Know Your Value

Women are building businesses at remarkable rates. Women entrepreneurs now account for nearly half – 49% – of all new businesses, a 69% increase from 2019 to 2024. But new research from HSBC, in partnership with Know Your Value, shows that even as women build with confidence, they face a unique set of financial challenges. 

Know Your Value and HSBC discuss those challenges at their third "Women and Wealth" event in New York City.  Women are on the rise. Check it out.

Investing in Women Entrepreneurs Isn't Charity

Stamford has long been a place willing to embrace new ideas and bring people together to make them work. I know firsthand how powerful that can be.

Nearly 30 years ago, Fran Pastore was searching for a different path. After years of commuting to New York City, she wanted more time with her two daughters and began exploring the idea of starting her own business. 

Discover how she went from a 'kitchen cabinet" group of people to co-founding the Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) in Connecticut.

Elevating Jewish Women Entrepreneurs Since 2010

The Jewish Women Entrepreneurs (JWE) is a nonprofit community that supports Jewish women entrepreneurs with education, networking, and resources to grow sustainable and values-driven businesses.

JWE has been empowering and elevating Jewish women entrepreneurs and executives since 2010.  They believe ambitious Jewish women can build extraordinary businesses and careers while staying true to their families and communities.

Learn, connect and lead: JWE.  And "Shanah Tovah U'Metukah."

Gloria Steinem: A Model for Women Entrepreneurs

Gloria Steinem was an entrepreneur – just not the Silicon Valley kind.

She didn’t raise venture capital or chase billion-dollar exits. She created something far more powerful. As an entrepreneur of social change, she built media, philanthropic institutions, and movements to disrupt a culture and economy that historically benefited men. Her work transformed media and the lives of generations of women.

“I became aware I could no longer just write about something. I also had to act on it,” Steinem said.

Her conviction to turn her frustration with a world that fought to hold women back from their careers is what made Steinem a model for women entrepreneurs.

An Overlooked Growth Engine: Experienced (Older) Women Entrepreneurs

The startup world loves a young disruptor, but experience may be one of the most valuable assets when building a business. Women entrepreneurs over 50, however, continue to face both gender and age bias that can affect how customers, investors, and business leaders perceive their expertise and potential.

Older women can bring industry knowledge, professional networks, management experience, and a clearer understanding of the problems they are trying to solve.  

Discover that youth is not the determining factor for success. 

Launch Lab for Women Entrepreneurs

The Women's Business Center at Canisius University is launching a new program – a 15-week boot camp course built to support both product- and service-based businesses – this fall designed to help women entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into reality.  Enrollment deadline is Sept. 29.

Entrepreneurship: Identifying a Gap in the Market

Founders of companies often start by identifying a gap in the market, but personal experience can be the inspiration for some of the strongest ideas. Laura M. Mackay (her Instagram), founder and CEO of Mina™ swimwear, spent years in competitive open-water swimming and had trouble finding swimwear that had both a luxury look and the functionality for serious movement in the water.  Hence, she combined all her talents to create a swimsuit that would allow women to move freely in the water while also being elegant. 

Mackay has joined other women entrepreneurs in building businesses that now account for 39.2% of all enterprises in the United States. Since 2019, women-owned businesses have increased by 69%. Last year, women launched 49% of all new businesses, according to the New Business Formation report from Gusto. These women-owned businesses employ 12.9 million workers and have an annual revenue of $3.3 trillion.

Entrepreneurship can have many different paths.  Choose yours and get going!

Tory Burch Says Women Are the Answer – And They're The Best Investment Possible

Fellows of the Tory Burch Foundation exceed $1 million in annual revenue at 10 times the national average for women-owned businesses – and together, they’ve added $470 million to the economy. 

“One of our goals is impact and scale,” Tory Burch tells Oprah Daily. “How do we reach as many women entrepreneurs as we possibly can? Because the work we’re doing is now proven.”

Women are launching businesses at record rates, yet funding remains scarce. Tory Burch says removing barriers could unlock billions in economic growth.

Founder startups founded or cofounded by women generate 78 cents in revenue for every dollar invested, compared with 31 cents for those started by men.

“If we can be advocates for women in business to show what an incredible investment they are, we would be doing a great job,” she [Burch] says. “Women are the answer – and they’re the best investment possible.”

Successful Women CEOs

In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of women entrepreneurs and CEOs, breaking through the glass ceiling and paving the way for others to follow. 

In this article, we celebrate the achievements of women in business – those who have shattered gender stereotypes in business – highlighting some of the most successful female entrepreneurs and CEOs.

One In Four Women Plan to Launch a New Business in 2026

According to QuickBooks, one in four women plan to launch a new business this year (2026). Another 58 percent say they would consider it. 

