
Austin is poised for transformative changes in supporting women entrepreneurs, following recommendations from a mayoral task force that has already sparked significant initiatives, task force chair Carla McDonald announced at a recent Female Founders Outlook event.
McDonald, founder of Dynabrand Ventures, revealed that the Better Business Bureau Foundation has secured approval to open Austin’s first Women’s Business Center, addressing a critical gap in resources for women business owners in the Texas capital.
“Austin ranks sixth nationally for venture capital deals and dollars, but less than 1% of those dollars reach women founders — even worse than the 2% national average,” McDonald told the audience of more than 100 attendees at the Zilker Lodge. EisnerAmper, Unnanu, Active Capital, Lumen Insurance Technologies, and Perkins Coie sponsored the Second Annual Female Founders Outlook 2025.
The task force, established by Mayor Kirk Watson in summer 2023, spent eight months surveying 370 women entrepreneurs and consulting stakeholders nationwide. Their findings highlighted significant disparities, including difficulties accessing SBA loans and venture capital, particularly for profitable women-led businesses.
Despite these challenges, women entrepreneurs own 40% of Austin’s businesses, contributing over $5 billion to the local economy and employing more than 100,000 people, according to McDonald.
The Austin Chamber of Commerce has responded to the task force’s recommendations by forming an Entrepreneurs Council to better integrate women founders into the broader business community. Additionally, a local venture capital firm is considering leading a capital pledge to increase investments in women-led startups.
“The future for Austin women entrepreneurs has never been brighter,” McDonald said. “This is a transformative moment for us as members of the community to lean in and meet the moment.”
The Women’s Business Center, expected to open within months, will provide free business training, access to capital, and federal contract certification opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
The Mayor’s Task Force for Austin Women Entrepreneurs’ full report can be found here.
