Gender-Gap Research · Co-Creative Workshops 2024–25
10% in 10 Years: Feasibility Study
A synthesis of brainstorming takeaways from co-creative workshops conducted by the Parsons Elab Research Team — mapping structural inhibitors, opportunity spaces, and AI-driven solutions to close the gender funding gap.
Core Finding
Structural & Transactional Barriers Rooted in Systemic Bias
Women face both structural and transactional barriers to funding, rooted in systemic biases that restrict access to capital and reinforce exclusionary investment networks. Despite starting businesses at higher rates than men, female founders in the U.S. received just 1.8% of venture capital in 2023 — down from 2.1% in prior years.
Female founders face inequities at every step of the entrepreneurial journey — from network exclusion and investor bias to the motherhood penalty and intergenerational trauma. The research identifies three primary inhibitor domains and maps actionable opportunity spaces within each.
Research Findings
Structural Inhibitors
Workshop Outputs
Solution Spaces
Guided by "How Might We" (HMW) questions, participants generated ideas and used dot voting to identify the most impactful concepts. The top-voted ideas are highlighted below, including where AI may play a positive role.
Idea
Create and share a vetted database / network
AI Optimization
AI Application Screening to analyze bios and leadership signals; AI Network Builder to match mentors and automate scheduling
Impact
Fosters peer-to-peer learning, empowers women leaders, builds a sustainable talent pipeline
Idea
Create accountability metrics for accelerators and incubators
AI Optimization
AI Impact Dashboard with real-time metrics; AI Benchmarking Bot to compare cohort metrics against industry benchmarks
Impact
Enhanced transparency builds stakeholder trust; core metrics ensure alignment and enable incremental diversity outcomes
Idea
Develop 'The Girls Club' for early education and mentorship
AI Optimization
Smart matching algorithms pairing girls with female entrepreneur mentors; AI-powered business simulations
Impact
Future role models for future generations; entrepreneurship as an achievable, passionate path for young women
Idea
Design a coalition of male allies
AI Optimization
AI matches experienced entrepreneurial fathers with girls showing passion for entrepreneurship based on skills and background
Impact
Broadens support beyond women-only networks; builds cross-gender accountability for systemic change
Parsons Elab
Research Team
Rhea Alexander
Assoc. Prof. of Strategic Design & Management, Director Elab, Parsons
Laura Martinez
Design Researcher, Parsons Elab
Xenia Jankovich
Research Assistant, Parsons Elab
Jody R. Weiss
Founder, Women Funding the World & Co-Creator, Women's Funding Council
Peter Martin
Contributing Advisor
Full Document
Access the Complete Gender-Gap Research Synthesis
Download the full PDF produced by the Parsons Elab Research Team with all workshop findings, solution frameworks, and implementation recommendations.
Download PDF
Join the Movement to
Redirect Capital.
The Women's Funding Council is building a coalition of women and men committed to closing the venture capital gap. Your expertise, your network, your voice matters.