Starting a business is never easy, but starting one as a female founder in a highly regulated industry brings its own unique set of challenges.

Ying Liu is the head of AI R&D at the London-based startup TG0, and a pioneering researcher in human-computer interaction. Here she offers her advice to the next generation of female technology leaders.

Leadership is changing, and it's a shift I find truly inspiring. A recent Deloitte report found that 87% of executives believe we’ll face a strong focus on gender diversity in the next five years. That's not just a trend, but a necessity now, which only makes me proud, especially now, as we approach International Women's Day.

A new gender and diversity index assessing the state of play for the European deeptech scene has been released, developed by the GENDEX project and funded by the EIC. The index is intended to identify gender diversity and inclusion gaps across the ecosystem and to offer actionable insights and recommendations for stakeholders to consider moving forward.

For decades, the boardroom has been a space of power, influence, and decision-making at the highest levels. But despite progress in leadership representation, women still hold just 23.3% of board seats globally. We talk about gender equity in the C-suite, in venture capital, in entrepreneurship – but what about at the top of corporate governance?

The UK has dropped to 18th place in PwC’s Women in Work Index, marking its worst ranking for workplace gender equality in ten years. A ‘sluggish’ pace in closing the gender pay gap and declining female workforce participation have pushed the UK further behind its peers, now ranking second-worst among G7 nations, behind Canada.

HiBob has released its fourth annual Women in the Workplace report, revealing men’s perceptions of workplace equality are out-of-touch with reality. 

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Rare Founders brought together a whole host of female founders to discuss the parts of the journey that women in business don’t often discuss in public. The raw, unfiltered truth, the struggles that are hidden behind their success, and the real-life experiences that female founders face on a daily basis.

A year ago, in February 2024, the Labour party pledged to introduce a Race Equality Bill, should it come to power. That promise was also included in its manifesto. Fast-forward, a year later, we’re expecting to see it come to the House – after it was mentioned in the King’s Speech, in July 2024.

The American economy is sputtering, and the solution won't be found in Silicon Valley's echo chambers. As we mark a historic Black History Month, it's time to face a stark reality: our tech sector, a supposed engine of innovation, is leaving a vast pool of talent untapped.  

Nearly half (43%) of board roles and 35% of leadership roles in FTSE350 companies are now held by women, as the UK leads the way with a record number of female leaders, according to the latest FTSE Women Leaders Review 2025.

For startups and entrepreneurs, building a thriving business often means navigating financial constraints, talent acquisition, and operational efficiency, all while fostering an inclusive workplace.

New research from YuLife’s ‘Getting Workplace Wellbeing Right in 2025’ report highlights a gender gap in employee wellbeing, with financial uncertainty and job stability influencing career decisions in the coming year.

Addleshaw Goddard and HSBC have announced the return of the Ethnic Business Growth Programme, an initiative which seeks to empower and support UK businesses which are led by entrepreneurs from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The latest Work Index from the future of work experts, Flexa, has analysed data from throughout 2024 to reveal the biggest work trends of the year, and those set to shape how we work in 2025.

Tara Askham of Bakersfield, Nottingham has been crowned one of the UK’s most impressive female entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain’s ‘f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100’ campaign.

Every year, Startups Magazine makes a list to highlight some of the incredible women in our network and 2024 was no different.

As a CEO and Managing Partner of a boutique recruitment agency specialising in scaling startups, I believe diversity is not just a moral imperative – it’s a competitive edge. Many startup founders hesitate to embrace diversity due to concerns about cultural integration, communication barriers, or team dynamics. Yet these challenges are solvable, and the rewards of building a diverse team far outweigh the risks. In this article, I’ll share why hiring diverse teams is essential for growth, innovation, and long-term success.

Scot-Study, Scotland’s edtech platform dedicated to helping‪ international students, have successfully showcased the power of fostering diversity and international collaboration in Scotland, at their second annual Christmas Soirée.

November 7, 2024, marks the launch of Women's Health & FemTech Ukraine, the country's first professional community dedicated to women's health innovation.