Funding Tips for Female-Owned Businesses

The expression "It's all who you know" is especially true when it comes to funding your small business.

Well, female entrepreneurs are apparently in the know, as women's businesses are rapidly expanding. For the past two decades, majority-women-owned companies have continued to grow at around two times the rate of all companies, according to the Center for Women's Business Research. Still, adequate funding can pose problems at any stage of a business.

"It's not that it's necessarily hard to find investors. It's about having an agent. We become the agents for promising companies," says Amy Millman, founder of Springboard Enterprises, which helps female entrepreneurs access equity.

Whether you're trying to launch your dream business or grow your current operations, there are several sources out there for capital, networking and educational help.

Spring into Action

Springboard Enterprises offers targeted seminars, coaching and community-building efforts with successful businesswomen. Venture-capital forums are also offered, which put female entrepreneurs in front of investors.

Have those who have received funding been successful? "The results have been ... phenomenal. About 20% of 360 companies have had a positive liquidity event to date," says Millman.

One of the companies has even gone public: 51job (JOBS Quote), a leading job search engine in China. Co-founder Kathleen Chien turned to Springboard Enterprises and found her sole investor, venture capitalist DCM. It invested about $14 million dollars into 51job, Millman says.