Category: Business

The Gender Index Report 2022. Results for Wales and Northern Ireland

August 30, 2022

The gender inequality in female-led businesses is still stubbornly high. However, women play an essential role in economic growth in the UK and around the globe.

Earlier in the blog series, we examined the gender inequality results in England and Scotland; now, we’ll take a closer look at Wales and Northern Ireland. 

Interestingly, when it comes to female entrepreneurship, these two nations show varying disparities, suggesting that we are still far from the ideal situation.

Findings for Wales

Over two decades, improving entrepreneurial inclusivity has been a policy focus for Wales. The Welsh government has implemented numerous initiatives and acts to support women-led businesses and greater diversity, including The Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Welsh Female-Led Enterprises Had Greater Turnover Than the UK

One of the striking achievements in Wales is a much larger turnover growth rate compared to other UK countries. 

The average revenue growth of female-led businesses in Wales is 21%, even though only 2.9% of Britain’s female-headed companies are in Wales. In the remainder of the UK, the turnover growth rate for female-led businesses is 17.8% in England, 16.63% in Scotland, and 18.16% in Northern Ireland. Contrastingly, average turnover growth rates in men-led firms are lower throughout the UK, except in the North East, demonstrating women’s potential and capacity to grow businesses at a steady pace.

Wales has a relatively high percentage of female-led businesses in education, health, wellness, and social services. Interestingly, the most impressive turnover growth was observed in construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

Wales Dominates in Female-Led ‘High-Growth’ Startups

The general trend in the UK shows a more pronounced under-representation of female-run ‘high-growth’ ventures. However, Wales stands out by having the highest proportion of female-led companies across Britain (12.4% of Welsh companies are women-led against a UK average of 8.8%). This trend is particularly true in the education, health, well-being and social care sectors mentioned above.

There remains a lack of women leaders in financial services, manufacturing, IT, technology, agriculture, and real estate industries.

External Financing Is Comparable to the Rest of the UK

Women-owned businesses in Wales were able to acquire external financing at a rate of 19.4%, which is similar to 21.1% for the UK as a whole.

Moreover, Welsh enterprises have over 62,000 investors, with just under one-third being female. These results are comparable to those elsewhere in the UK (outside London).

The Data for Northern Ireland

Last year, Northern Ireland set out an economic objective to become an elite small advanced economy in the world by concentrating on innovation in areas where the country has strengths and creating a ten times better economy for everyone.

The country already has a strong reputation as the leading international investment destination for US cybersecurity firms, with Belfast ranking

among the world’s top ten cities for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). So, what’s the situation with female-led businesses?

Male-dominated Entrepreneurial Landscape

Despite the international reputation enjoyed by Northern Ireland, an overwhelming majority of companies are still led by males. Specifically, men run 65.1% of businesses, women own 13.5%, and the remainder is mixed leadership.

What sticks out, in particular, is a glaring imbalance between male and female-led high-growth ventures, with male firms overwhelmingly dominating these sectors.

Female and Mixed Leadership Companies Grow Faster

Perhaps one of the most interesting findings is that female-led and mixed leadership in small and large firms have grown faster than their male counterparts. However, only 0.17% of Northern Ireland’s companies were deemed to be achieving high growth.

In addition, out of these businesses, 77.7% were led by men, and only 9.8% by women (mixed-gender entrepreneurs founded the rest).

Northern Ireland Has the Lowest Investment in Women-led Enterprises

When it comes to raising additional capital, female-owned businesses attracted only 8.8% of total investment compared to 10.8% in Scotland, 12.0% in England and 12.0% in Wales. This regrettably illustrates the ongoing struggle for women to acquire investment capital.

Wrapping It Up

The Gender Index 2022 is the first attempt to capture the hard data and shed light on gender inequality in the UK’s businesses. Although certain parts of Britain, such as the London area, do show positive signs of improvement in female-led enterprises, as a whole, men still dominate the landscape and have better chances at raising funding.

At The 200 Billion Club, we want to challenge inequality and get female founders investment-ready with the help of our 12-week accelerator programme to prepare you for investment pitches and give you access to a network of investors looking for startups just like yours.

Want to find out more? Reach out to us today!
Source: The Gender Index 2022

What every female entrepreneur needs to know about pitching themselves

July 4, 2022

Although not all startup founders seek external financing to grow their business, those who do are well aware of the difficulties of the pitching process.

