logo
Mind The Gap: How Female Invest Is Changing The Narrative On Women And Wealth

Mind The Gap: How Female Invest Is Changing The Narrative On Women And Wealth

Forbes25-03-2025
Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen (center), Camilla Falkenberg (left), and Emma Due Bitz (right), co-founders ... More of Female Invest
In the world of investing, the numbers tell a stark story: while women are just as competent with money as men, they invest significantly less. According to a recent study by Fidelity, only 33% of women see themselves as investors, compared to 67% of men. This disparity results in a gender wealth gap that compounds over time, leaving women with smaller retirement savings and less financial security.
Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, Camilla Falkenberg, and Emma Due Bitz, co-founders of Female Invest, are working to change that. In a recent discussion, they shared insights into why the gender investment gap continues and what can be done to address it.
'We had to learn the hard way that most of the financial advice out there doesn't apply to women,' Falkenberg explains. 'The game is just different for female entrepreneurs and investors because of unconscious bias and structural barriers.'
One of the most common financial myths holding women back is that they should prioritize saving over investing. 'Women at every stage of their lives are more likely to be advised to save and be cautious, whereas men are encouraged to take risks and build wealth,' Hartvigsen adds. This risk aversion leads many women to leave their money sitting in low-yield savings accounts instead of putting it to work in the markets.
The consequences of this investment gap are far-reaching. Women typically live longer than men, meaning they need even more savings to sustain retirement. However, because they invest less and often earn less due to the gender pay gap, they retire with significantly smaller nest eggs.
So, what's the solution? Education, accessibility, and representation. Female Invest, a grassroots initiative, has grown into a global movement that provides financial education tailored specifically for women. Since its inception in 2019, Female Invest has educated over 500,000 women across 125 countries. Following a highly successful European expansion, they are now launching in the U.S., their biggest market yet.
'With nearly 150,000 sign-ups for our first U.S. webinar, the message is clear: American women are ready to take the reins on their financial future,' says Falkenberg.
Their platform aims to equip women with the confidence and knowledge to take control of their financial futures. Their approach? Breaking down financial concepts in an engaging way and leveraging social media to make investing feel more accessible. 'We combine education with humor and inspiring role models,' Hartvigsen says. 'It's about making women feel like investing is for them.'
They also stress the importance of resilience, particularly for women entrepreneurs seeking funding. 'We stopped counting rejections after 107 'no's,' Falkenberg recalls about their fundraising journey. 'It's tough, but you only need one investor to say yes.'
Their persistence has paid off. In July 2024, Female Invest secured $10.2 million in a Series A round led by venture capital funds Educapital and Rubio. Around the same time, they launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised an additional $1 million in just four minutes, breaking records for the fastest fundraising campaign and the highest number of female investors involved (94%). To date, Female Invest has raised a total of $23 million.
For women looking to raise funds, the founders offer key advice: understand that the rules are different, build resilience, and seek out investors who align with your mission. 'The only way to be truly free is to be financially independent,' says Due Bitz. 'Women are done being told what to do with their money—we're here to change the narrative.'
As Female Invest expands into the U.S. market, its mission remains clear: empower more women to invest and close the financial gender gap. Their message to women? Start now. 'Investing isn't just for the wealthy or the finance-savvy—it's for everyone,' Anna says. 'And the sooner you start, the bigger impact it will have.'
The gender investment gap isn't just a women's issue; it's an economic issue. When women invest, they build wealth, gain independence, and create a more balanced financial future for all. And thanks to platforms like Female Invest, more women are taking charge of their financial destinies than ever before.
Female Invest has built the world's largest financial education platform targeting women. With paying members in 125 countries, the company is on a mission to close the financial gender gap by educating women on personal finance and investing. Since its inception in 2019, Female Invest has educated 500,000+ women, raised $23 million in funding and written the global bestseller 'Girls Just Wanna Have Funds'. The company has collaborated with women like Deborah Meaden and Sara Davies who have both hosted educational webinars as well as Emma Watson who has praised Female Invest as 'the best source of financial knowledge out there' on her Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

