In 2023, the Female Founders Forum found that just 4% of equity investment in the UK went to female-founded businesses. That figure reflects the systemic challenges female entrepreneurs in the UK (and beyond) face in accessing the capital they need to grow.
This disparity hasn’t changed over the last 10 years. Between 2013 and 2023, female founders received only 2% to 6% of the total investment deal value, while male founders received between 85% and 91%.
Despite the ongoing gender funding gap, women continue to build highly investable, socially impactful businesses. It’s time to spotlight the support available for female entrepreneurs in the UK and how it’s helping to reshape the narrative.
If you’re ready to take your venture to the next level, you’re in the right place. Explore the funding opportunities designed to close the gap and champion the next generation of trailblazing women in business.
Key Takeaways
- Female founders in the UK receive just 4% of equity funding, which has remained unchanged in the past decade.
- Programmes like Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Awards grant up to £50,000 plus tailored training to scalable female-led ventures.
- Diversity-focused investor networks like Angel Academe actively fund high-growth tech startups led by women in the UK.
Institutional and government funding
Here are the top three institutional and government funding schemes available to female entrepreneurs in the UK.
1. Women in Innovation Award
Part of Innovate UK, the Women in Innovation Award provides financial and educational support to female founders, equipping them with the skills they need to overcome barriers to growth.
Since its launch in 2016, Women in Innovation has:
- awarded over £11 million in funding
- supported over 200 winners
- increased funding applications by more than 100%
- welcomed over 10,500 female entrepreneurs to their community
Funding amount
Innovative female entrepreneurs in the UK who are committed to societal, environmental, and economic projects could receive grants of up to £50,000 each.
The award also includes bespoke business guidance and training in various high-growth sectors across the UK, such as health technology, agriculture, renewable energy, and education.
Who is it for?
The Women in Innovation Award is open to UK-based female founders, co-founders, senior decision-makers, and subcontractors. Eligible projects must last at least 12 months, and the business must:
- be at least 12 months old
- carry out its project in the UK
- be legally and contractually able to use the funding
2. Women TechEU
Women TechEU is a two-year EU-funded programme that aims to deliver innovation and gender balance to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, particularly in the technology sector.
If you’re a female entrepreneur in the UK running an early-stage deep tech startup, the Women TechEU funding scheme could be an opportunity for you.
Funding amount
Women TechEU opens four application rounds over two years, awarding around £62,000 in equity-free funding to 160 female-founded startups. Winners also receive personalised mentorship to help them grow their businesses.
Who is it for?
Women TechEU is open to early-stage deeptech SMEs across the EU (including the UK). Eligible businesses must:
- be founded or co-founded by a woman in a senior management position (CEO, CTO, etc.)
- have women holding at least 25% of company shares at the time of application
Author's Tip
Are you in the aerospace research sector? The Aerospace Technology Institute (AT) programme could be worth considering. It’s available to UK-registered micro-businesses, SMEs, and large organisations, and offers to fund up to 70% of project costs.
3. King’s Trust Enterprise Programme
One of the most popular startup schemes in the UK is the King’s Trust Enterprise programme, which specifically aims to help young founders start and grow their dream businesses.
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If you’ve already launched a business and need support with expansion, the programme also offers upskilling and networking opportunities for startups in their first three years.
Funding amount
The Enterprise programme offers grants between £500 and £2,500, plus post-launch advice.
Who is it for?
Entrepreneurs aged 18-30 can apply for the King’s Trust Enterprise programme. You must have the right to work in the UK and run (or plan to run) a UK-based business.
You must also own at least 50% of the business and have been trading for less than one year (if you’ve already launched).
This scheme is open to all entrepreneurs who meet the eligibility criteria, regardless of gender.
Global ventures and private investment
If you’re looking for funding for female entrepreneurs beyond the UK, here are our top picks from both private investors and international venture funds.
1. Female Founders Fund
The Female Founders Fund (FFF) is an early-stage US-based investment fund, which strives to disrupt the status quo of the gender funding gap by investing in category-defining female leaders.
Since 2014, FFF has been empowering female entrepreneurs with the core belief that “women will build the companies of tomorrow.“
Committed to supporting women worldwide, FFF has become the premier source of institutional funding for women in business.
Funding amount
FFF makes around 6-8 new investments per year, offering each female entrepreneur (roughly) £400,000 to £600,000. Funding is available across various sectors, including climate, fintech, and healthcare.
Who is it for?
While it’s US-based, female entrepreneurs in the UK are welcome and encouraged to apply for FFF funding.
This programme typically funds seed-stage organisations with at least one female founder. However, it encourages future entrepreneurs to contact and establish relationships with the panel before a formal fundraiser.
