If we want to fund more women, I need your support

DEAR READER...

With only 2p in every pound of funding going to female founded businesses¹ (despite proven outperformance²), this distinct lack of confidence is holding us back.

I'm refusing to let another International Women's Day go by with these statistics remaining largely unchanged and I've decided to do something about it — but I need your support. Let me tell you more below.

Are you with me?

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

A manifesto for change

Rosette Wall

Do you believe in her?

Imagine a world where instead of doubting female founders we backed them. And instead of only 2p in every pound being invested, women got an equal share.

Imagine if more women started businesses each year and helped others to do the same.

Because female founded businesses have been proven to outperform their counterparts, provide a more flexible way of working and often give more consideration to sustainable and social practices, too³.

The truth is, it’s not confidence that holds them back — but confidence IN them.

Female Founded Business

Here’s what we could achieve

If women were backed at the same rate as men, they could…

  • Unlock £250 billion for the UK economy⁴
  • Help create a richer society, driven by ‘we’ not ‘I’⁵
  • And show the next generation what’s possible

It’s why 95% of the small businesses on Holly & Co are women-owned and women-run, and why we’re making it our mission to galvanise the community, so that we don’t let the statistics above remain unchanged for yet another International Women’s Day.

Because if you really do believe in women, wouldn’t you back them?

Our commitment to you

We’re going to find the answer within ourselves because enough is enough.

  • There are around 34.5 million women in the UK⁶, controlling 85% of the household spend⁷
  • Plus 70% of inheritances are projected to go to women from Boomers as part of the Great Wealth Transfer — predicted to be the largest shift in history⁸

So it begins here and it begins now. I'm actively changing my business model to do all I can to make sure women get the opportunities they deserve — and will keep you updated on the progress being made.

Are you with me?

Sources:

  1. Gov.uk Taskforce Report 2024, 2. Forbes article on female founders’ outperformance 2023, 3. BDaily on the impact of female leadership 2023, 4. Rose Review Progress, Report 2023, 5. Landmark’s study on female generosity 2025, 6. Statista 2023, 7. Forbes article on women running the world 2024, 8. Money Marketing article on wealth transfer 2025
Female Founders Day

This is what a founder looks like

A legacy of campaigning year round

Since founding Notonthehighstreet back in 2006 and Holly & Co in 2018, I've made it my business to support, champion and empower women. We do it year-round, and then each March, we mark International Women’s Day by actively campaigning. Whether it’s challenging stereotypes by showing #ThisIsWhatAFounderLooksLike or showing why we believe the #FutureIsFemaleFounded, we will keep doing all we can to inspire action and help women achieve equality.

Check out our female founder collections

ACROSS OUR PODCAST, ARTICLES & SHOP

Want to be inspired? On my weekly podcast Conversations of Inspiration, I'm thrilled to speak to creative entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen, share and shout about these podcast episodes to help us change the landscape for future female founders. You can also show support by shopping with female founded businesses (look out for the Holly & Co badge on our product pages) and, if you want to start or grow a business, you can read our free business advice articles too.