THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA is regarded as a leading region for startups, dominating the field globally year after year as a top recipient of venture capital funding. But the burgeoning startup economy has dragged its feet when it comes to investing in startups run by all-female founders, according to Founders Forum Group, a collection of businesses that research startup trends.

In 2024, only 2% of venture capital invested in Silicon Valley startups went to companies with all-female founding teams, the group found. Additionally, about 12% of startups in 2025 in Silicon Valley and San Francisco were founded by women, according to the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies.

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Alise is a general assignment reporter with a focus on covering government, elections, housing, crime, courts and entertainment in San Francisco and on the Peninsula. Alise is a Bay Area native from San Carlos. She studied history at University of California, Santa Cruz and first started journalism at Skyline College’s school newspaper in San Bruno. She has interned for Bay City News and for Eesti Rahvusringhääling, or Estonian Public Broadcasting. She has covered everything from the removal of former San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus to the divisive battle over the Great Highway on San Francisco’s west side. Please send her any tips.