How female entrepreneurs are changing the business game

As we celebrate the month of International Women’s Day, it’s time to shine a light on the inspirational, badass businesswomen who are changing the game. Over the past decade, female-owned business initiatives have shaken up industries with their innovation and authenticity – proving that, ultimately, women can do it all. Hidden under the pile of oversaturated markets and bombarding phone advertisements, it is vital to highlight how to find and support these trailblazing female entrepreneurs. So, how can you help them rise even more? Keep reading.

Why Supporting Women-Led Brands Matters:
One of the core reasons women-owned businesses have gained so much traction is their ability to offer products designed by women, for women. This authenticity resonates deeply with customers, who can now access brands with an unmatched level of insight. They know your struggles and needs, and they’re here to provide thoughtful, effective solutions that actually make sense.

Hey Girls
Take the period product company Hey Girls, for example. Launched in 2018, the company is not only female-led: for every product sold, they donate one. They work with 400 partners across the UK, which has resulted in donations of over 30 million period products over the last five years. They’re a business on a mission to tackle period poverty, making them certainly worthy of our support.

Luminary Bakery
Then there’s Luminary Bakery, a hidden gem at the busy Brick Lane since 2014. More than just a place for mouthwatering cakes and crisp pastries, the bakery supports women in overcoming past traumas by developing new skills. They have helped over 130 women achieve their goals within the food industry and turn their lives around. Their success nearly tastes as sweet as their brownies. Try one yourself if you don’t believe me. So, if you’re ever in the area, grab a sweet treat and support a business that benefits its customers and workforce alike. Everyone could do with a slice of social good.

Raising awareness about the illusionary culture behind many saturated markets is vital so that younger shoppers are only consuming and using products realistically and safely

Book Bar
Women’s businesses can create safe, welcoming spaces for us to connect, socialise, and bond over shared passions. This philosophy is at the heart of Book Bar (located in Blackstock Road, London), launched in 2021 to create a social space that combines an integrated bookshop and wine bar. This is a spot where women can chill, sip wine, and finally relax after a busy day of being a woman. In a city where finding a non-toxic, welcoming space to meet new people can feel impossible, Book Bar is the solution. It’s not just about books and booze – it’s about creating a real sense of community and slowing ourselves down for the night.

The Power of Social Media, from TikTok to Big Business:
Bijoux de Mimi
We cannot ignore the astounding impact of social media on the creation and growth of new female-founded brands through media like podcasts, online reviews, and perhaps most influentially, TikTok. The power of female voice and recommendation is undeniable when overseeing the rise of brands like Bijoux de Mimi, which rose to fame during the pandemic. After gaining attention from a young audience on TikTok, they quickly grew a fanbase and are now stocked in Urban Outfitters and Wolf & Bedger’s UK and US stores. At age 22, the founder (Amelia Hitchcock-Merritt) makes $85,000 a month. What was once a preoccupation during the boredom of lockdown has led to mass following from Gen-Z due to the colourful, affordable, and high-quality jewellery presented on social media.

Cult Beauty
However, as we cheer on these rising TikTok businesses, social media brings the risk of false beauty standards. Cult Beauty has refused to facilitate the toxic, edited version of ‘perfect’ beauty by ensuring complete authenticity in their advertising. No edited flawless makeup and no AI-generated models, just real people. Their “Beauty Untouched” watermark promises a commitment to never retouching in-house model imagery that many of us have fallen victim to. Their “Can’t (Re)Touch This” campaign has inspired nine brand partners to follow suit and sign the Body Image Pledge. Now, that’s what you call positive influencing. Raising awareness about the illusionary culture behind many saturated markets is vital so that younger shoppers are only consuming and using products realistically and safely.

So next time you feel tempted to hastily hit ‘buy’ on that Instagram ad, ask yourself: Who am I supporting behind this brand?

How you can support and start your own business:
Whilst celebrating inspirational larger female-led corporations, supporting small businesses is the first step toward success. Feeling inspired? If you’re looking to start your own business, finding resources and support is easier than ever. Platforms like Etsy offer an accessible way to launch a small business, especially without needing capital loans. If you need financial help, funding opportunities such as the Female Founders Fund support women entrepreneurs, offering platforms that connect them to customers and investors. Another excellent program is Back Her Business, launched by NatWest, which helps women bring their business ideas to life by offering funding and mentorship.

If you’re into tech, initiatives like The Women in Innovation Awards have provided total funding of £7.6 million for women-led businesses tackling global challenges like climate change or AI. More women than ever are starting up new companies – around 20% of new UK firms are now led by women. So, if you’ve got an idea, go for it – you never know where it might take you.

As we wrap up our women in business celebrations this International Women’s Day, it’s clear that female entrepreneurs are driving change across every industry. They aren’t just creating business innovations; they’re shaping the future. When you support women-owned brands, you are not just purchasing products best suited to you – you’re empowering women to keep innovating, leading, and helping society.

The rise in female businesses isn’t a coincidence or a temporary trend we’ll forget about in a few months. It’s a testament to the growing inclusivity and celebration of the brilliant female mind. So next time you feel tempted to hastily hit ‘buy’ on that Instagram ad, ask yourself: Who am I supporting behind this brand?  And, more importantly, are they supporting you?

Why support female-owned businesses? It’s simple: they are made by women, for women. And that’s something worth your money.