The SHEconomy: Women Building Businesses, Communities, and the Future

For generations, women have carried the weight of multiple roles in society, caregivers, educators, innovators, community builders, and entrepreneurs. In many ways, women have always been the architects of economic and social stability, often building opportunity in spaces where access was limited and systems were not designed with them in mind.

Today, that legacy of resilience is transforming into an undeniable economic force.

Across the United States, women are launching businesses at historic rates, redefining industries and creating solutions that respond to real needs within their communities. What was once framed as perseverance has now evolved into measurable economic impact.

The data tells a powerful story. According to recent reporting from The Currency, new business applications increased nearly 37 percent year over year as of January 2026, the largest rise since April 2021. Even more striking, women founders now represent 49 percent of all new businesses, the highest rate recorded in the past five years. This surge reflects a growing shift in economic leadership, as women increasingly step into roles as founders, innovators, and job creators.

Women-owned businesses are not only growing in number, they are reshaping the economic fabric of local communities. From retail storefronts and creative studios to tech startups, wellness companies, restaurants, and service-based enterprises, women entrepreneurs are generating jobs, expanding opportunity, and reinvesting in the neighborhoods they call home.

Yet the growth of women-led businesses also highlights the continued need for access to education, capital, and entrepreneurial support systems. Despite their momentum, women, particularly women of color, still face structural barriers when it comes to funding, mentorship, and business development resources.

At the Urban League of Greater Philadelphia Entrepreneurship Center (ULEC), empowering entrepreneurs is not simply a programmatic focus, it is a long-standing commitment to economic equity and community development. ULEC provides entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and training needed to launch and grow sustainable businesses.

Women entrepreneurs across Greater Philadelphia have long been a vital part of this work. From early-stage founders refining their business plans to established business owners scaling their operations, ULEC continues to support women who are building companies that strengthen the region’s economy.

During Women’s History Month, we pause to celebrate these contributions while recognizing that the story of women in business is still unfolding. Each new venture represents more than a company, it represents economic mobility, leadership, and generational change.

Women are not simply participating in the future of business. They are actively building it.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of women entrepreneurs this month, we also reaffirm our commitment to creating pathways for education, access, and opportunity so that the next generation of women leaders can thrive.

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Momentum Newsletter: March 2026 | Issue 3