Investing in Women Code signatories increase funding for female-led businesses in 2025

Signatories to the Investing in Women Code increased the proportion of venture capital funding going to female-led businesses in 2025, continuing to outperform the wider market for the sixth consecutive year, according to its annual progress report.

The report found that 32% of venture capital investment made by Code signatories went to businesses with at least one female founder in 2025, up from 27% in 2024.

Across the wider equity market, female-founded teams received 15% of total investment.

Code signatories also completed 33% of their venture capital deals with businesses that had at least one female founder, compared with 25% across the wider market.

The report found that all-female founding teams received 6% of investment from Code signatories, compared with 2% across the wider market.

It also suggested that more diverse investment teams were associated with greater investment in female founders.

Among signatories with majority female investment committees, 11% of deals were made with all-female founding teams, compared with 8% for majority male committees.

The British Business Bank said it continued to support female entrepreneurs through initiatives including its £400m Investor Pathways Capital programme and funding commitments to the Invest in Women Taskforce.