05.06.2025

A Compass for Equality: The FEMALE FOUNDERS MAP BW Is Here!

FEMALE GIG7

On June 2, 2025, this year’s Start-up BW Summit took place in Stuttgart. As the GIG7 FeMale Business Competence Center, we had the opportunity to lead two projects that day.

First, we organized the Table Talks event at the L-Bank, which brought together over 70 female founders and entrepreneurs. Over a delicious lunch provided by Fit & Happy, accompanied by appetizers from Refresher, a lively atmosphere of exchange and networking emerged. Thanks to targeted networking, the event once again received an overwhelmingly positive response.

At the same time, we had the opportunity to present a very special project at the Start-up BW Summit at the Haus der Wirtschaft. The Female Founders Map, which was launched three years ago, raises awareness of women and their startups in Mannheim and the surrounding area.

We Raise Awareness of Female Founders

We were then able to roll it out statewide as part of the “Start-up BW” state-wide campaign under the name “FEMALE FOUNDERS MAP BW” and launch it for the first time at the Summit on June 2, 2025. The map raises the visibility of female founders throughout Baden-Württemberg, connects them with one another, and encourages people to actively contribute to the economic success of women-led companies—whether through contracts, partnerships, or conscious purchasing decisions.

The question kept coming up: Why is this map exclusively for women?
A simple answer like „To give them more visibility“ doesn’t quite cut it.

That's why I'm going to provide a slightly more detailed explanation of why visibility is so crucial for female founders!

A key factor in fostering an equitable startup culture, economic participation, and diversity in innovation is the visibility of female founders. This goes far beyond mere media presence, as it acts as a catalyst for structural change within a startup ecosystem that remains heavily male-dominated. Numerous studies show that women in the startup context face specific structural challenges that affect their visibility, their access to resources, and their opportunities for economic development.

A major structural problem is the so-called gender funding gap.

Female founders have significantly less access to venture capital than their male counterparts. According to the German Startup Monitor 2023, less than 5 % of all venture capital in Germany is awarded to teams founded exclusively by women, even though women are involved in about 18 % of all startups. International studies, such as those by Kanze et al. (2018), also show that investors make different evaluations of identical pitches—in favor of male founders. Female teams are more frequently confronted with risk-averse, defensive questions, while male founders are asked about opportunities and growth potential.

Another obstacle is the lack of visible role models. Male entrepreneurs dominate many public debates, media reports, and public appearances.

This shapes the perception of who „typically“ starts a business—and has been shown to influence the entrepreneurial behavior of young women.

Studies show that women are more likely to start their own businesses when they can identify with successful female entrepreneurs. KfW (2022) also emphasizes that a lack of role models is a major barrier for potential female entrepreneurs, as is limited access to entrepreneurial networks, which are crucial for resources, mentoring, and knowledge exchange.

There are also differences in terms of time and social factors. Women continue to shoulder the bulk of unpaid care work—that is, childcare, elder care, and household responsibilities. This reality has a significant impact on when and how women start their own businesses. Many opt for part-time startups or business models with low risk and minimal investment requirements—not so much out of strategic calculation, but because it is more compatible with family obligations. According to the BMFSFJ (2020), women perform an average of 52 % more unpaid care work per day—a factor that has often been insufficiently taken into account in startup support programs to date.

Goodbye, traditional gender roles!

In this context, visibility can be understood as a tool for structural change. It means not only presence, but also recognition, representation, and access. Visible female founders provide guidance, offer opportunities for identification, and help challenge existing narratives. They help establish a more nuanced picture of entrepreneurship—one that goes beyond traditional role models. At the same time, their presence promotes access to capital, networks, and media exposure—essential resources for any entrepreneurial venture. Diversity is also beneficial on an economic level: Studies such as „Diversity Wins“ by McKinsey (2020) show that companies with diverse founding teams are more innovative, resilient, and economically successful.

Be a part of it!

All in all, it is clear that the visibility of female founders is not merely a symbolic gesture, but a structural policy tool. It has an impact on various levels, as it empowers individuals to take action and broadens their social roles. Furthermore, it fosters a more inclusive and resilient economy in the long term.

That’s why the FEMALE FOUNDERS MAP BW is such an incredibly important tool! If you’re a female founder from Baden-Württemberg, sign up now and raise the profile of your startup throughout the state. With our media kit, you can share the FEMALE FOUNDERS MAP BW on your social media and spread the vision to build a lasting network. THANK YOU for your support!

HERE you'll find our map

Map of Female Founders in Baden-Württemberg

Media Kit for Download

A Compass for Equality: The FEMALE FOUNDERS MAP BW Is Here!

We Raise Awareness of Female Founders

That's why I'm going to provide a slightly more detailed explanation of why visibility is so crucial for female founders!

Goodbye, traditional gender roles!

Be a part of it!

A direct line to us.

Contact our centers.

We Raise Awareness of Female Founders

That's why I'm going to provide a slightly more detailed explanation of why visibility is so crucial for female founders!

Goodbye, traditional gender roles!

Be a part of it!

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