"We write to you today on behalf of our nation's leading innovators, entrepreneurs and influencers regarding one of the largest untapped economic and social opportunities in our country: women entrepreneurs. If women and men participated equally in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the United States' GDP could rise by $30 billion," the letter begins.
The letter, entitled "#WhatWeNeedToSucceed: A Letter to the Next President on Behalf of Women Entrepreneurs," spells out several opportunities to better support women entrepreneurs; leading with access to capital, as well as supporting trade agreements that foster opportunities for businesses of all sizes and making use of technology to support women entrepreneurs, from business registration to opportunities within STEM fields and combating unconscious within certain industries.
It's a "good business bet, not just a social bet," says Elizabeth Gore, entrepreneur-in-residence at Dell, where the letter was published last month.
Read about it below, and find the full letter here.
voanews.com - NEW YORK — Actress Jessica Alba is a supporter. So is the president and CEO of Mastercard. The co-founder of AOL and the CTO of Estee Lauder are also on board. What do they all have in common? They are among the 85 American business leaders and startup founders who have signed their names to an open letter addressed to the next U.S. president.
The letter outlines policy recommendations designed to drive and foster female entrepreneurship in the U.S., including increasing access to capital, expanding entry into local and global markets, and streamlining government processes for entrepreneurs seeking to get their businesses up and running.
According to the group of signees, there is a great deal of money potentially at stake — $30 billion to be exact. The letter cites a McKinsey Global Institute study which found the United States' GDP could rise by that amount if women and men contributed equally to entrepreneurship efforts. But gender inequalities in society and the workplace have reduced women's clout and, as a result, their economic contributions.