March is always a powerful month. Conversations about women in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship get a well-deserved spotlight, and every year, it feels like progress is being made. But the reality? Women entrepreneurs are still facing the same challenges: access to funding, strong networks, and real opportunities to scale. Over the years, countless reports have highlighted the funding gap that women entrepreneurs experience. Despite proving their ability to build scalable, high-impact businesses, female founders receive only a fraction of global venture capital. The barriers are well-documented as seen in the report by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and these include systemic biases, fear of failure, limited access to networks, and a lack of visibility among investors. But beyond the statistics, there are real women building real companies, creating jobs, and solving pressing challenges. That is why initiatives designed to connect women founders with investors, mentors, and growth opportunities are essential. This is not just about equity; it is about unlocking untapped potential. The good news is that we are seeing more founder-first and mentor-driven programs working to close these gaps. It is increasingly evident that investing in women entrepreneurs is not just about fairness or closing gaps, it’s about unlocking significant economic opportunity. Research conducted by BCG further shows that women-run companies outperform their male counterparts in terms of return on investment. So why does this funding gap persist? One answer lies in the structural inequalities built into our ecosystems. Women are often left out of crucial networks where investments and opportunities flow. Mentorship, in particular, plays a huge role in closing this gap. But even within the mentorship landscape, women face unique challenges in finding role models and allies who understand their specific needs as founders. Understand that this isn’t a pipeline issue. There’s no shortage of ambitious, talented, and investment-ready women entrepreneurs. The challenge lies in access to funding, mentorship, and the right networks. How mentorship can change the game If there’s one thing that comes up repeatedly when talking to female founders, it’s the impact of strong networks and mentorship. In an ecosystem where connections open doors, women often find themselves on the outside looking in. Traditional investor circles and informal business networks have long been male-dominated, making it harder for female founders to break in. But this is changing. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a shift, more mentorship programs, investment readiness initiatives, and networking opportunities designed to give women entrepreneurs the leverage they need. More experienced founders, both men and women, are stepping up as mentors, offering guidance on everything from refining business models to navigating investor conversations. And the results speak for themselves. Women-led startups that have access to strong mentorship and networks consistently outperform their peers. The right guidance at the right time can be the difference between a business that struggles to gain traction and one that scales beyond expectations. Funding is still the biggest hurdle Women-led businesses deliver solid returns, yet they’re still underfunded. While initiatives supporting female entrepreneurs have grown, the numbers haven’t moved nearly as much as they should. Part of the challenge is bias, whether conscious or not. Investors, which are still largely male, tend to back founders who look like them, who fit the mold of what a successful entrepreneur has traditionally looked like. Women founders, especially in industries not typically associated with female leadership deep tech or fintech industries often have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. But things are shifting. More women investors, more angel networks focused on female founders, and a growing recognition that diverse teams lead to stronger businesses are all making a difference. What’s needed now is acceleration, more funding directed at women-led businesses, more VC firms actively seeking out female founders, and more investors willing to challenge their own biases. Because one thing is certain: women entrepreneurs aren’t the future. They’re the present. As a platform dedicated to supporting startup ecosystems in Africa and Latin America, VC4A has long recognized the critical role women entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth. Over the years, we have worked tirelessly to provide women with the tools, networks, and mentorship opportunities they need to thrive. Through the Venture Showcase Women Founder Editions, we have supported outstanding female-led startups in Africa and Latin America secure funding, mentorship, and visibility. In parallel, the Mentor-Driven Capital program has brought together experienced investors and industry leaders to actively support and guide female founders. Beyond funding, this mentorship is crucial in shaping investor-readiness, business strategy, and leadership growth. Our work does not stop there. Exciting VC4A partnerships with She Wins Africa and She Wins Climate EECAT (now accepting applications) which are impactful initiatives by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), we aim to help drive change by equipping more women entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and investor connections they need to scale. These programs are designed to remove barriers, build confidence, and create a pipeline of investable women-led businesses. This Women’s Month may have come to an end, but the work continues. Women founders across global markets are building, innovating, and leading. As a community, we must ensure that they have access to the support they need, not just in March but all year round. Want to play a significant role in harvesting more positive outcomes for women-led businesses? Join the VC4A community: Aa an investor: https://vc4a.com/investors/ As a mentor: https://vc4a.com/mentors/ As an Ecosystem Support Organization: https://vc4a.com/platform-services/ As a women-led startup or a startup building solutions that improve lives of women: https://vc4a.com/ventures/add/ entrepreneurship Gender lens investing vc4a women entrepreneurs