By Nonie White and Yvonne Biggins, Positive Psychology practitioners, researchers and ICF-accredited coaches.
Whilst the ever-growing funding disparity affecting female entrepreneurs is well-documented, its impact and the true lived experience of women building businesses within this inequitable system are much less well known. This study is the first of its kind to examine the psychological reality behind female entrepreneurship, revealing both the hidden toll and surprising resilience strategies of women successfully building businesses in the UK. It combines rigorous qualitative interviews with extensive survey data from nearly 250 start-up to scale-up female founders, to paint the most comprehensive picture to date of women's on-the-ground entrepreneurial experiences. What we've uncovered goes far beyond the typical funding gap narrative. We're seeing female founders operating in a persistent state of recovery deficit, managing disproportionate burdens with insufficient resources, yet still managing to build innovative, purpose-driven businesses. The question is - what might they achieve with equitable support?"
Key Findings:
● The Financial Anxiety Epidemic: Financial concerns generate the highest levels of acute stress among female entrepreneurs, with nearly half (48%) identifying cash flow as a major stressor and reporting the highest intensity stress reactions. This financial pressure takes a significant toll: 59% experience sleeplessness, 45% suffer from low mood, and 43% struggle with negative thinking patterns - cognitive impacts that directly undermine decision-making capacity and business performance.
● The Midlife Revelation (and the second shift): Challenging previous assumptions, 75% of our female entrepreneurs are aged 35-54, directly contradicting the commonly held belief that female entrepreneurship declines after 35. This also places them firmly in the domain of the ‘sandwich generation' - having to balance work alongside the ‘second shift,' during which they shoulder up to 75% of domestic chores and caring responsibilities for children and older relatives.
● The Loneliness epidemic: Our research uncovered an alarming 66% of female founders experiencing extreme loneliness - a direct business liability linked to significantly lower performance.
● The Neurodiversity Factor -
25% of respondents identify as neurodiverse, with ADHD entrepreneurs
experiencing significantly higher stress patterns
(81.6% reporting persistent anxiety).
● The Hormonal Impact: 21% of respondents identified changing hormones during perimenopause and menopause as a significant barrier to success - an overlooked factor in entrepreneurial wellbeing and performance.
● The female founder paradox - despite how hard entrepreneurship is (for instance, 83% of female entrepreneurs report high stress levels and 54% experience burnout), paradoxically, most female founders still love it! 97% enjoy their entrepreneurial journey and 66% report high life satisfaction.
Most significantly, the report identifies six evidence-based practices that distinguish thriving female entrepreneurs from their struggling peers - a "Best Practice Blueprint" that could transform founder wellbeing and performance across the ecosystem.
This research transcends superficial sticking-plaster advice like adopting 'power poses' before pitching, revealing instead the profound interconnection between founder wellbeing, psychological resilience, and measurable business outcomes, establishing wellbeing as a strategic business imperative directly linked to entrepreneurial performance and success
The Best Practice Blueprint includes:
- Leveraging professional coaching and peer support networks
- Prioritising health and fitness (with measurable performance benefits)
- Using nature as a proven stress-reduction tool (that also reduces loneliness)
- Making time for joy and fun outside of work for higher performance
- Practising mindfulness and spirituality
- Actively managing negative thinking patterns
What's remarkable is that the most successful entrepreneurs aren't working harder - they're working differently, The blueprint we've discovered offers simple strategies that any founder can implement, regardless of their resources or circumstances.
The study calls for systemic change while empowering individual entrepreneurs with practical tools for resilience. It provides clear recommendations for ecosystem players - including investors, accelerators, and educational institutions - on how to better support female entrepreneurs beyond just funding.
"This research represents a critical step toward understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs," says Christine Hsieh, PhD, Entrepreneur in Residence at MIT's Martin Trust Center. "The identification of actionable, evidence-based strategies to enhance wellbeing and performance is especially powerful."
The full report is available to download at Positive Entrepreneurship, a movement to change the entrepreneurial ecosystem to operate from a place of optimal wellbeing to enable peak performance and positive impact. It was born as a reaction to the hustle harder mentality, in which self-sacrifice is seen as the norm. We exist to share the research and application of positive psychology to entrepreneurship and how it enables sustainable growth and flourishing. We want to create a world in which entrepreneurs operate at their highest potential, whilst optimising their wellbeing and by extension, the wellbeing of their organisation and of those who contribute to it, including our planet.
Positive Entrepreneurship
Positive Entrepreneurship is a movement to change the entrepreneurial ecosystem to operate from a place of optimal wellbeing to enable peak performance and positive impact. It was born as a reaction to the hustle harder mentality, in which self-sacrifice is seen as the norm. We exist to share the research and application of positive psychology to entrepreneurship and how it enables sustainable growth and flourishing. We want to create a world in which entrepreneurs operate at their highest potential, whilst optimising their wellbeing and by extension, the wellbeing of their organisation and of those who contribute to it, including our planet.
The authors are available for interviews, speaking engagements, and workshops
Nonie White is a leading authority on female entrepreneurship and Positive Psychology, blending research with practical business experience to help women build sustainable ventures. A certified Positive Psychology Practitioner and Associate Certified Coach (ICF), Nonie has founded multiple businesses and serves as an Advisory Member to Female Founders Rise.
Yvonne Biggins is a serial entrepreneur who has founded three successful startups, one of which raised over £1 million in investment. With a 20-year career spanning roles at multinational companies including Apple, Yvonne holds a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.
Contact details - Email: hello@positiveentrepreneurship.co
