Hey Builder,

Let’s talk about something nobody wants to hear: the funding stats for women entrepreneurs in 2025 are, frankly, terrible.

Companies founded solely by women received just 1% of VC funding in 2024. One percent. That’s not a typo. Even companies with at least one female founder only captured 2.8% of total venture capital in Europe and the US.

But here’s the plot twist: I don’t think this is the crisis everyone says it is. In fact, it might be the best thing that ever happened to us.

The Question Nobody’s Asking

We’re so focused on fighting for a seat at the VC table that we’ve stopped asking: do we actually want to be there?

The data is telling a story most people are missing. Bootstrapped startups have a 60% success rate compared to 35% for VC-backed companies. Let me say that again: bootstrapped companies are nearly twice as likely to succeed.

And get this—only 30% of VC-backed startups ever become profitable. That means 70% of companies that take venture money never actually make money. They’re building for exits, not for sustainability. They’re chasing valuations, not customers.

Meanwhile, women-led bootstrapped companies are quietly building profitable businesses on their own terms. No pitch decks. No endless funding rounds. No pressure to 10x in 18 months or die trying.

What the Smart Money Is Doing

Here’s what I’ve been noticing: the most successful women entrepreneurs aren’t trying to break into the old boys’ club anymore. They’re building something entirely different.

Take the European data. Female founders there are outperforming at crucial growth stages—20% of seed-stage companies reaching Series A versus 18.9% for the broader market. How? They’re focused on capital efficiency from day one.

They’re also 2.2x more likely to bootstrap for longer periods. Some see this as a limitation. I see it as strategic patience. Because while VC-backed founders are burning through millions trying to prove hockey-stick growth, bootstrapped founders are learning what actually matters: finding product-market fit, building real relationships with customers, and creating sustainable business models.

The women I’m watching closely aren’t asking “how do I get funded?” They’re asking “how do I get profitable?” That’s a fundamentally different game with fundamentally different rules.

The Real Cost of “Free” Money

Let’s be honest about what venture capital actually costs.

Sure, you get cash upfront. But you also get: pressure to scale faster than makes sense, board members second-guessing your decisions, dilution that leaves you owning less than 20% of the company you built, and a ticking clock toward an exit you might not want.

The average VC-backed founder retains maybe 20% equity after multiple funding rounds. A bootstrapped founder? Around 80%. That means you need 4x less success to achieve the same personal outcome.

And here’s the kicker: women-led companies already outperform on the metrics that actually matter. Lower burn rates ($270k/month versus the US average), better capital efficiency, and stronger focus on profitability. These aren’t weaknesses—they’re competitive advantages in a bootstrap race.

What to Do With This

If you’re building something right now, consider this: what if the funding “gap” is actually protecting you from a path that statistically doesn’t work?

What if instead of fighting to get 1% of VC dollars, you focused on capturing 100% of your ideal customers’ attention?

What if you built slower but smarter, leaner but stronger, smaller but more profitable?

The women making waves in 2025 aren’t waiting for permission or funding. They’re starting with grants, leveraging their existing skills, building revenue from day one, and proving that you don’t need venture capital to build something valuable.

You just need something worth building—and the guts to own every step of the journey.

P.S. Have you ever considered taking VC funding? What made you say yes or no? Your answer might shift someone else’s perspective, so hit reply and share your story.