What's driving this momentum?  

The author of the article, More Women Are Starting Businesses Than Ever, but Many Are Doing It Alone, says "If I had to distill the most important things the data says women founders need to understand before they start, it would come down to the following principles."

Find out what those principles are. 

A Less-Explored Dimension of the Gender Gap in Entrepreneurship

New research suggests women entrepreneurs may have a harder time getting that second chance.

A working paper by researchers at the University of Delaware and Rutgers University found women-owned businesses were significantly more likely than comparable male-owned firms to liquidate through Chapter 7 bankruptcy rather than attempt to reorganize under Chapter 11. And when women-owned companies did pursue reorganization, they were less likely to emerge successfully from the process.

I've always felt that failure is not an option but that's one reason bankruptcy laws exist, not simply to close struggling businesses but to determine which companies can restructure, recover and keep operating.

The findings point to a less-explored dimension of the gender gap in entrepreneurship.

Black Women Are Starting Businesses in Droves

Black women are becoming entrepreneurs at a faster clip than any other demographic – and a chillier corporate world has a lot to do with it.

Take Erin Giddens.  She had long dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur—but not while she earned a steady paycheck in the corporate world.

Then came the layoff from her communications-associate role and a months long job search that went nowhere. By the time she decided to focus full time on her own video-production company last fall, she says, the move came down to this:

“Do I want to get back working in corporate, where they’re still going to have my career in their hands, or am I going to bet on myself?” she says. 

Guess what she did?  Read on about how she and many others like her are tired of the anxiety in corporate America and are creating their own destiny.

After all, that is why we started Escape From Corporate America July 7, 2004!  Check out that post. 

Happy 250th America: To Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness!

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney (7/4/26).  All rights reserved.

The history of The Declaration of Independence (transcription). Sign the declaration.

Whatever Your Pride Plans Are, enJOY!

To All Dads

"To all Dads, thank you for everything." – Laurel J. Delaney

America's Self-Made Women Billionaires

Rocket ships. AI chips. Chinese food. Clothing. Construction. Chatbots. America's self-made women billionaires are rewriting the rules of wealth. Forbes counts 43 of them now – women who built 10-figure fortunes from scratch – up from 38 just a year ago.

AI is accelerating everything. Record numbers. Soaring net worths. An all-time high in total wealth held by women who earned every dollar of it.

The signal is clear: more self-made women billionaires exist today, with more influence and more opportunity, than at any point in American history.

Access the list.

Flowers Explode

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different." – John Steinbeck

Crowdfunding for Women-Owned Companies

Although the number of women-owned businesses keeps growing, startups led by women continue to fall behind their male counterparts when it comes to raising venture funding.

Women-led startups consistently receive less than 2% of U.S. venture capital, per Crunchbase data. That’s despite delivering 2.5x better returns than male-founded startups, research shows.

What's the deal and what's the solution?  

Former PayPal executive Molly Huyck teamed up with Amie Konwinski, a U.S. Navy veteran and marketing executive, to found Aequitas Invest, an SEC-registered, funding portal.

Aequitas Invest is a space where women founders share their journeys – and investors learn how Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) works to expand access to capital for women-led startups.

Veterans Honorably Serve Our Country and Can Transition From Military Service to Entrepreneurship

Veterans honorably serve our country and often play a valuable economic role. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), veterans in the United States own over 1.6 million businesses and employ nearly 3.3 million Americans. For vets transitioning from military service to entrepreneurship, a wealth of resources exists, including free training, education, funding and networking opportunities to help ensure their new venture succeeds.

Here's a walk through the essential steps veterans can take when starting a business and resources that can help every step of the way.

Women Entrepreneurs Are Building What's Next

Growing a business takes vision, strategy, and the right support. If you are a woman business owner based in Hawaii (lucky you on numerous fronts), applications are open for WE by CPB Rising Tide, a 10-week program offering mentorship, education, and a community of support for women business owners in Hawaii.

Take your next step for growth.

Tips From Tory Burch For Women In Business

The History of Female Entrepreneurship Brought to You By Wikipedia

Sometimes you just have to take a look at what others are writing or saying about the history of female entrepreneurship.  In this case, Wikipedia gives us their perspective.

"The history of female entrepreneurship stretches back centuries, from Eliza Lucas Pinckney's plantation management in colonial South Carolina to Rebecca Lukens's 19th-century ironworks, Madame C. J. Walker's early 20th-century beauty empire, and later pioneers such as Estée Lauder and Martha Stewart. Across time, women entrepreneurs have often faced skepticism, discriminatory property and inheritance laws, and limited access to capital and networks."

