latest deal data, businesses founded by female entrepreneurs raised 24% of equity rounds in the UK private market last year (double the proportion seen in 2011) but just 15p in every £1 deployed.
This is despite the fact that 26% of high-growth UK companies have at least one female founder. So whilst a disproportionately small number of businesses were founded by women, an even smaller proportion go on to secure equity finance. In fact, for all-female founding teams, this figure is closer to 1p in every £1.
Beauhurst currently tracks 6,368 high-growth UK companies that were founded by at least one female entrepreneur, around half of which (3,407) have raised equity investment. That’s £12.1b secured in funding since 2011—by 4,222 female founders or co-founders.
Diversity in business and tech is undeniably important year-round but, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Beauhurst narrowed down that list of successful businesswomen to create their annual ranking of the UK’s top 50 female entrepreneurs.
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