Detroit, Michigan May 23, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - Men have historically been more successful in business than women accounting for 85% of the worlds 100 wealthiest individuals. But its not because theyre more capable.
Rose Vitale, the visionary behind the Female Founders Institute, says its because women have faced systemic barriers for generations and a lack of access to the same opportunities as men, which has created a lag in their accumulation of wealth.
Thats why Vitale decided to use her experience as managing partner at the San Diego-based private investments firm DRA Family Office to start a nonprofit that provides female founders with the resources, community, and access to capital needed to build and scale successful, impactful businesses.
Its disgusting how low the percentage of venture capital funding going to women-led startups actually is only 2% for companies with a sole female founder, she said.
Our mission at the Female Founders Institute is to change this by investing in female-owned businesses. Women have the ability to create the most innovative companies in history if they could just get the capital to do it. By forming a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and recruiting Women Financial Advisors (WFAs), FFI creates a network where advisors support each other and their clients while expanding access to resources for women entrepreneurs.
Vitale is looking to partner with women-led companies that have hit anywhere from $1 million to $5 million in revenue yet are still struggling to get financing. Shes looking for innovative startups and growth-stage companies that are going to disrupt and destroy industries.
For Vitale, she has always been a disrupter. In fact, she got suspended in kindergarten for sticking up for herself.
Ill never forget this one boy who liked my older sister. Him and his friend used to constantly harass me about her. I kept telling them to leave me alone. He wouldn't leave me alone so, I bit him, she said. That person is still within me.
More On Intelligenceninja ::
- "There Is Always Room For One More Blessing" - A Journey to Purpose and Clarity through Inspirational Quotes
- Tasha Wilmore, Recognized by BestAgents.us as a 2024 Top Agent
- Audrey Moore, Recognized by BestAgents.us as a 2024 Top Agent
- VoiceAmerica: Leading the Way in Digital Broadcasting
- Mayline Torres: Recognized by BestAgents.us as a 2025 Top Agent
This inherent drive to challenge the status quo is precisely what fueled her passion for creating the Female Founders Institute in May 2024 and working to level the playing field for women entrepreneurs everywhere.
In addition to providing them with investment opportunities, Vitale also plans to provide office spaces for women to work out of, across the globe. Shes currently in the process of opening innovation hubs in San Francisco, Calif.; Detroit, Mich.; and Sicily, Italy. She is starting with these locations to represent her culture (shes Sicilian), her hometown (she grew up in Detroit), and where she lives today (San Francisco).
Studies have shown that individuals working in a collaborative office setting are more effective at completing tasks than those working alone. But COVID-19 has really destroyed our humanity by not letting us connect with each other in person. Through these innovation hubs, I want to change that trend and offer conducive areas where women will be able to really collaborate on their companies, said Vitale.
Through the institute, Vitale will also provide resources and tools, such as daily classes everything from how to set up an LLC to how to grow and scale a business along with networking opportunities with mentors, advisors, and industry experts, and a supportive community of female entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders.
By empowering women and fostering confidence, she hopes to make successful businesswomen the rule instead of the exception.
Some look for unicorns, but I look for tigers. Unicorns are rare, but Im not looking for rarities. Im looking for tigers because tigers are fierce, she said. Im looking to form a network of tigers. I want people to say, Look, Rose got a new tiger! We will be a powerful force creating a roar throughout the business world.
But theres one thing Vitale says needs to change in order for this to happen and thats for women to stop competing and to, instead, collaborate. While men understand the value of collaborating, women have historically been taught to tear each other down and compete for limited resources whether thats by spreading rumors, undermining each other's achievements, or focusing on superficial criticisms.
This is partially due to societal pressures that often value women based on their physical appearance to a far greater extent than men. This can fuel a scarcity mindset among women, where they feel they must compete with one another for attention, validation, and even opportunities. This disparity allows men to focus more on succeeding professionally and leveraging their skills without the same degree of scrutiny and competition.
Thats why Vitale emphasizes the importance of women supporting women. Studies show that women who receive support from other women are more likely to succeed in business, achieve leadership positions, and drive innovation.
"By collaborating, women can combine their strengths, share opportunities, and create synergies that lead to collective success, she said.
Women now have a seat at the table and there's been progress in increasing representation of women in business and leadership positions but the pace of change is glacial. That's why it's more critical than ever for women to actively support and uplift each other and Im doing my part to help make that happen.
If you are interested in becoming a member, exploring partnership opportunities, or learning more about upcoming events and innovation hub locations, visit https://femalefoundersinstitute.org/ or connect on Instagram at femalefoundersinstitute_org. To hear more from Vitale, check out the Female Investor podcast.
Source :Female Founders Institute
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.