CTP announces the signing of a €500 million unsecured syndicated sustainability-linked loan facility
CTP announces the signing of a €500 million unsecured syndicated sustainability-linked loan facility

Business Wire

time22 minutes ago

  • Business Wire

CTP announces the signing of a €500 million unsecured syndicated sustainability-linked loan facility

AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: CTP N.V. ('CTP' or the 'Company'), Europe's largest listed developer, owner, and manager of logistics and industrial real estate by gross lettable area, today announces the successful signing of a 5-year 1 €500 million unsecured syndicated sustainability-linked loan facility at a fixed all-in cost of 3.7%. The syndication met very strong demand from both existing and new lenders resulting in being over 2x oversubscribed. SMBC and ING acted as Global Coordinators and Sustainability Coordinators. The syndicate comprises a group of 13 European and Asian banks. The facility will be primarily used to refinance the syndicated loan executed in 2023 allowing CTP to achieve material interest savings and reduce the overall cost of debt. About CTP CTP is Europe's largest listed owner, developer, and manager of logistics and industrial real estate by gross lettable area, owning 13.4 million sqm of GLA across 10 countries as at 31 March 2025. CTP certifies all new buildings to BREEAM Very good or better and earned a negligible-risk ESG rating by Sustainalytics, underlining its commitment to being a sustainable business. For more information, visit CTP's corporate website: 1 Facility tenor is 3+1+1 years with the extensions at CTP's discretion

Australia to reduce US beef import restrictions denounced by Trump as a ban
Australia to reduce US beef import restrictions denounced by Trump as a ban

The Hill

time22 minutes ago

  • The Hill

Australia to reduce US beef import restrictions denounced by Trump as a ban

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia will reduce restrictions on U.S. beef imports after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized what he described as an Australian ban on the meat, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said. Collins said Thursday that relaxing the restrictions designed to keep Australia free of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, among its cattle herds would not compromise biosecurity. 'Australia stands for open and free trade — our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this,' Collins said in a statement. Australia has allowed imports of beef grown in the United States since 2019. But Australia has not allowed imports from the U.S. of beef sourced from Canada or Mexico because of the disease risk. But the U.S. has recently introduced additional movement controls that identify and trace all cattle from Mexico and Canada to their farms of origin. US cattle import controls satisfy Australian authorities Australian authorities were 'satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the U.S. effectively manage biosecurity risks,' Collins said. The timing of the new, reduced restrictions has not been finalized. Trump attacked Australian import restrictions on U.S. beef when he announced in April that tariffs of at least 10% would be placed on Australian imports, with steel and aluminum facing a 50% tariff. 'Australia bans — and they're wonderful people, and wonderful everything — but they ban American beef,' Trump told reporters then. 'Yet we imported $3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone. They won't take any of our beef. They don't want it because they don't want it to affect their farmers and, you know, I don't blame them, but we're doing the same thing right now,' Trump added. Lawmaker fears appeasing Trump endangers Australian cattle industry Opposition lawmaker David Littleproud suspected the government was endangering Australia's cattle industry to appease Trump. 'I want to see the science and it should be predicated on science. I'm suspicious of the speed at which this has been done,' Littleproud told reporters. 'We need to give confidence to the industry, but also to you (the public): this is not just about animal welfare, this is about human welfare, this is about BSE potentially coming into this country and having a human impact, so I think it's important the government's very transparent about the science and I don't think it's even beyond the question to have an independent panel review that science to give confidence to everybody,' he added. Around 70% of Australian beef is exported. Producers fear that export market would vanish overnight if diseases including mad cow or foot-and-mouth disease infected Australian cattle. Will Evans, chief executive of Cattle Australia who represents more than 52,000 grass-fed beef producers across the nation, said he was confident the agriculture department had taken a cautious approach toward U.S. imports. 'The department's undertaken a technical scientific assessment and we have to put faith in them. They've made this assessment themselves. They've said: 'We've looked at this, we've looked at the best science, this is a decision that we feel comfortable with,'' Evans told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'When you have a 75 billion (Australian dollar, $50 billion) industry relying on them not making this mistake, I'm sure they've been very cautious in their decision-making,' he added. US beef prices rise because of drought and a domestic cattle shortage Beef prices have been rising in the U.S. due to factors that include drought and shrinking domestic herd numbers. The average price of a pound of ground beef in the U.S. rose to $6.12 in June, up nearly 12% from a year ago, according to U.S. government data. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose 8% to $11.49 per pound. Australia's opposition to any U.S. tariffs will be high on the agenda when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secures his first face-to-face meeting with Trump. Albanese and Trump were to hold a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of a Group of Seven summit in Canada last month, but the U.S. president left early. Albanese expects the pair will meet this year, although no date has been announced. The two countries have had a bilateral free trade deal for 20 years and the U.S. has maintained a trade surplus with Australia for decades.

