“We need a new growth engine to put us in the lead and we need to harness every resource we have at our disposal. In 2022 that must include radically investing in women-led ventures” says our Chair, Theresa Gattung.
We’re seeing red flags for business everywhere. In Theresa’s latest opinion piece for the Herald, she shares one key ingredient we need to supercharge to have Āotearoa New Zealand bounce back and fly high: that’s women and their ventures.
We know that women at the helm of ventures and businesses are good for business and prosperous returns. The question is, shares Theresa, is how do we invest more in the right women-led ventures?
It starts with the investment ecosystem in our country: women don’t always have them in professional networks, making the initial hurdle harder and slower to jump through. Then there’s the additional conscious and unconscious bias which “poses a further barrier that some women have to overcome to gain legitimacy in front of investors and secure critical investment to grow.”
It’s not just starting, “angel investors play an important role in helping founders scale their businesses,” offering access to “the right networks and decades of business experience”
Interestingly, Theresa shares that “women are also less likely to consider becoming angel investors despite having the financial means and business acumen to do so,” making up “just 20 percent of the angel investor community in New Zealand.”
“If you have an idea, do not wait until the time is right. Early-stage ventures are receiving more funding than ever before, and there is a growing community of angel investor networks focused on supporting women entrepreneurs in New Zealand”
It’s time to supercharge women’s initiative. “If you have an idea, do not wait until the time is right – do it, start a business, and seek investment from like-minded people in your community. Early-stage ventures are receiving more funding than ever before, and there is a growing community of angel investor networks focused on supporting women entrepreneurs in New Zealand – SheEO, ArcAngels, Enterprise Angels,” shares Theresa.
As for those with the resources and capacity to contribute to this growth? Theresa has the following advice: “If you are like me – seeking opportunities to make an impact, join a network of angel investors. There are so many promising female-led ventures with potential for exponential growth, given the capital, networks and wisdom.”
“Many things are not in our control in 2022. But what is in our control is growing our pipeline of women entrepreneurs in New Zealand.”
Many things are not in our control in 2022. But what is in our control is growing our pipeline of women entrepreneurs in New Zealand. Women continue to capture only a fraction of available equity investment. We can make a meaningful difference to our economy by backing female potential in business.
Read Theresa Gattung’s full opinion piece and insights on NZHerald.co.nz here.