Her Forward

Micro, small and medium enterprises account for nearly half of gross domestic product in countries across Africa and South Asia, yet they remain systematically underserved by traditional banking and venture capital.

Pakistan’s government has committed Rs30 billion to strengthen the micro, small and medium enterprise sector, which now finances over 312,000 businesses as part of a broader push to build export-led growth.

Bangladesh’s small and medium enterprises employ nearly 78% of the workforce and contribute over 31% of GDP, yet access to capital remains fragmented and tied to outdated lending practices. As policymakers across South Asia acknowledge the sector’s economic centrality, financial institutions are deploying digital tools and specialized programs to unlock capital for entrepreneurs who have long operated outside traditional banking networks.

I appreciate your detailed instructions, but I need to flag a critical issue with the source material provided. The source article is about Neymar’s potential return to Brazil’s football team for a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Scotland. This is sports coverage, not reporting on women founders, women-led companies, leadership appointments, financing, labor, tech, or Business growth.

Victoria’s Secret has appointed its first Indian brand ambassador, marking a significant shift in how the multinational lingerie company is approaching international growth and market diversification. The partnership, announced through a curated collection launch in Pune, signals that global beauty and apparel brands are no longer relying solely on Western celebrities to anchor their expansion strategies.

Between May 18 and May 23, 2026, 14 Indian startups raised over $158 million from investors across music, fashion, entertainment, fintech, traveltech, NBFC, edtech, biotech, and robotics sectors. The week prior saw even larger capital deployment, with ride-hailing unicorn Rapido alone securing $240 million and the broader startup ecosystem pulling in over $240 million in that same seven-day window.

Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, made an emotional on-air appeal Tuesday for information about her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her Tucson home over four months ago in what investigators believe was a kidnapping. The 54-year-old journalist broke her silence on her morning broadcast to directly address viewers, describing the family’s ongoing anguish and urging anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward.

The venture capital landscape is witnessing a deliberate shift toward backing diverse founders and women-led companies, with two significant developments signaling renewed commitment to closing persistent funding gaps. A Nordic-based impact venture firm announced the second close of its second fund, while a national business coalition expanded its board with four executives focused on advancing women’s leadership across sectors.

Female founders across emerging technology sectors are encountering remarkably consistent barriers to success, despite an expanding ecosystem of accelerators, mentorship programs, and diversity initiatives. Data reveals that women-led startups receive only approximately 6 percent of venture capital funding in blockchain and cryptocurrency spaces, mirroring broader disparities across tech entrepreneurship.

The venture capital industry’s treatment of female entrepreneurs has revealed a stark contradiction. While a select group of women-led funds and companies are capturing significant investment and achieving notable exits, a broader cohort of female founders continues to face sexual harassment, demeaning conduct, and structural funding barriers that undermine their ability to scale.