In recent years, female entrepreneurship has seen a significant surge. According to a 2024 survey by Gusto, women launched 49% of all new ventures in the U.S., up from just 29% in 2019. Inc.com This growth is not only a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of women but also to the institutions that support them. Several colleges across the United States are leading the charge by offering specialized programs aimed at empowering female founders.
Babson College: Pioneering Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership
Established in 2000, Babson College’s Frank & Eileen Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership was the first academic center at a top U.S. business school dedicated to women founders. The center’s model is built on four pillars: a robust mentorship program, research from the Diana International Research Institute, accelerators like the Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab and Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and partnerships that extend Babson’s reach into communities nationwide.
Alumna Kristen Smith, co-founder and chief experience officer of Treâs Street Kitchen, attributes much of her company’s success to the support received from Babson’s programs. While participating in the Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, Smith secured five new food-service contracts and fulfilled an order of the company’s signature BBQ sauce to Amazon.
University of Texas at Austin: Navigating Challenges with Resilience
At the University of Texas at Austin, the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (KS WELI) provides mentorship, funding guidance, and hands-on experience to help women founders build personal networks and secure investment. Despite legislative restrictions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at Texas’s public universities, KS WELI has maintained its results-driven focus, ensuring that women entrepreneurs continue to receive the support they need.
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): Redefining Business Education
SCAD is challenging traditional notions by offering the Business of Beauty and Fragrance program, one of the first of its kind. This program prepares students to launch ventures in industries that shape culture as much as markets. Meloney Moore, dean of the De Sole School of Business Innovation at SCAD, emphasizes that the gig economy has lowered the barrier to entry for early entrepreneurs, allowing them to blend corporate jobs with business ventures. SCAD’s approach to business education focuses on design thinking, research, innovation, and collaboration to solve problems, preparing students for leadership roles in high-growth industries like beauty and luxury.
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT): Fostering Creativity and Innovation
At FIT, President Joyce F. Brown has long championed women’s leadership in creative industries. The FIT Center for Innovation’s DTech Lab offers brand collaborations with companies like Adidas and Uniqlo, providing students with opportunities to participate in design competitions and industry-sponsored projects. With women accounting for more than 80% of its student body, FIT has become a natural incubator for women entrepreneurs and executives, ensuring they understand the power they have and the opportunities they bring.
