“Entrepreneurship is all about perseverance, about believing enough to withstand anything and everything that comes your way.”
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10,000 Women: Business Growth Through Capital [3:44] 
10,000 Small Businesses [5:07]
15 Years of Goldman Sachs Employees Volunteering [4:57]
Team Rubicon [3:25]Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women is a global initiative that fosters economic growth by providing women entrepreneurs around the world with a business and management education, mentoring and networking, and access to capital.
About the program
In 2008, based on a growing body of research to support the economic opportunity of investing in women, Goldman Sachs launched 10,000 Women to provide women entrepreneurs around the world with business management education, mentoring and networking, and access to capital. To date, the initiative has reached over 10,000 women from across 56 countries and resulted in immediate and sustained business growth for graduates of the program.
10,000 +
women
56
countries
30 +
world leading business schools
100
academic and non profit partners
The opportunity: Increase access to capital
One of the biggest obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs around the world is a lack of access to capital to help grow their businesses. The World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates that as many as 70 percent of women-owned small-and-medium enterprises in developing countries are unserved or underserved by financial institutions – resulting in a credit gap of around $285 billion.
- Women entrepreneurs show great potential for growth...
- 90%
of graduates pay it forward by mentoring other women in their communities
- 58%
of graduates added new jobs with an average growth of over 3.5 employees
- 69%
of graduates increased revenue
- ...but to fulfill their potential, they need access to credit
- 70%
of women-owned small businesses in developing countries are underserved by financial institutions
- 285BN
is the estimated credit gap for women entrepreneurs
- 12%
increase in per capita income by 2030 that could be created by closing this gap
LAUNCH OF THE LOAN FACILITY
In 2014, Goldman Sachs and IFC created the first-ever loan facility for women-owned small-and-medium enterprises to enable 100,000 women around the world to access capital.
- EMPOWER
up to 100,000 women entrepreneurs by providing access to capital
- STIMULATE
economic growth
- BUILD
stronger, more prosperous communities
Year Two Progress
Two years after launching the loan facility, this public-private partnership, spurred by private sector innovation, has catalyzed new investments from both the public and private sectors and reached more than 30,000 women in 17 countries.
30,000
women entrepreneurs
17
emerging markets
$ 600 MM
in committed investments
How the loan facility works
-
The Women
Meet Ayodeji
- Catering
- No Left Overs
- Nigeria
- Pan-Atlantic University
“When you satisfy your clients, they actually become the arrow head of your sales force - incredible!”
See Ayodeji's story
-
The Women
Meet Ciiru
- Children's Furniture
- FunKidz Limited
- Kenya
- United States International University – Nairobi
“I’m most proud of the fact that I dared to do this. I dared to dream. And I didn’t just dream, I woke up and I said I can do this against all the odds.”
See Ciiru's story
-
The Women
Meet Kalyani
- Manufacturer of Organic Ayurvedic personal care products
- Ancient Living
- India
- Indian School of Business
“Successful business is all about integrity and aiming to make a positive social impact. If we believe in something, we need to strive to achieve it without compromising on our ethical values. If we do that, growth will follow.”
See Kalyani's Story
