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Key findings from the Female Innovation Index
- Running a business
- Report
- 5 minutes read
Female Foundry’s Female Innovation Index is a crucial, living insight into the realities facing female innovators. This year’s edition tells a story of promise, with data suggesting that more VC investment is flowing to female founders – but as ever, there’s more to be done.
- The report provides an objective view of the state of investment into female-founded teams, such as total capital raised, proportion of capital deployed into female-founded startups, and the number of female-founded unicorns.
- In addition to year-on-year trends, the report also explores longer time horizons, such as the top sectors for VC-backed female-founded companies since 2020.
- There is reason for celebration as investment flows have increased, but there is still more that can be done.
Data around investment into female or mixed founding teams often highlights a missed opportunity. Many within the innovation economy will be all too familiar with headlines that rightly emphasise that only a tiny percentage of investment goes to women –sources routinely quote a figure of roughly 2%.1
While it’s clear that there are several changes required, one invaluable tool in addressing this ongoing gap is accurate data – the type and depth of which the Female Innovation Index provides.
This year’s numbers tell a story of growth. According to the report, 1,307 European female-founded startups raised €7.5B through 1,376 deals in 2025. That’s the highest amount in three years, and represents a 19% year-on-year increase in total investment from the €6.25B raised last year - progress led in no small part by AI.
This year’s edition offers users a specific view of the UK, and the findings are intriguing:
- 11% of VC capital went to female-founded companies in 2025
- 13 female-founded UK businesses have unicorn status
- There were 30 exits through M&A for female-founded businesses
Emily Turner, CEO, HSBC Innovation Banking UK"Data is key to identifying missed opportunities, and this report is a valuable tool for turning insight into much-needed action. We are proud to continue to support Female Foundry on their mission of driving lasting change for all extraordinary innovators."
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions and not facts. All information in this document is for general informational purposes and not to be construed as professional advice or to create a professional relationship and the information is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Nothing in this document takes into account your company’s individual circumstances. HSBC Innovation Banking does not make any representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of this document and the material may not reflect the most current legal or regulatory developments. HSBC Innovation Banking disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents in this document to the fullest extent permitted by law. Nothing relating to this material should be construed as a solicitation or offer, or recommendation, to acquire or dispose of any investment or to engage in any other transaction.
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