What does it mean to be a female founder, and why should female founders be supported?
These were just some of the question our co-founder, Ines Würth, spoke about today at the Female Founders Financing Forum in Stuttgart.
Ines shed light on the challenges faced by women in STEM and startups, highlighting the need for greater diversity and inclusion.
Organised by Startup BW, the Female Founders Financing Forum event bought together female founders from across the region. Ines was joined during the “startup talk” session by Maike Lambarth, CEO of Cyclize and Sabrina Hellstern, CEO of Hellstern medical.
[Only] 11% of total venture capital deployed in Europe in 2023 went to female (co-)founded startups, a 1% increase compared to 2022, despite a challenging fundraising climate.
As a female founder, Ines Würth’s journey exemplifies resilience and determination in a male-dominated industry. Her talk emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for women in entrepreneurship and technology sectors.
At enerlace, we believe in the power of diversity to drive innovation and success. Encouraging more women to pursue careers in STEM and startups is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage for businesses. The wind energy sector is one of many sectors where women are underrepresented and perceive gender-related barriers. Shouldn’t we all be making efforts to get as many people as possible, working on the transition to green energy?
Women make up 23% of the global wind energy workforce. 65% of women perceive gender-related barriers.
Ines’ message serves as a call to action for all of us to break down barriers and foster inclusive environments. By empowering women in these fields, we can unlock untapped talent and create a brighter future for everyone involved.
Now it’s over to you!
Get help
Check out these resources for female founders:
- Resources for female founders in Germany (only available in german).
- Access German Government funding for female founders through the EXIST program.
- The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program to advance the role of women as agents of change in society and promote best practices within the wind industry.
There are also lots of female-first or female-only accelerators and incubators, as well as funding from Business Angel networks or Venture Capital firms that prioritise working with female founders.
Provide support
Change doesn’t just happen. It needs help from everyone. You can help:
- Make your business a better place for women. Check out the suggestions in IRENA (2020), Wind Energy: A Gender Perspective. IRENA, Abu Dhabi., section 2.3
- Be an ally or mentor to young women considering a STEM career, for example through something like “Try Science” or “Girls Day“.
- Mentor women just getting started in their career, e.g. as a “Women in Wind Mentor“.