{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.shaheen.senate.gov//news/press/shaheen-releases-report-on-womens-entrepreneurship", "Shaheen Releases Report on Women\u2019s Entrepreneurship", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Jeanne Shaheen", "S001181", "www.shaheen.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Shaheen Releases Report on Women\u2019s Entrepreneurship \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tDecember 13, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWomen are creating businesses five times faster than the national average; more than 11 million women-owned businesses represent 39 percent of all U.S. firms\u00a0\r\nWomen-owned businesses grow slower and earn less revenue than male-owned firms\u00a0\r\nWomen entrepreneurs have fewer role models, face gender pay gap and unequal access to startup funding\r\nOriginal interviews with 14 women entrepreneurs across technology, business and non-profit sectors\r\n(Washington, DC) \u2013 Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lead Democrat on the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, today released a new report on the state of women\u2019s entrepreneurship in the United States.\u00a0\r\n\u201cTackling the Gender Gap: What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Thrive\u201d examines the intersecting financial, cultural and structural obstacles facing women entrepreneurs in 2017 and includes original interviews with a diverse group of 14 women CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs.\r\nWomen are the future of entrepreneurship, creating new businesses at a rate five times faster than the national average.\u00a0 Thirty years ago, there were approximately 4 million women-owned businesses in the United States.\u00a0 Today, there are more than 11 million women-owned businesses \u2013 representing 39 percent of all firms.\u00a0 However, women-owned businesses grow at a slower rate and earn less revenue than male-owned firms.\u00a0\r\nShaheen said: \u201cWomen are at the center of the American economy.\u00a0 They are creating new businesses, disrupting established industries and developing innovative products at a record pace.\u00a0 Despite the progress, women entrepreneurs face persistent institutional barriers that make achieving financial parity with male entrepreneurs a serious challenge with lasting consequences.\u201d\u00a0\r\nAmong the factors that hold women entrepreneurs back, the report found:\r\n \r\nFew role models and a lack of mentors for women entrepreneurs contributes to the perception that entrepreneurship is a male-only endeavor;\u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\nA gender pay gap that is a lifelong hurdle for women entrepreneurs with far-reaching career and earning implications;\r\n \r\n \r\nUnequal access to startup funding and financing streams that leave women with fewer credit options and a small portion of venture capital.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cUnderstanding and addressing the challenges facing women entrepreneurs can produce economic growth for the country and unleash the potential of women-led businesses,\u201d Shaheen added.\u00a0 \u201cI hope this report advances the national conversation around gender and helps more women entrepreneurs succeed.\u201d\r\n\u201cTackling the Gender Gap: What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Thrive\u201d features new interviews with female entrepreneurs who share their business journey and how they overcame adversity on the way to building successful companies, including:\r\nJoan Fallon, Curemark\r\nElizabeth Gore, Dell Technologies\r\nFelena Hanson, Hera Hub\r\nSarah Kauss, S\u2019well\r\nAshley Kosharek, AMK Cleaning Services\r\nKatherine Krug, BetterBack\r\nLisa Price, Carol\u2019s Daughter\r\nCarolyn Rodz, Alice\r\nReshma Saujani, Girls Who Code\r\nKrystal Shaw, Random Rompers\r\nCheryl Snead, Banneker Industries\r\nSue Sylvester, Absolute Resource Associates\r\nSusan Tynan, Framebridge\r\nAnn-Erica Whitemarsh, Rascal Rodeo\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe report highlights a variety of initiatives to nurture entrepreneurship among women, as well as public and private sector recommendations to reduce gender bias and support the growth of women-led businesses.\u00a0\r\nThe Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship report, \u201cTackling the Gender Gap: What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Thrive\u201d is available HERE.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": 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