As a girl dad, I’m incredibly proud we produced the Groundbreaking Women 2025 issue. From the cover featuring four incredible athletes turned entrepreneurs to our Groundbreaking Women list, I hope this issue will inspire girls—like my daughters—to believe they can accomplish anything. Representation matters, and when women see leaders who look like them excelling in sports, business, finance, and beyond, it reinforces that no goal is out of reach.
As a businessperson, I am equally proud of this issue because it highlights a massive economic opportunity that too often goes overlooked: investing in and supporting women-led businesses, including professional women’s sports. The momentum is undeniable, but the disparity in funding remains significant. We aim to highlight the opportunities and leaders who might not be getting the recognition they deserve.
In the world of startups, the numbers tell a stark story. Despite producing higher returns on investment, women-led startups receive just a fraction of the available venture capital. In 2023, only 2% of venture capital funding went to all-women-founded businesses in the United States, and the numbers are similarly low across Europe and other global markets. Even more telling is that only 15.4% of venture capital-backed startups have at least one female founder, and women of color receive less than 1% of total VC funding.
This funding gap is not just an issue of fairness; it’s a missed economic opportunity. Studies show that female-led companies generate higher revenue per dollar invested than those founded by men—more than twice as much revenue per dollar invested. And yet, the barriers to funding persist, often due to deeply ingrained biases in the investment community and outdated perceptions about risk.
Beyond our Groundbreaking Women list, this issue reflects what makes Worth unique: a carefully curated intersection of business, finance, luxury, innovation, and impact. We strive to create content that informs and sparks action, connecting our successful and influential community with ideas that shape industries and drive meaningful change.
At Worth, we are committed to championing these conversations. We recognize that those who embrace new perspectives and challenge the status quo will shape the future of business and investing.
I hope you find this issue both inspiring and thought-provoking. More importantly, it encourages action, whether mentoring a young woman, investing in a female-led venture, or rethinking your approach to leadership and growth.
