Invest in Women Daily
Every year, International Women’s Day comes and goes with bold statements and marketing campaigns celebrating women, yet without measurable impact. With the political landscape what it is, we can’t afford to treat IWD as just another moment of recognition. Here’s the truth: women are one of the greatest untapped investments in the world today. They consistently outperform, drive innovation, and shape markets—yet they remain underfunded and undervalued.
That’s why this year, The Female Quotient is turning IWD into an actionable movement: Invest in Women Daily.
It’s smart business. The best ideas deserve funding, and the marketplace should reflect the true breadth of talent and opportunity. Progress doesn’t happen in a day—it happens where we put our money, who we fund, and the businesses we choose to support every single day of the year.
The data proves why investment matters. According to BCG, women-led startups generate more than twice the revenue per dollar invested. According to McKinsey, companies with diverse leadership teams are more likely to outperform competitors. McKinsey also predicts if women had equal access to capital, global GDP could rise by $5 trillion. Women drive 70-80% of all consumer purchasing decisions—meaning they are the market. Yet, despite this, women receive just 2% of venture capital funding and less than 1% of corporate procurement dollars. That’s not a meritocracy—it’s a market failure. It’s time to fund the best talent, period. And that means ensuring investment decisions reflect the marketplace and the reality of consumer influence, not outdated biases.
A critical first step is recognizing the power of women-owned businesses and ensuring they have visibility. Instead of defaulting to big-name brands, consumers and corporations alike can consciously support women-led companies that are shaping industries in innovative ways. In procurement, companies spend billions on suppliers, yet so little of that goes to women. Redirecting corporate dollars toward women-owned suppliers is a direct way to drive economic impact, while improving business performance. Organizations like WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) and WeConnect International provide resources to help businesses source from women-owned companies that are delivering at the highest levels.
The investment landscape must also reflect the reality of performance. Women-led startups are consistently proving their value, yet the funding remains disproportionately low. It’s time for venture capital and institutional investors to back the best ideas, not just the most familiar ones. Whether through direct investments, funds that focus on female-led companies, or crowdfunding platforms like SheEO and IFundWomen, there are countless ways to shift the equation. The women’s health market alone is projected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2027, yet remains largely overlooked by traditional investors. Companies like The MetaPause are pioneering AI-driven solutions for hormonal health and longevity—an area with both significant impact and financial opportunity.
Beyond private investment, the stock market offers another powerful way to close the gap. Women-led public companies deliver strong returns, yet remain vastly underrepresented in leadership. Gender-focused ETFs (exchange-traded funds), such as SHE (SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF), make it easy to integrate high-performing, women-led businesses into investment portfolios. The smartest investors look for value and opportunity, and the data shows that companies with diverse leadership drive stronger performance.
Of course investing isn’t just about money—it’s about access and visibility. The best talent can’t thrive if they don’t get a seat at the table. Representation isn’t just an inclusion effort; it’s a competitive advantage. If women drive the majority of purchasing power, the marketplace should reflect their influence—not just in consumer products, but in leadership, funding, and decision-making. Whether it’s giving women entrepreneurs high-profile platforms, ensuring conference panels and boardrooms reflect the diversity of talent available, or simply amplifying women-led businesses through networks and social platforms, visibility drives opportunity.
This isn’t about equity for equity’s sake. It’s about ensuring that talent, not bias, dictates funding and opportunities. Real progress doesn’t come from pink branding, catchy slogans, pledges, or one-day campaigns. It comes from decisions, dollars, and action. When we invest in women, we change the equation–for everyone.
So this IWD, let’s move from talking to doing—and Invest in Women Daily. We’re invested—are you?
