UK government and business leaders unite to unlock AI opportunity for women entrepreneurs

Senior leaders from government, business and civil society have come together to set out a shared ambition to unlock the next phase of AI-driven growth for women entrepreneurs, following a high-level event in London. 

Hosted by global technology platform company Intuit, the event marked the launch of Adopted, not Embedded: AI, Productivity, and Uneven Gains for Women Entrepreneurs, a report produced by the Foundation, in partnership with Intuit and the World Bank Women, Business and the Law project, with support from TEAM LEWIS Foundation. 

Drawing on data from more than 3,000 women entrepreneurs across 66 countries, the research informed discussions at the event, with a clear focus on how rapid AI adoption can now translate into deeper, more meaningful impact for businesses. The research found that despite rapid growth of women entrepreneurs adopting AI in their practice – from 38% to 82% in just one year – the benefits remain uneven, held back by systemic barriers of lack of skills, time and capacity to embed AI in core business functions.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: 

“Making sure technology works for everyone matters to me personally, and it matters for the future of our economy. 

“Female entrepreneurs are adopting AI at pace, but we know that there is more to do to ensure that women have a seat at the table, so that they are shaping AI as well as benefitting from it.  

“That is why I have established the Women in Tech Taskforce, to support more women to enter, stay in and lead in tech – and why our plan to upskill 10 million workers in AI by 2030, including millions of women, is so important. 

“Getting this right is not just a matter of principle, it’s essential to enable the UK to unlock the full potential of its tech sector.” 

Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, said: 

“What we are seeing is not a question of whether women entrepreneurs are adopting AI – they clearly are. The real challenge is whether that adoption translates into meaningful growth. 

“Too often, the benefits remain limited because women lack the time, skills and capacity to embed these tools at the heart of their businesses. 

“With the right support, AI has the potential not just to improve efficiency, but to fundamentally level the playing field – for women in the UK and around the world.”  

Leigh Thomas, Vice-President EMEA at Intuit, said: 

“This event shows what can be achieved when government, business and civil society align behind a common goal.  

“AI is a powerful driver of growth for entrepreneurs everywhere. It has moved from the edges of business into everyday work, helping entrepreneurs turn ambition into execution. By making our tools practical, accessible and relevant to everyday business decisions, we can help more women turn that potential into real results.” 

Angie Madara, Founder of AthenaFundX, an AI-driven investment platform surfacing high-potential women-led companies, said:  

“AI has the potential to fundamentally shift income and the capital access equation for women in business. But we need conscious action to address the lack of trust in AI and the hesitation that comes with it.  

“With support allowing them to judge AI’s potential against human judgment that still needs to be applied, as well as harmonised tools designed with small businesses in mind, I’m confident AI can be one of the most powerful forces for closing the gender gap in business, not just in productivity, but in income, access to capital and markets.”  

The event convened senior figures including Dr Jade Leung, AI Advisor to the Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with discussions focused on how collaboration across sectors can accelerate the effective use of AI in small businesses.