Read more here – from defining female entrepreneurship, to breaking barriers, to its rise as a global phenomenon.

The Women Presidents Organization Will Host Its 2026 Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum (EEF) 5/7/26

The Women Presidents Organization (WPO), the premier global peer advisory community for women entrepreneurs leading multi-million-dollar businesses, will host its 2026 Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum (EEF) on May 7–8, 2026, at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida.

You won't want to miss it.  I'll [Laurel Delaney] be there and hope to see you, too!

Why 2026 is the Best Year for Women to Start Businesses

The landscape for women entrepreneurs in 2026 is fundamentally different from what it was two years ago. AI tools have democratized capabilities that once required entire teams. Funding gaps are narrowing—slowly, but measurably. The market rewards businesses built around authenticity, community and values-driven commerce, all areas where women founders can consistently outperform.

But back to why 2026 is the best year for women to start businesses. The data tells a compelling story. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, women-owned businesses now have access to targeted funding opportunities, federal contracting programs, and an expanding network of Women’s Business Centers that provide free training and counseling. These are all resources that significantly improve success rates in female-founded businesses.

Before diving into what you think will be a viable business, ask yourself these three questions:

1. What does success look like for you? 
2. What skills do you already have that the market will pay for? 
3. How much risk can you tolerate right now? 

Now, let's take a look at some profitable business ideas.

Funding Opportunities for Women Business Owners Curated by the WBDC Chicago

Below is a list of current Funding Opportunities curated by Women Business Development Center's (WBDC’s) Access to Capital team in Chicago.  If interested in any of these opportunities, please reach out to the organization via the links or emails provided.

Funding opportunities.

Several Fortune 500 Companies Are Run By Women

There are 14.5 million women-owned businesses in the United States. Firms run by female executives employ 12.9 million workers and generate $3.3 trillion annually.  Several Fortune 500 companies are run by women. No longer are female business leaders an anomaly. Although there are still more male-owned businesses, women entrepreneurs are catching up, owning more than 39 percent of businesses in the United States.

Here are the stories of women who became the heads of well-known and Fortune 500 companies.

As Trump Would Say, "It's Going To Be the Biggest Ever!" on the 'No Kings' Rallies Worldwide

©Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Organizers of today's (3/28/26) "No Kings" rallies across the country are predicting that the protests against the actions of President Donald Trump and his administration could add up to one of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history, with Minnesota (Bruce Springsteen is performing) taking center stage.

Organizers say more than 3,100 events have been registered in all 50 states, with more than 9 million people expected to participate.   Or as Trump would say, "Billions are showing up :-)!  It's going to be the biggest ever!"

Photo credit:  Laurel Delaney of Chicago's flyer for the No Kings rally 3/28/26.

Why Entrepreneurship Is Rising For Women

Women now own over 40% of all U.S. businesses, employing 12.6 million people and generating $2.8 trillion in revenue, according to a recent report by Wells Fargo. The number of women-owned businesses grew 12% from 2022 to 2025, nearly double the growth rate for businesses owned by men.

The trend is particularly strong among younger women and women of color, who are ambitiously launching new businesses. 

Read more here.

Cheers To All the Powerhouse Women Entrepreneurs Today

Cheers to all the powerhouse women entrepreneurs today – may your revenue streams run as bright as the Chicago River. 💚☘️ Had to share this incredible video I took today (3/14/26) of the Chicago River being dyed green.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2026! 

From Ireland to Texas: Four Women Entrepreneurs Redefining Success

The Irish-American connection is built off the backs of generations of trailblazers who, over centuries, have paved paths for strong bonds between our two nations.

Today, Irish women in Texas continue to embody tremendous drive, through leadership in business and innovation, contributions to the arts and academia, and service to their communities, they are forging modern links between Ireland and Texas.

Meet some of the Irish women who are making their mark in the Lone Star state.

Women Are Redefining Freedom, Entrepreneurship, and Immigrant Storytelling

For Saloua Ibaline, entrepreneurship has always meant more than building a business – it’s been a way to reclaim agency, nurture community, and expand what’s possible. 

At 20, she immigrated to New York City with little more than determination and soon transformed her experience into a book amplifying the voices of immigrant women entrepreneurs across the U.S., celebrating their resilience, ingenuity, and community‑driven leadership.

After spending years living and working remotely in more than 30 countries, Saloua now blends storytelling, education, and strategy to help others craft sustainable, location‑independent lives grounded in freedom, purpose, and impact.

Saloua is redefining freedom, entrepreneurship, and immigrant storytelling.