Raising funding for female founders is even more daunting than for their male counterparts due to prevailing stigmas around women making big moves in business. Only 1% of early-stage capital flows into enterprises started by women.

You hear lots of “no’s”, venture capitalists are not impressed, the opportunity is not big enough, or it’s too early for them to invest.

However, rejection often comes because you don’t sell yourself enough during your pitch. In other words, VCs aren’t convinced you have a clear vision, ambition, and/or the right attributes to execute and lead your business.

This article discusses the importance of pitching confidently to present yourself and your business as an investable and worthwhile opportunity.

We see the most incredible women in our cohorts, whose achievements in both their business and personal lives are outstanding, yet they’re resistant to sharing these achievements boldly and loudly. It’s so important that as women we avoid underselling ourselves and get comfortable talking about what we’ve accomplished as well as our vision for what we’re building.

Investors First Invest in People, Then Business

Many entrepreneurs go to their pitches armed with numbers, financial forecasts, and other factual data about their business model. Of course, hard data and a robust product are essential elements, but who you are and how you present yourself can play a more significant part than you think.

At this stage, VCs are looking to invest in people (i.e., the founder and the team) rather than the product. Your product hasn’t been put through its paces enough, so it’s too early to determine whether it’ll be a success.

Therefore, many investors judge you and your team “by the emotion and confidence” that you instil. Are you and your team capable of turning the company into a success story? Do you have the set of skills and expertise required to grow your endeavour? 

Investors are counting on you and your employees to provide a positive return on their investment. For this reason, they want to see devoted and passionate entrepreneurs fully committed to the idea.

How to Sell Yourself During a Funding Pitch?

Demonstrate Confidence

Founder confidence can make or break your pitch. Many female entrepreneurs are more reserved than male business owners regarding certain parts of the pitching process, such as projections on ROI.

Women frequently undervalue themselves and highlight modest returns, which may be less appealing to investors seeking big wins. Furthermore, they tend to be more careful not to oversell their idea, which can be read as a signal of low confidence. 

A winning business pitch should be a confident one where you demonstrate strong ambition and determination to lead the venture through its highs and lows. 

It’s imperative to remember that, as a founder, you are the most valuable asset, so don’t shy away from clearly articulating your skills and experiences and why you’re the best person to lead. 

Above all, investors will always back a founder who has a solid grasp of her product and target market’s pain points while balancing it with strong leadership skills and the ability to grow from setbacks. They want to invest in a well-rounded entrepreneur, so prove that you’re the one!

You Need to Emanate Passion

Investors have no idea who you are or whether you have the drive to build the business, you’re pitching. However, they want to work with someone passionate about the endeavour, its mission, and the team responsible for making things happen.

What’s the best way to get it done? Make your pitch memorable so it leaves a lasting impression on the investors.

But sometimes, portraying passion can be challenging; thus, ensuring how you come across to investors and what visual information you’re communicating is critical.

A study by University College London found that to boost your chances of delivering a winning pitch, you must focus on visual signs, such as your body language, gestures, facial expressions, and visible passion. 

Such visual cues can often be more powerful than your pitch deck, so you must learn to leverage them to your advantage.

Show You Can Execute

If your business is in the early stages, you don’t have a viable product or the most robust strategy, but you can still nail your pitch.

Investors are not only looking for a unique business idea but also for solid abilities to execute your go-to-market plan. In the beginning, there might not be enough factual data to judge you on, so investors make a bet on you as a person and how you make them feel.

Do you come across as someone who can execute the idea and penetrate the market? Have you refined your vision and goals and know exactly how to get there?

You must present yourself as someone who leads with action and doesn’t play safe.

The Bottom Line: You Need to Find the Balance

Successfully pitching your business to investors is about marketing yourself with confidence and passion while having an in-depth knowledge of your product and the market.

At The 200 Billion Club, we understand that women have a small chance of getting funding because of unconscious biases and gendered assumptions in a male-dominated venture capital industry. We offer a bespoke 12-week programme for high-potential female founders to equip you with strong negotiating and persuasion skills to help you land an investment.

Reach out today for more information.

How did the current market affect Startup valuations at the pre-seed and angel stage? 

