Closing the Funding Gap for Women Entrepreneurs with Anne Ravanona Ep 241 - The Global Discussion

The Global Discussion

Host Simon Hodgkins catches up with Anne Ravanona, CEO and Founder of Global Invest Her, to discuss her groundbreaking work in tackling one of the world's most persistent inequalities—the funding gap for women entrepreneurs. Anne's passion for empowering women entrepreneurs is palpable. With a bold mission to fund one million women entrepreneurs by 2030, she is spearheading a global movement to address the systemic biases and barriers that have kept women underfunded, underestimated, and overlooked in the business world. A Problem Too Big to Ignore Anne's advocacy is driven by shocking statistics. "Only 2% of venture capital worldwide goes to women-owned businesses, and less than 1% of corporate and government procurement budgets are allocated to them," she explained. Moreover, the global credit gap between male and female entrepreneurs, which stood at $300 billion in 2013, has now ballooned to $1.7 trillion.

Anne doesn't mince words: "The world is missing out on innovation, social impact, and $28 trillion in global economic growth by failing to fund women entrepreneurs at the same level as men. This is not just a women's issue—it's a global opportunity." The Three Pillars of Change Anne's approach to addressing this inequality is as multifaceted as the problem itself. She describes her strategy as a "three-legged stool" that balances practical solutions, policy shaping, and advocacy. 1. Practical Solutions Through Global Invest Her Anne's platform, Global Invest Her, offers tools to demystify the funding process, boost confidence, and connect women entrepreneurs with funders. Two flagship initiatives are gaining traction: The Deal Flow Directory: A curated platform for investors to discover high-potential, women-led ventures. Buy From Her Marketplace: A global directory and marketplace where consumers, corporations, and governments can consciously choose to support women-owned businesses. 2. Shaping Policy for Systemic Change Anne is a prominent voice in policy-making circles, serving on the EU delegation of the W20, an official G20 engagement group. Her team crafts actionable recommendations for governments, focusing on tax incentives, access to collateral, and entrepreneurial education. "We can't solve this overnight," she says, "but systemic change starts with informed policies." 3. Advocacy and Mind-Shifting Through public speaking engagements, her podcast (Invest Her), and collaborations with global organizations, Anne amplifies the stories of women entrepreneurs and challenges societal biases. Her TEDx talk and appearances at the United Nations, European Parliament, and other global stages have established her as a leading voice in the fight for gender equality in entrepreneurship. A Movement Built on Community Anne emphasized the importance of collective action. "We can't do this alone," she said. "Global Invest Her is about connecting the dots—bringing together founders, funders, and policy-makers to drive real change."

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