The lender said the investment aims to boost economic growth by helping close the gap in funding female-led businesses face, compared to male-led ones.
Winners came from a range of industries and business stages, including start-ups, established firms and purpose-led businesses.
The Female Business Owners Index 2025, from Tide and everywoman, revealed that more than half (54%) of women entrepreneurs report working longer hours.
The Female Founders report, developed by Charles Stanley in partnership with Beauhurst, found that the number of female-founded businesses has more than doubled over the past decade, yet growth opportunities remain constrained.
Research revealed that 53% of the female SME owners surveyed said they felt pressure to prove themselves more than male business owners.
A new report by Swoop Funding reveals a 12-fold gap in debt levels between male and female-owned businesses in the UK, despite women owning nearly one in five active companies.