June 7, 2022

The current market dip means uncertain times for startup companies. Unprecedented financial times are always something to consider with a startup. Figuring out how to navigate turbulent markets at a pre-seedand angel stage can be difficult. Successfully navigating through downtrend markets can feel impossible when you must sell investors your startup’s ideas in a competitive environment. How does a downtrend market affect valuations, and how can startups adapt to boost investor confidence?

Let’s look at how downtrend markets affect the pre-seed and angel stage and what can be done to navigate through it.

Pre-seed and Angel Stage Valuations

and seed stage, not so much. When there is a market dip, there is no denying that valuations will suffer. And although there are a lot of fluctuations amongst more established startups looking to grow bigger, pre-seed and angel stage valuations are looking a little different.

There is marginally more optimism for this stage of financing startups. Some experts would even go so far as to say that things are “business as usual.” Here at the 200 Billion Club, our funding rounds are currently opening and closing as normal for these startups. 

There is a logical reason why pre-seed and angel stage valuations remain the same when a market is dipping. While more established startups in the later stage of development are evaluated on their revenue potential, pre-seed and angel startups are evaluated on an investor’s belief in the team. This belief extends to the vision of the company. Investors base their valuations on belief rather than hard metrics like more established companies making these early-stage startups much less sensitive to market conditions.

However, this doesn’t mean that their relative immunity will remain. Startup deals are happening worldwide. Despite the current viability of these startup deals in the market dip, stable valuations could change soon. No business is entirely immune to a market dip, and pre-seed and angel startups will feel the pinch. While they are measured on a different “scale” to startups in various stages, investors do expect financial returns from their investments. 

An anonymous UK angel fund investor says that pre-seed are beginning to be hit by      this market dip. The UK-based company says that angel investors are beginning to ask for 20-25% decreases in their valuations.

So while there is a buffer for early startups’ valuations, we will undeniably start seeing these decline. Knowing which sectors are more severely affected by the market dip can aid in developing a business strategy to strengthen the valuations of pre-seed and angel stage startups.

Sectors Affected By Market Devaluations

A useful bellwether for early-stage startups is to look at trend in valuations of their       later stage counterparts. As valuations are affected more directly and intensely  than newer stage deals in these current market conditions. Comparing valuations based on a startups sector becomes a useful tool.     

Currently these decreases in valuations are trending toward consumer-facing businesses. . 

For example, companies like Deliveroo and DoorDash.com have drastically seen their share prices tank. These startups are looking to raise growth stage capital in the next quarter. But in shifting perspective from a founder to a late-stage investor, you wouldn’t want to be throwing cash at a delivery company with a high valuation from a previous round in this dipped market. Valuations from Q4 of 2021 have tanked by 60%.

In addition to customer-facing businesses, B2B SaaS companies are also looking at some uncertain times ahead. 

So what are the surviving sectors we are seeingin the current dip in the market? Experts agree that technology-based companies, particularly deeptech, are a good option for investors to bet on in dipping markets. 

Marcin Hejka, the co-founder, and general partner at OTB Ventures specializing in deeptech investments, says that market downturns are the best times for enterprises to begin improving efficiency. This cannot happen without deeptech in this digital age. The deeptech space is possibly the least impacted part of the venture capital market, according to Hejka.

Companies with technology components are shown to increase their valuations, despite the dip in the markets. Consumers search for solutions in market dips, and investors can identify the sectors that offer these more efficient services.

How to Successfully Navigate a Market Dip

The question is, “What should founders do in the face of an economic downfall?” The good news is that founders can do something despite the uncontrollable nature of a market dip. Leaner companies with strengthened processes are more likely to weather dipped markets and grow more efficiently after a market dip.

We’ve seen many venture capitalist telling startups to start downsizing and focusing on efficiency rather than growth. This will strengthen their core business in the face of a downturn and make sure that one they can survive and two have a stronger position when capital is available again. 

However, this isn’t always the most viable option. Searching for common trends in a company’s sector will help you establish how to recalibrate your goals for a new lower valuation environment. 

As multiples become lower, companies can establish how much increase in annual recurring revenue (ARR). They need to make to reach the same value as their last valuation round.

With a target ARR in hand, it is time to evaluate if the business is growing efficiently to reach its financial and growth goals. 

