Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, a new study commissioned by the UK’s Female Founders Rise, in partnership with Barclays Bank, highlights women’s need for human connection to succeed.

Seventy eight per cent of female founders believe that human connection is central to their entrepreneurial journey, according to a study commissioned by the UK’s Female Founders Rise, in partnership with Barclays Bank. Female founders experience loneliness and they are exposed to funding barriers and negative sentiment for public funding, such as grants, the report found.

The research, launched this week at the Barclays Eagle Labs’ Innovation Hub in London, is a large grassroots study. The findings captured the views, stories and experiences of 2,225 UK-based female founders – who together generate £1 billion ($1.35 billion) in annual turnover – and recorded 436,000 words of qualitative data. The survey was carried out between 6 and 27 October 2025.

The findings underline that entrepreneurship, far from being a solo endeavour, thrives through community, peer support and shared experience. The new insights come alongside recent reports that the UK could unlock up to £310 billion in economic growth if women were to start and scale businesses at the same rate as men. It also comes ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March – designed to commemorate women’s fight for equality and liberation – with this year’s theme being “Give to Gain.”

The report reveals that the need for human connection runs deep across the female entrepreneurial community, regardless of the size or stage of business, with 78 per cent of respondents citing human connection as central to their entrepreneurial journey. Peer networks were identified as the most effective form of support, cited by 39 per cent of respondents. Mentorship and coaching were stated by 32 per cent as vital forms of support.

However, when connection breaks down, the consequences are significant. One in seven female founders identified loneliness and isolation as their biggest challenge, with over a quarter reporting mental health pressures, including burnout and self-doubt. Loneliness levels were notably similar among founders of both small and larger businesses, showing that this is systemic, not just an experience of those in the early startup phase.

Financial insecurity and access to capital were also identified as significant structural barriers facing female entrepreneurs. Nearly half of respondents said that difficulty in obtaining funding was their primary obstacle. Of those expressing that sentiment, 78 per cent reported strong frustration in seeking public funding such as grants, describing the processes as bureaucratic and time-consuming. Seventy-three per cent also expressed negative views of seeking private finance including business loans, venture capital and angel investment. Almost a third said that public funding applications were overly complex, while one in 10 cited negative investor behaviour, including dismissive attitudes, ghosting and power imbalances.

The findings follow a 2025 report by the Women and Equalities Committee, which warned that female entrepreneurs remain significantly under-resourced. Less than 2 per cent of venture capital goes to fully female-founded teams, despite research showing that female-led businesses deliver stronger investment returns.

Emmie Faust, who commissioned and co-authored the report, is the founder of Female Founders Rise, a community of over 11,000 UK female entrepreneurs, calling for all involved stakeholders – including policymakers, investors, the wider business community and allies – to listen and act. “As an exited founder myself, I could save someone £100,000 by sharing some of the mistakes I made along the way. Just think about the impact this could have at scale,” Faust said.

“More than 2,000 women have shared their honest experiences of starting and growing a business in the UK and we must listen to what they’ve told us. One message comes through loud and clear – when women are backed with the right networks, support and opportunities, their businesses don’t just survive – they thrive,” Sam White, head of SME business banking at Barclays, added. “Confidence fuels action, and action builds firms that contribute to local communities and the wider UK economy. The potential is huge and we will get closer to realising it if we ensure women feel supported, connected and empowered to grow their businesses.”