81% of Young People Can’t Name a Female Founder - Here’s How We Change That
Introduction
Ask a classroom of children to name a famous entrepreneur and you’ll likely hear: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs.
Now flip the question: Can you name a female founder?
Silence.
In fact, research by Santander shows that 81% of young people can’t name a single female entrepreneur. That means the next generation is growing up with a one-sided picture of what success looks like - and it’s overwhelmingly male.
If we want more girls to believe they can be innovators, leaders, and business owners, we need to fix that visibility gap. Here’s how.
🚨 Why This Matters
Representation shapes ambition: Kids can only aspire to what they can see. If girls never see women building businesses, they’re less likely to imagine themselves doing the same.
The economy is missing out: Women-led businesses are a huge driver of innovation and growth, yet less than 2% of venture capital funding goes to female founders.
Confidence starts early: Research shows girls’ confidence dips in their early teens. Without role models, that self-doubt grows.
The bottom line? If 8 out of 10 young people can’t name a female founder, we’re sending the message -“This isn’t for you.”
🌟 How We Change the Story
The good news: visibility can change everything. Here’s how parents, teachers, and communities can help rewrite the narrative.
Tell the Stories of Female Founders
Introduce kids to women who’ve built brilliant businesses. Show them that founders come in all genders, backgrounds, and industries.
Bring Representation Into the Classroom
Curriculums are full of explorers, kings, and inventors - but rarely female entrepreneurs. Adding these stories to lessons, assemblies, and projects makes business feel possible for every child.
Use Books and Media That Reflect Girls
Children’s books, films, and resources shape their world-view. Choosing inclusive stories - like Maya’s Big Business Adventure or The Creative Crew - puts girls at the centre of entrepreneurship from the start.
Celebrate Local Role Models
Big names are great, but local visibility matters too. Invite female founders into schools, youth clubs, and community events. Meeting someone “like me” who runs a business can light the spark.
Normalise Entrepreneurship as an Option
Entrepreneurship shouldn’t feel like an extraordinary exception. Talk about it at the dinner table, encourage “mini businesses” like bake sales or coding projects, and make it part of everyday conversation.
👩🏫 For Parents & Teachers
You don’t have to be an entrepreneur yourself to plant the seed. Start with simple actions:
Share news stories about women in business.
Highlight women-led companies you buy from.
Encourage girls to keep a “Big Ideas Notebook” where no idea is too small or too silly.
🌍 The Bigger Picture
Changing this statistic isn’t just about fairness. It’s about building an economy and a society that values all its talent.
Imagine if every girl in the UK grew up knowing five, ten, or twenty inspiring female founders. The pipeline of future entrepreneurs would look completely different - and so would our industries, innovations, and communities.
Conclusion
Right now, 81% of young people can’t name a female founder. That’s not a gap in knowledge - it’s a gap in representation.
By telling the stories, showing the role models, and sparking conversations early, we can change that number. And when we do, the next generation won’t hesitate when asked, “Can you name a female entrepreneur?”