The Women's Entrepreneurship Boom

Between early 2025 and mid-2026, 1.3 million women left the U.S. W-2 workforce, and Black women were hit hardest.

The rise in female entrepreneurship is often a survival response to workplaces that have become untenable, not a sign of opportunity. 

Census data shows Black women business owners earn far less than white women in states such as Mississippi, Texas, and Illinois. 

Wells Fargo research also finds that women-owned businesses have taken a shrinking share of U.S. revenue over three years. Leaving employment costs women their financial security and safety nets. Experts call this exodus an organizational crisis and a market failure. 

The truth is that millions of women are not happily leaping into entrepreneurship; they are hanging up a shingle because the traditional workforce has become untenable. 

Hence the boom in women's entrepreneurship.

Laid Off? Your Next Boss Could Be You

When Brandy Morton was laid off from her role as head of marketing at a global company last year, her first instinct was to panic. 

"I have to get another full-time job," she remembered thinking before she started doing the math.

A friend in public relations asked her a simple question: With 20 years of marketing experience, why not find a client instead of a boss?

She founded her own firm, Brandy Morton Marketing, after calculating that three fractional clients at her rate would nearly double her old salary, with full control over her schedule. Now, Morton serves as fractional chief marketing officer for five clients and six brands.

She turned down a full-time counteroffer to keep it that way.

Read the entire article:  "Why Experienced Women Are Trading the C-Suite For Their Own Terms."

Morton does not think her exit from corporate America as rejecting ambition. She has plenty to offer but wants to pursue her goals on her own terms by having more control over how she spends her time and with whom.

Celebrating Achievements of Connecticut's Women Entrepreneurs

More than 600 people helped the Connecticut Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) honor eight outstanding women as part of its the  2026 Women Rising Gala and Awards Celebration at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich on October 23, 2026.

The annual event, which had the largest turnout in its history, brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, elected officials, and community partners to celebrate the achievements of Connecticut’s women entrepreneurs and recognize those helping them succeed. 

“The overwhelming support we saw at this year’s celebration sends a powerful message: when we invest in women-owned businesses, we invest in stronger communities, new opportunities, and a more prosperous future for our entire state,” said Fran Pastore, founder and CEO of WBDC. 

The celebration underscored WBDC’s continued impact across Connecticut and the collective commitment of its supporters to creating opportunities for women to launch, strengthen, and grow their businesses.

Women of Color are the Most Founded Demographic But the Least Funded (Interview)

Arian Simone built the "Fearless Fund," a venture capital fund intended to support women of color. Simone details her legal battle to keep the fund alive and shares more about her book "Fearless Freedom: A Manifesto for Unlocking Wealth and Equality for All."

Simone says, "Women of color are the most founded demographic but the least funded."

Listen to the interview. 

Why Timely Economic Information Matters For Women Entrepreneurs

The U.S. economy has changed considerably over the past three years, but some of the most comprehensive statistics about women-owned businesses still describe conditions in 2023.  That disconnect presents a challenge for policymakers, financial institutions and organizations making decisions about the needs of women entrepreneurs in 2026. 

Read why timely economic information matters for women entrepreneurs.

National Women's Small Business Month: Eco-Friendly Ways to Support Them

October is National Women's Small Business Month, a time to recognize women entrepreneurs and support women-owned businesses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration says women-owned businesses continue to be a major force in the U.S. economy and encourages communities to celebrate and support them throughout October. 

Here are 13 eco-friendly ways to celebrate Women's Small Business Month, based on information from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other sustainability organizations.

How to Think About and Design Systems That Work for Women Entrepreneurs

It’s time to invest in women, who hold up half the sky.

Here's a story that sounds familiar:  A single mother walks into a bank hoping to get a loan for the small business she wants to start as a caregiver. Her business will add value to her community, but she doesn’t have enough collateral to secure the loan. The projected returns in her business plan also don’t meet the bank’s requirements. She walks out without the financing she needs.

This is a pervasive system that is not designed for women entrepreneurs.  

The funding gap is by no means a measure of women’s entrepreneurial potential. Rather, it often shines light on the structural barriers they face when launching and growing a business.

By designing systems that work for women entrepreneurs, we can enable them to thrive, and businesses, communities, and economies can realize the significant returns that come from investing in them.