Female founder numbers rise 45% in a decade, reveals new startup pitch data

The number of female founders pitching to investors has risen by nearly half over the past decade, according to a new report from venture capital firm Fuel Ventures, offering a unique lens into the evolving face of UK entrepreneurship.

The report, compiled from ten years of pitch submissions to the firm, reveals a 45% increase in female-led startups since Fuel Ventures launched in 2014, with a particularly sharp 30% rise in the past five years alone.

With around 6,000 pitches now arriving each year — the equivalent of one every 88 minutes — the report provides an extensive data-driven overview of startup trends, from founder demographics to investor preferences and pitch timing.

Notably, 76% of successful pitches came from startups with co-founders, suggesting that collaborative leadership remains a key asset when raising early-stage capital.

While London still dominates as the most popular hub for startup activity, other UK cities are rapidly gaining ground. Birmingham has seen a 120% rise in founder activity over the decade, with Manchester close behind at 95% — a sign of the growing decentralisation of the UK startup ecosystem.