Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women is a global initiative that fosters economic growth by providing women entrepreneurs around the world with a business and management education, mentoring and networking, and access to capital.
Evolution of the Program
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women was founded on the understanding that investing in women entrepreneurs leads to economic growth and stronger communities. By providing a practical business education, mentoring and networking opportunities, and access to capital, 10,000 Women has reached thousands of women from over 100 countries to date. Graduates from this program report immediate and sustained business growth.
Grounded in research and direct anecdotes from our alumni, we recognized that many women entrepreneurs face significant obstacles in accessing the capital needed to grow their businesses. In 2014, we partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a sister organization of the World Bank, to create the first global finance facility dedicated to women entrepreneurs – the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF). The facility is built to help address the growing credit gap for female business owners. WEOF has reached $1.45 billion in commitments and will continue to grow, surpassing an initial target of $600 million.
