Entrepreneurship Policy Digest, Kauffman Foundation, 20 July 2015

This digest discusses the unique barriers that women entrepreneurs face, particularly availability of mentors, implicit biases against women entrepreneurs, and the additional challenges women face in maintaining work-life balance.

Five policy recommendations are proposed to “pave the way” for entrepreneurial success for women: (1) develop and report metrics for entrepreneurship programs and initiatives; (2) increase the number of women in entrepreneurship programs; (3) increase small business funding to women-owned businesses; (4) celebrate successful women entrepreneurs; and (5) decrease the risk of becoming an entrepreneur through policy initiatives targeting the particular pressures and risks facing women.