2. AnitaB.org PitcHER™ fund
AnitaB.org is a global funding programme supporting female and non-binary entrepreneurs in the technology industry. It runs a range of regular events to connect leaders and promote innovation, diversity, and inclusion in the tech sector.
In addition to funding opportunities, AnitaB.org partners with external organisations to deliver professional skills development, mentoring, and recognition to applicants, helping female business owners build impactful and rewarding careers in technology.
Funding amount
The primary funding scheme is PitcHER™, awarding up to approximately £37,000. It offers financial backing for global, early-stage, female-run tech startups.
Winners also receive a one-year mentorship programme, in which each entrepreneur is matched with a mentor who is aligned with their commercial goals.
Who is it for?
To qualify for the AnitaB.org PitcHER™ fund, you must:
- identify as a woman or non-binary
- be a female founder or part of the executive team
- have an early-stage startup with a minimum viable product (MVP)
- have existing funding of no more than approximately £1.6m
- provide a return-of-capital assessment, showing investors their potential reward (for-profit businesses only)
- provide a scale-of-impact assessment, showing how the funding will have an impact that aligns with your company’s mission (non-profit businesses only)
Author's Tip
This programme is US-based but is increasingly global in reach, making it a valuable option for those seeking funding for female entrepreneurs in the UK and beyond.
3. Astia
Astia is a US-based global venture firm that invests in high-growth, female-led companies. With over 25 years of experience in Silicon Valley, Astia is devoted to solving real-world problems female entrepreneurs face and promoting a sustainable and prosperous future for women in business.
Funding amount
Astia does not specify how much funding it offers. However, all applicants benefit from specialist business support from Astia’s accredited investor network, regardless of whether they are selected to receive funding.
Who is it for?
Qualifying startups must have at least one woman in a position of significant equity and influence.
Applicants undergo the Astia Expert Sift™ funding process, which evaluates their eligibility, market opportunity, operations, and strategies. In the final stage, applicants pitch their companies to the broader venture capital community.
Author's Tip
Astia is suitable for companies in the post-concept stage only. However, seed and pre-seed businesses should still apply and establish connections in their industry.
How female founders are building their own ecosystems
The Invest in Women Taskforce is a UK-based, government-backed initiative that tackles the gender funding gap in entrepreneurship. In partnership with the Women Backing Women Fund, it aims to make the UK the “best place in the world to be a female entrepreneur,” as described on the Taskforce site.
The Taskforce launched in March 2024, and funding is set to open later in 2025. It will seek to deliver £250 million of finance to female-powered businesses, making it one of the world’s largest investment pools.
But this initiative is about so much more than unlocking finance – it’s about building the spaces it flows from. The business landscape is overdue for systematic change, and with the combination of private investment and professional guidance, it wants to empower more women to start and build sustainable businesses that strengthen our economy.
As Hannah Bernard, OBE, Co-Chair of Invest in Women Taskforce, shares:
Female founders have always struggled to access their equal share of investment – but it is about time we stopped looking at the ‘why’ and started driving action to ensure history changes.
Beyond funding: mentorship, networks and accelerators
Access to capital and community go hand in hand and often unlock each other. Fortunately, the UK is home to a growing hub of organisations that champion women in business through mentorship and growth programmes. Here are a few you might find helpful:
Mentorship
AllBright, Female Founders Rise, and the Invest in Women Hub offer invaluable peer-to-peer support, expert-led workshops, and access to experienced business mentors. These platforms help female founders navigate the challenges of early-stage growth and build confidence as they scale.
Want to learn more about mentorship? Our guide to mentoring for women provides step-by-step advice.
Diversity-focused angel networks
If you’re looking for direct investment, explore diversity-focused angel networks like Angel Academe that help create fairer opportunities for female entrepreneurs. This is where female-focused investors back high-potential tech startups while prioritising fairness and inclusion in the tech startup sector.
Accelerators
Accelerators across the UK help female entrepreneurs access the tools they need to grow. Programmes like Barclays Eagle Labs and NatWest’s Entrepreneur Accelerator provide funding for female entrepreneurs in the UK as well as structured support and key business connections.
Start strong with the right support
Male founders in the UK receive over 180% more funding than their female counterparts. This is a stark and inequitable gap that leaves women entrepreneurs significantly underrepresented in the startup ecosystem.
We have a long way to go to achieve true equality in startup funding. More awareness, policy changes, and accessible funding for female entrepreneurs in the UK will help close the gap. Fortunately, numerous programmes like those highlighted in this guide are devoted to making this happen.
Need help taking the next step in your business? Whether you’re applying for funding or getting investor-ready, 1st Formations’ Blog provides the support to help your business set up and scale confidently. Alternatively, if you are ready to set up a company, the best place to start is the 1st Formations homepage.
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