Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Equality of Opportunity in Action: Accelerating Impact for Female Entrepreneurs on Wednesday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Sharing the experiences of female entrepreneurs and highlighting innovative ways to support the women-owned business ecosystem, this event will feature public and private sector leaders who are actively working  to accelerate their growth and success. Hear directly from female founders and learn more about solutions -  expanding access to capital, investing in technical assistance and support, and building networks - to closing opportunity gaps that exist for female entrepreneurs, especially those of color.

According to the 2018 State of Women-Owned Business report published by American Express, women-owned enterprises grew an impressive 58% from 2007 to 2018, and the number of firms owned by Black women grew by a stunning 164%t, nearly three times that rate. As these businesses continue to become more established in the American economy, they also face more obstacles than men when launching and growing. These challenges are exacerbating opportunity gaps and hindering female entrepreneurs from innovating, creating jobs, and growing. In its Black Womenomics report Goldman Sachs estimates that reducing the earnings gap for Black women, which includes increasing business ownership to drive economic mobility, could raise the level of annual US GDP by 1.4-2.1% each year, or $350-525bn in current dollars.

Despite challenges, it is a fact that women-owned businesses have a significant impact on the U.S. economy. According to the Small Business Administration, women-led businesses employed 10.1 million workers and accumulated $1.8 trillion in receipts in 2019. The number of employer firms owned by women grew six percent between 2014 and 2016, twice the growth rate of employer firms owned by men. There is much to be learned from the experiences of female entrepreneurs and even more, there is a significant opportunity to invest in their success.