Burn multiples of your company are defined as the cash burned divided by the net ARR added. Burn multiples are a metric that you can evaluate every quarter and track closely to stay on plan. Burn multiples are the metrics that are more easily controlled when there is market turbulence, and you need to reach specific financial goals.

Additionally, you need to be aware that fundraising and capital become more uncertain in turbulent economic times and more expensive. This means that you must carefully watch your cash balance and manage any runway your company may be experiencing before it gets off the ground. Adjusting spending and hiring can go a long way to ensuring that you have a viable business in a market downturn and after.

Businesses that focus on surviving market downturns will reap the benefits of their efforts. Markets are cyclical, and the companies that can survive this evolving nature will often see an increased market share with massive growth opportunities thanks to efficient operations.

How can startups fundraise in a market downturn

May 27, 2022

Introduction

Despite the current market conditions, there are still opportunities for those with a great product and a solid business plan. If you have what it takes, don’t let the current state of the market deter you from seeking out funding and bringing your vision to life.

At The 200 Billion Club, we’re passionate about supporting women founders accross verticals. We believe that financing startups led by women founder is paramount to drive innovation and progress in the world. That’s why we’re sharing with you some thoughts targetted towards startups that are currently raising a funding round.

We hope that this blog will provide valuable insights for those looking to navigate the current market conditions. So whether you’re a startup founder or an investor, we encourage you to read on and learn more about the state of global venture funding.

Funding Decreasing Quarter-Over-Quarter. coins a concept of investment and saving moneys.

The current state of startups fundraise in market downturn

A recent report by Cbinsight shows global venture funding falling to $142.4B in Q1’22. This number is down by a fifth from the previous quarter’s total. As economic uncertainty lingers on and investors tighten their belts, the private market’s downward trajectory appears to be continuing full force in Q2’22.

In fact, at the current pace of activity, global funding for the second quarter is projected to decrease by 19% quarter-over-quarter. If these investment trends continue, Q2’22 will see the lowest total for quarterly funding since the end of 2020. Additionally, deals are on track for a 22% drop from Q1’22, reaching a level last seen in Q3 2020.

This climate of decreased funding and deal activity presents a challenge for startups. Especially those that may be seeking new rounds of financing.

While markets could shift meaningfully during the second half of the quarter, the first half of the year is shaping up to be one of the slowest periods for private market activity in recent memory.

What does fundraise in market downturn mean for startups?

With deal activity and funding decreasing quarter-over-quarter, it may be more difficult to secure the capital you need to grow your business.

If you’re a startup founder, there are a few things you can do to weather the current market conditions:

–Focus on business fundamentals. In times of uncertainty, it’s important to focus on the basics. Make sure your business is running efficiently and that you have a clear path to profitability. This will make you more attractive to investors and help you weather any bumps in the road.

-Be realistic about your funding needs. It’s important to be realistic about how much capital you need to grow your business. In the current climate, investors are more likely to be conservative with their financing. Therefore, it’s important to have a solid plan for how you will use any funding you do receive.

-Look for alternative sources of financing. If traditional venture funding is out of reach, there are other options you can explore. Government grants, crowdfunding, borrowing and angel investors are all potential sources of capital.

-Know when to pivot: In a down market, it’s important to be flexible and willing to pivot if necessary. If your original plan isn’t working, don’t be afraid to make changes. This could mean changing your business model, product, or even your target market.

Conclusion

If you’re a startup founder, it’s important to be strategic about how you’re approaching the current market climate. By focusing on business fundamentals, being realistic about your funding needs, and looking for alternative sources of financing, you can position your startup for success.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and make your startup dreams a reality.

What’s Next for Women in Tech?

May 20, 2022

Key Takeaways from the Women Who Tech Startup & Tech Culture Survey Report

Women and men in tech.

Introduction

Since the last time Women Who Tech surveyed women in tech, there have been both promising advancements and concerning setbacks for gender equality in tech culture. Here, we take a comprehensive look at the data to provide insights into what’s next for women in tech.

Key findings from the report

The key findings from the report show that there have been both positive and negative changes over the past year.

