From Bumble, to Canva, to TaskRabbit: some of the most recognisable brands out there were founded by women. And, for that matter, many of the most exciting start-ups that we see and hear about are women-led.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to many, and yet, there are still significant barriers to female entrepreneurship – especially during the early stages. In an effort to explore those challenges and identify solutions, Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Centre has launched ‘Inspiring Female Founders’, a major initiative led by Professor Pinar Ozcan.

A global series which aims to inspire, spotlight, support and scale the journeys of female founders across sectors and geographies, Inspiring Female Founders launched earlier this summer. Ahead of its second event, I sat down with Professor Ozcan to get her reflections on the initiative, its inspiration, and the importance of female entrepreneurship:

Q1. What was the inspiration behind launching the ‘Inspiring Female Founders’ initiative at Oxford Saïd? Are there specific experiences (or, maybe key principles) that guide this project’s vision and direction?

The inspiration came from both research and personal experience. The data is stark: globally, only around 20% of startups have a female founder, and women receive less than 2% of venture capital funding. At the same time, I grew up the daughter of a female founder and know how powerful it is to see women leading businesses — it makes the idea of entrepreneurship tangible.

At Oxford Saïd, we wanted to bring these two strands together: rigorous research with storytelling that inspires. The guiding principle is simple: if you can see it, you can be it. By shining a spotlight on diverse female founders and making their stories freely available, we aim to encourage young women everywhere to see entrepreneurship as a viable and exciting path. With the right partners, we can write many more of these stories and expand our global reach so that every girl in the world has access to them.

Q2. The inaugural event earlier in the summer highlighted the existence of pervasive barriers that exist for female founders – including the startling fact that only 2% of venture capital in the UK goes to female-led companies. Which obstacles contribute most to this disparity in opportunities and how is your programme actively working to shift those dynamics?

The barriers are multifaceted: gender stereotypes that shape perceptions of risk and leadership, limited access to networks where funding decisions are made, and sometimes a lack of early confidence that entrepreneurship could be “for them.” Even in sectors like femtech, male-founded teams attract more capital.

Our programme works to shift these dynamics in two ways. First, by creating visibility — raising the profile of successful female founders so investors, policymakers, and the public see their value and track record. Second, by building pipelines of talent through storytelling, education, and eventually a global digital platform that will connect aspiring female founders with mentors, investors, and resources. This is where corporate and donor support becomes essential — it allows us to take what is already working and deliver it at scale.

Q3. The ‘Inspiring Female Founders’ series spotlights the stories of leading female entrepreneurs as inspiration for the next generation. Why is storytelling, and the use of role models, so powerful in motivating new founders?

Stories stick. We know from research that students often struggle to engage with long theoretical cases, but when they read about a real founder who looks like them, faced similar doubts, and persevered — it resonates. They start to imagine themselves in that role.

Role models normalise ambition. When a young woman sees someone who has built a fintech, a healthtech, or a social enterprise, she no longer has to ask, “Is this possible?” — she can see the pathway. Storytelling transforms abstract encouragement into lived evidence. The more stories we can produce — with the support of partners who share our vision — the more likely it is that girls everywhere will feel this spark.

Q4. How does the initiative promote networking and/or offer mentorship opportunities for emerging women entrepreneurs?

The first step has been building a global library of founder stories — free, accessible, and designed for use in schools and universities. The next phase is the creation of a digital platform where aspiring and existing female founders can not only access educational resources, but also connect directly with mentors, role models, and investors.

We are also appointing Inspiring Female Founder Champions — high-profile entrepreneurs and investors who will advocate globally and help build distribution partnerships with organizations like UNICEF and the World Economic Forum. With additional support, we can scale this network so that mentorship and role models are never limited by geography.

Q5. Looking ahead, how will you assess the success of this initiative? And what are your plans for scaling ‘Inspiring Female Founders’?

Success for us will mean three things: reach, engagement, and outcomes. Reach: how many young women around the world access these stories. Engagement: how deeply they interact — are they taking online classes, joining challenges, or connecting with mentors? And outcomes: are we seeing more women pursue entrepreneurial pathways, apply for funding, or even launch their ventures?

To scale, we aim to build an AI-enhanced global platform that will serve as the home for storytelling, education, and networking. We will also expand into high schools, summer schools, and scholarships at Oxford Saïd, ensuring that talent from every background has the opportunity to thrive. This vision is ambitious — and it will only be possible with the generosity of donors and corporate partners who share our belief that every girl deserves access to role models and the tools to build her own venture.

For additional insights, trends and perspectives, please visit the conversation on Entrepreneurship and Business.