How Women Entrepreneurs Are Thriving with Crowdfunding

Women-Owned Businesses Build Community

The Ladies Room Co-owner and COO Christina Glen and Founder and CEO Christy Donnelly raised $70,100 on Honeycomb Credit's investment crowdfunding platform.

Women entrepreneurs are a force to be reckoned with. We are launching businesses more than we ever have before, and with that we are pushing innovation forward in every industry we touch. Yet, no matter how successful we are, securing business funding remains a major hurdle. Traditional financing options like bank loans and venture capital (VC) often fall short in supporting women-owned businesses.

But crowdfunding is changing that. It’s a powerful, community-driven financing model that’s helping women entrepreneurs break barriers and scale their businesses on their own terms. With the rise of investment crowdfunding and small business investment platforms, women are accessing the capital they need while building a loyal customer base in the process.

The Funding Gap for Women Entrepreneurs

Despite making up 35% of U.S. businesses, women-owned companies get much less funding than their male entrepreneurs. Here’s why:

• Traditional funding disparities: Women-led startups receive less than 2% of venture capital funding annually. Banks are also more likely to deny loan applications from female entrepreneurs or offer them less favorable loan terms than men.

  
  

• Bias in lending and investment: Studies show that women face unconscious bias when pitching to investors, often being asked more risk-focused questions than growth-oriented ones.

  
  

• The need for alternative financing: With fewer opportunities for traditional funding, many women entrepreneurs turn to alternative funding sources like crowdfunding, grants, and revenue-based financing to launch and expand their businesses.

  
  

Crowdfunding Is a Game-Changer for Women Entrepreneurs

Crowdfunding can give you a level playing field because women can raise capital based on their business potential rather than external biases (how nice!). Here’s why it’s transforming women-owned businesses:

• Retaining control: Unlike VC funding, crowdfunding allows women to raise money without giving up equity or decision-making power.

• Community-driven investment: Backers aren’t just investors; they’re loyal customers, brand advocates, and supporters who believe in the business’s mission.

  
  

• Success stories: Women entrepreneurs across industries—from food and beverage to tech and retail—have successfully raised capital through crowdfunding.

  
  

Like The Ladies Room in Seattle, WA. It’s a woman-owned health and wellness business that used Honeycomb Credit to add new positions and expand operations. With investment crowdfunding, The Ladies Room raised growth capital from customers and supporters, proving that community investment is a game-changer for female entrepreneurs.

How Honeycomb Credit is Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

At Honeycomb Credit, we believe in the power of women-led businesses and have helped countless female entrepreneurs raise the funds they need to scale. Our crowdfunding platform connects women-owned businesses with local investors who want to see them thrive.

Women Entrepreneur Success Story: Goodness In Grains

Goodness In Grains owner, Tennille Cooley, raised over $34k from local investors with Honeycomb Credit.

Take Goodness In Grains, a woman-owned salad and grain bowl shop in Lawrenceville, GA that needed funding to buy a food truck to expand its reach and meet growing demand. Founder and owner Tennille Cooley turned to Honeycomb Credit for help. Through crowdfunding, she raised $34,750 from local supporters, allowing her to buy that food truck and grow her business while maintaining ownership and control.

Key takeaways from her experience:

• Traditional funding options weren’t accessible, but crowdfunding provided a flexible alternative.

  
  

• Engaging with the community built brand loyalty and customer trust.

  
  

• Raising capital through Honeycomb Credit allowed her to expand without high-interest debt or predatory lending terms.

  
  

Final Thoughts

For women entrepreneurs facing funding challenges, crowdfunding isn’t just an option—it’s a movement. By tapping into community-driven investment, women can secure capital, strengthen their brands, and scale their businesses on their own terms.

If you’re a woman business owner looking to grow, now is the time to explore crowdfunding. Honeycomb Credit makes it easy to get started and connect with a community that believes in your success.

🚀 Ready to take the next step? Learn more about crowdfunding with Honeycomb Credit and explore funding opportunities.