Owning Your Success At Work Shouldn't Be Mistaken for Being Aggressive (TEDx)

Women Entrepreneurs Are a Powerful Driver of Job Creation and Economic Growth

Women entrepreneurs are a powerful yet underused driver of job creation and economic growth. Removing barriers to their success could significantly expand employment, especially for women.

To unlock this potential, growth-oriented women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) – the “missing middle” – must receive stronger support. These firms face major financing gaps, being too large for micro loans but often viewed as too small or risky for banks and investors.

Read more about what the World Bank has set as a target for reaching more women and women-led businesses by 2030.

Publicly Traded Companies Run by Women Entrepreneurs

Women are making powerful strides in all industries and sectors – from sports and entertainment, to international judiciary systems – despite living and working in a world rife with “alarming” bias against them. 

However, in the realm of publicly traded companies, women leaders remain scant. Just over 40 companies on the S&P 500 had women CEOs – a paltry 8%.

The growth is slow.

While there are thousands of publicly traded companies worldwide, The Story Exchange only found 44 thus far that had women involved from the very beginning.

Giving Back to Help Other Women Entrepreneurs

Through a collaboration, Melissa Clark, Founder of the She Shift, and Tiffany Harris, owner and founder of Whip My Butta Organics, came together to launch an initiative to support other female-owned businesses.

With every purchase, 10% will be donated to Live Limitless Refuge Center, a Luxury Women's Shelter in Troy, NY, and you can choose to purchase a kit that will be donated to the women served at the shelter. Every purchased donation kit will be delivered monthly to the shelter.

The money will go towards purchasing more feminine products and other necessary items for women who come through the doors.

Women Entrepreneurs Who Make Cold-Weather Product Brands

Jaye Genung of Gobi Heat, founded her company to address the lack of stylish, functional heated apparel, providing jackets, vests, and gear for cold-weather conditions.

Julie Vavrichek of WELLinsulated, created a line of chic, insulated bags designed to protect skincare, electronics, and medication from freezing temperatures. 

Jaye and Julie have created niche products specifically for cold-weather challenges, addressing both comfort and protection of goods.

Sounds like the perfect time to explore these products while the bitter cold blankets USA!

Female Entrepreneurs: What Book Changed Your Life?

Lindsay Tigar asked a group of female entrepreneurs to share the book that changed their perspective: professionally, personally or both. These aren’t just titles they admired. They’re books that cracked something open, offered clarity, or gave permission to think differently.

Here, female entrepreneurs share their must-reads for you and for me.  Oh, and my favorite?  Anything by Jim Collins, the late Clayton Christensen or Peter Drucker.

This Woman Entrepreneur Turned Grass Into Bonnets

Image created by ChatGPT prompt: Sophia Woodhouse's 1819 straw hat

Going back in time, Sophia Woodhouse was born in Wethersfield in 1799. She and her family lived on Main Street in town, and she would go to the meadows to pick grass. But what she did with the grass was groundbreaking.

“She went and picked the grass and discovered a method of turning it into beautiful bonnets,” said Gillie Johnson, Wethersfield Historical Society. “And in 1819 she entered the Hartford Agricultural Society’s Cattle Show and Fair and displayed a bonnet that dazzled people and what was popular at the time were Leghorn bonnets from Italy, and people said her bonnet was just as good if not better than those bonnets.”

Sophia Woodhouse turned her bonnet making into a business, creating a cottage industry. She is known today as one of the first female entrepreneurs of the greater Hartford, Connecticut area, even earning a patent for her design in 1821.

Two first ladies, Dolley Madison and Louisa Adams, wore her design. President John Quincy Adams called the bonnets “an extraordinary specimen of American manufacturing.”

Women Entrepreneurs: Engine of Growth, Employment and Exports

Data from the Ministry of micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India suggests that women-owned enterprises have been growing, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of all own-account enterprises. While 20 per cent is still a small percentage, it could also be construed as the effects of the women-centric policies finally taking off.  There is little doubt that MSMEs are heralded as the backbone of the economy in India, yet, within this engine of growth lies there remains the untapped potential of the woman entrepreneur. 

Despite these green shoots, the path for a woman entrepreneur or employee in the MSME sector is less of a ladder and more of a labyrinth. The challenges are not merely operational but are also, unfortunately, deeply entrenched in the social fabric. One of the most glaring issues remains the lack of asset ownership.

Women entrepreneurs, no matter where they are based continue to shoulder the responsibility of propelling economic growth, employment, and exports.

Personal note from Laurel – Happy 2026!  Make it a standout year for you.  Also, feel free to attend a wegginar I am presenting on 1/7 at 11:00 AM CT on global trade trends.  It's free of charge but you must register to get the sign-in link.  Get a leg up for your business in 2026.