By Catherine Gray
Every Women’s History Month, I take a moment to reflect on how far women have come financially—and how much opportunity still lies ahead.
Here’s a fact that still surprises many people: until the 1970s, women in the United States often could not open a bank account or get credit in their own name without a male co-signer.
That changed with the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which made it illegal for banks and lenders to discriminate based on gender or marital status.
Think about that for a moment. Just fifty years ago, women were legally blocked from basic financial independence.
Today, women are launching companies, leading funds, writing checks into startups, and shaping the future of innovation. That’s an extraordinary shift in one generation.
And yet, there’s still one place where women remain dramatically underrepresented: venture capital.
The Venture Capital Gap
Women control a growing share of wealth and make the majority of consumer purchasing decisions. Yet only a small percentage of venture capital funding goes to companies founded by women.
That’s not just a fairness issue—it’s a missed economic opportunity.
When talented founders are overlooked, investors miss out on profitable companies. Research consistently shows that diverse founding teams often outperform and build companies that address real-world needs that have historically been ignored.
When women become investors, they bring new networks, insights, and perspectives to the table. And that changes which ideas get funded.
Why Who Writes the Check Matters
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned producing the documentary Show Her the Money is that who writes the check shapes what gets built.
Investors don’t just fund startups—they influence the direction of innovation.
When women are investing, we see more funding flowing into industries like healthcare, education, consumer innovation, and financial technology—areas where women are both leaders and major customers.
This isn’t about replacing male investors. It’s about expanding the table and unlocking the opportunity.
Venture Capital: A Wealth-Building Engine
Venture capital has been one of the most powerful engines of wealth creation in the modern economy. Some of the world’s largest fortunes were built by investing early in transformative startups.
For decades, women were encouraged to focus on saving rather than investing boldly.
But that narrative is changing.
More women are becoming angel investors, joining venture funds, participating in syndicates, and supporting founders building the next generation of companies.
When women invest, they aren’t just generating financial returns—they’re building networks, ecosystems, and generational wealth.
The Ripple Effect
Women investors tend to mentor founders, open doors, and expand access to capital for others coming behind them.
That ripple effect is powerful.
It means more women founders get funded. More innovative companies are built. And more women participate in the wealth created by the innovation economy.That’s what I call dollars and sense.
Join the Changemakers
If you want to understand the incredible women already changing venture capital, I invite you to watch the documentary Show Her the Money.
The film highlights the trailblazing women investors and founders who are reshaping the venture capital landscape and proving that backing women isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart investing.
And in exciting news, the film is now available to stream on Amazon and Apple TV.
https://showherthemoneymovie.com/watch/
This Women’s History Month, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on how recently women were denied even basic financial tools—and how powerful it is that today we have the ability to invest, fund innovation, and shape the future.
Because when women invest, we’re not just funding startups-
We’re funding the next chapter of history!
Catherine Gray
Executive Producer,
Show Her The Money
CEO/Founder, She Angel Investors
Keynote Speaker/ Author
Co-Founder-She Angels Foundation
Host Invest in Her Podcast
Watch my Ted talk here!
https://youtu.be/Ms-tROEeLn4