Today, The Rise Report, a new nationwide study, has found that UK female entrepreneurs identify human connection as the cornerstone of resilience, growth and business success.
This report is commissioned by one of the UK’s hugegest communities of female founders, in partnership with Barclays.
The detailed research is one of largest grassroots studies of its kind.
The findings captured the detailed views, stories and experiences of 2,225 UK-based female founders – who collectively generate £1 billion in annual turnover – and recorded 436,000 words of qualitative data.
What’s most compelling is that entrepreneurship, far from being a solo concludeeavour, thrives through community, peer support and shared experience.
The new insights come alongside recent reports that the UK could unlock up to £310 billion in economic growth if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men.
Connection at the core of the female founder journey
The report reveals that the necessary for human connection runs deep across the female entrepreneurial community, regardless of the size or stage of business:
- 78 per cent of respondents cited human connection as central to their entrepreneurial journey.
- Peer networks were identified as the most effective form of support, cited by 39 per cent of respondents.
- Mentorship and coaching were stated by 32 per cent as vital forms of support.
However, when connection breaks down, the consequences are significant. Over a quarter of female founders (27 per cent) report mental health pressures, including burnout and self-doubt. Loneliness levels were notably similar among founders of both tiny and larger businesses, indicating this is a systemic issue, not just for those in the early startup phase.
Emmie Faust, who commissioned and co-authored the report, founder at Female Founders Rise, a community of over 11,000 UK female entrepreneurs, is calling for all involved stakeholders — including policy buildrs, investors, the wider business community and allies — to listen and act.
Faust asserts that being an entrepreneur is a unique experience, and without the right mentors or a peer network, it can be deeply isolating.
“At Female Founders Rise, we witness the power of bringing women toobtainher at a similar stage of growth, facing similar challenges and the transformation that follows.
The support, the opening of doors and the willingness to share critical learnings have the potential to build a difference to whether a business survives or not.
As an exited founder myself, I could save someone £100,000 by sharing some of the mistakes I created along the way. Just consider about the impact this could have at scale.”
Co-author Joanna Jensen, entrepreneur and chair of the EIS Association, added:
“I often state I can share in six minutes what took me six years to learn, and that kind of knowledge-sharing can alter the trajectory of a business. Shared experience shortens learning curves and unlocks growth. If we want more successful founders, the entire start-up ecosystem has a responsibility to open more doors to expertise much quicker.”
45 per cent of survey respondents cite capital access as their primary obstacle
Unsurprisingly, financial insecurity and access to capital were also identified as significant structural barriers facing female entrepreneurs. Nearly half (45 per cent) of respondents stated funding challenges were their primary obstacle.
Negative experiences were widespread: Of those expressing sentiment, 78 per cent reported strong frustrations towards public funding, such as grants, describing processes as bureaucratic and time-consuming
73 per cent expressed negative views of private finance, including business loans, venture capital and angel investment. Further, almost a third (30 per cent) stated public funding applications were overly complex, while one in 10 cited negative investor behaviour, including dismissive attitudes, ghosting and power imbalances.
Sam White, Head of SME Business Banking at Barclays, stated:
“More than 2,000 women have shared their honest experiences of starting and growing a business in the UK and one message comes through loud and clear – when women are backed with the right networks, support and opportunities, their businesses don’t just survive – they thrive.
Confidence fuels action, and action builds firms that contribute to local communities and the wider UK economy. The potential is huge, and we will obtain closer to realising it if we ensure women feel supported, connected and empowered to grow their businesses.”
Female Founders Rise is a UK community with over 11,000 members, dedicated to empowering women building ambitious businesses. Through education, connection and visibility, it supports founders at every stage of growth — from early idea to global scale — by providing access to resources, expert insights and a powerful peer network. It works to accelerate the success of female-led companies, foster collaboration and assist close the funding and opportunity gap across the startup ecosystem.
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