Overview

• Nearly one third of the 500 female entrepreneurs surveyed reported that investors fail to take them seriously, according to AXA UK’s Women in Business Report.
• Twenty-one percent of respondents said succeeding in business is tougher for women than for men, with 22 percent of those pointing to limited access to funding and investment.
• More than half of the small-business owners identified gender bias and stereotyping as significant obstacles; 42 percent reported being perceived as ‘emotional’ rather than ‘rational.’
• Entrepreneurship delivers more flexibility for nearly half of respondents, allowing greater family time; many also view their ventures as setting a positive role model for their children.
• AXA UK’s Startup Angel competition will award two founders top prizes of £25,000 each; mentoring from successful SME owners will also be provided as part of enhanced support following the report’s release.