World's largest olive oil producer warns U.S. consumers of a double whammy from Trump tariffs
World's largest olive oil producer warns U.S. consumers of a double whammy from Trump tariffs

CNBC

time23 minutes ago

  • CNBC

World's largest olive oil producer warns U.S. consumers of a double whammy from Trump tariffs

Spain's Deoleo, the world's largest olive oil producer, says U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose 30% tariffs on imports from the European Union could translate into higher prices for U.S. consumers — as well as limited access to a superfood staple. Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on the 27-member bloc from Aug. 1, in what would mark a steep jump from the current 10% duty. The EU has long been scrambling to reach a trade deal with the U.S. and is considering its options ahead of Trump's deadline, including the prospect of countermeasures. Huge uncertainty persists over whether the U.S. and EU can strike a deal over the coming days, although a blockbuster framework agreement between the U.S. and Japan has raised hopes of a breakthrough. Deoleo, the maker of household olive oil brands such as Bertolli and Carbonell, told CNBC that the Trump administration's trade measures could have an impact on American consumers, particularly given limited U.S. production. "It is worth noting that approximately 95% of the olive oil consumed in the U.S. is imported, so such policies will affect end users," Deoleo CEO Cristóbal Valdés told CNBC by email. The Spanish company said the U.S. accounts for more than a quarter of its total revenue, making it a strategically important market. Around 40,000 acres (16,187 hectares) of olives are planted exclusively in the U.S. for olive oil production, according to the American Olive Oil Producers Association. By comparison, the EU is known to be the leading producer, consumer and exporter of olive oil, with roughly 4 million hectares (9.88 million acres) dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees across the region. Most of the world's supply of olive oil comes from the Mediterranean, with southern European countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece among the world's leading producers of the precious commodity. Spain, in particular, is the biggest olive oil producer in the EU and a global reference for prices. As part of its preparation for a higher tariffs rate, Deoleo's Valdés said the company intends to ramp up its communication, marketing and consumer engagement efforts to ensure olive oil remains an everyday staple. "Beyond institutional dialogue, we are strengthening our value proposition in the U.S. through consumer awareness campaigns about the benefits of olive oil and a renewed commitment to our brands—especially Bertolli, which today represents trust and consistency for American consumers," Valdés said. Deoleo's chief executive also said the olive oil producer would continue to keep all strategic options open, while working on logistics and supply chain improvements to respond to different market scenarios. "However, beyond tactical decisions, our main priority is to protect American consumers' access to a food product that is essential to their health. Access to olive oil should not be penalized — it should be promoted," Valdés said. As U.S. tariffs on EU goods first came into effect in early April, analysts at commodity data firm Expana warned that a reduction in U.S. olive oil imports could have "serious repercussions" for the global market. They cited market players as saying that such a shift could create a supply glut in the EU, leading to further downward price pressure and intensifying competition among producers. It's not just olive oil exporters that have been rattled by Trump's latest tariff threats, however. Irish whiskey firms, Italian cheesemakers and French wine producers are among those who have sounded the alarm over the potential impact.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store