Despite important progress in global startup ecosystems, gender disparities in venture capital (VC) investment remain stark, according to the latest PitchBook Female Founders Dashboard. This comprehensive data tool tracks investment activity over time and reveals a persistent gap in venture funding going to women-led companies.
Funding Growth, but Uneven Progress
In 2024, startups founded exclusively by women raised tens of billions of dollars, with total capital secured growing year-on-year. However, the share of total VC dollars flowing to female-founded businesses remains low relative to the broader market. Overall, female-only teams have historically received between about 1.7% and 3.3% of total venture capital in the United States — a figure that has shown only modest movement over the past decade.
Startups with mixed-gender founding teams have fared better, securing a larger portion of VC dollars and deal opportunities. This reflects a broader pattern seen globally: companies with diverse leadership often attract more investor interest and demonstrate strong performance metrics, underscoring the business case for inclusion.
Deal Activity and Market Trends
Across the US venture landscape, deal counts involving female founders have fluctuated, with some declines in recent years even as total funding amounts rose. This suggests that while large checks into later-stage companies are supporting some women-led businesses, earlier-stage opportunities may be narrowing — a trend that could hamper long-term ecosystem growth if not addressed.
A closer look shows that female-led startups are raising significant sums in absolute terms, but their proportion of overall capital remains far below parity. For example, women-led companies participated in nearly 20% of total VC deal value in 2024, down slightly from the previous year, illustrating the volatility of progress even in a growth environment.
Why This Matters for Economic Growth
The PitchBook dashboard reinforces a critical insight: persistent funding gaps are not just an equity issue — they represent a missed opportunity for broader economic dynamism. Evidence suggests that diverse leadership correlates with strong business outcomes, from faster exits to efficient capital use, yet access to growth capital remains uneven.
Addressing these gaps isn’t merely about fairness — it is about unlocking value. When women-led startups can secure capital and scale effectively, they contribute to job creation, innovation and resilient economic systems. Investing in more inclusive capital flows therefore aligns with both social impact goals and sound economic strategy.