The number of women who say they have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace decreased over this past year. However, there is still an issue with discrimination against them at work. Additionally pay gaps for Latinas and African American females remain significant throughout all industries. It is also true in tech fields where you would expect things to change drastically due to increased representation by females overall since 2013. Bureau reporting first showed signs that might be changing. However ,black people are still underrepresented which leads us back into having less visibility. Some statistics:

  • 3% of computing-related jobs are held by African-American women, 6% held by Asian women and 2% held by Hispanic women.
  • 48% of women in STEM jobs report discrimination in the recruitment and hiring process.
  • In 2016, women only received about 2% of total investor funding, and women-led businesses made up just 4.9% of all VC deals.

(Forbes, On Latina Equal Pay Day: Let’s Get More Latinas Into Tech)

  • Women earn up to 28% less than their male colleagues in the same tech roles.

(Women in Tech Survey, WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY SURVEY 2019)

Despite these challenges, there have also been some positive changes for women in tech. The number of women starting their own businesses has increased, and more women are now working in leadership positions in startups and innovative companies. Additionally, there is a growing trend of investors supporting women-led startups.

Women are progressing in tech since last year’s survey

There is a growing trend of investors supporting women-led startups.

Despite these advancements, there are still many challenges that remain. The number of women who say they have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace has decreased. However, women who say they have been discriminated against at work has increased. Additionally, women of color are still underrepresented in tech, and the pay gap between men and women in tech remains significant. Despite these challenges, there is reason to be optimistic about the future.

As more women enter the field, it is likely that the number of women in leadership positions will increase, pay disparities will narrow, and more inclusive cultures will develop. Additionally, initiatives like Girls Who Code are helping to encourage young girls to pursue careers in tech.

It is clear that women have made progress in the tech industry since last year’s survey. In the next section, the remaining challenges are studied.

The challenges that still remain

The challenges still remain from the perspective of policy-makers, educators, entrepreneurs, and investors.

According to the survey, the top three challenges facing women in tech are: lack of diversity in the industry, bias and discrimination, and sexual harassment.

These challenges can make it difficult for them to thrive in tech environments. Educators, entrepreneurs, and investors who commit to creating more inclusive startup and tech ecosystems must continue to work together. Only by doing so can we ensure that women have the opportunity to fully participate in and contribute to the tech industry.

The first challenge is the lack of diversity in the tech industry. The vast majority of people working in tech are white and male.

This lack of diversity has a number of consequences. First, it creates an environment in which women and minorities can feel isolated and excluded. Second, it means that the industry is not benefit from the talents and perspectives of a wide range of people. Finally, it can lead to the reinforcement of sexist and racist stereotypes.

The second challenge facing women in tech is bias and discrimination. Tech environments people undervalue and underestimate women. Third, they may be subject to sexual harassment or other forms of gender-based violence. 50% of women in tech declare to be subject to sexual harassement.

The third challenge is the lack of access to resources and networks. This problem is particularly acute for women of color and LGBTQ women.

What’s next?

Policy-makers, educators, entrepreneurs, and investors must continue to work together to address these issues and create lasting change. Only then will we see a truly equal and inclusive tech ecosystem where women can thrive.

Some key takeaways from the report that highlight the challenges women still face in tech include:

  • Women are still significantly outnumbered by men in this sector, making up just 26% of the workforce.
  • Women of color are even more underrepresented, accounting for just 11% of the tech workforce.
  • Only 2% of venture capital funding goes to startups founded by women.
  • Women are less likely than men to be given opportunities to lead and advance in their careers.
  • More than half of women in tech have experienced some form of gender discrimination at work.

These statistics underscore the need for continued effort to support and promote the diversity in the tech ecosystem. By working together to create a more inclusive environment, we can provide more opportunities for women to succeed in the tech sector.

Conclusion

With increased awareness and commitment from policy-makers, and investors alike we can see an equal platform where female engineers could thrive

Too often, people feel unwelcome in the workplace, and this can lead to a variety of negative consequences.

This isn’t just bad for the individual employees who feel unwelcome – it’s also bad for business. Unwelcoming environments lead to less productivity, creativity, and innovation. They also create a hostile work culture that can damage a company’s reputation.

Creating an inclusive environment is key to creating a productive and positive work culture. These findings show just how important it is for everyone involved – especially those at higher levels of leadership within companies -to create inclusive environments so every individual feels welcome. With the right tools and resources, it’s easier than ever to make your workplace more welcoming for everyone.