Women fill fewer than 10% of executive positions in the US venture capital industry and, between 1995 and 2000, left the industry at twice the rate of men, according to a US study on the role of women business owners.

Women led 28% of US businesses in 2002, employing more than 10 million staff and generating $1.5 trillion (€1.24 trillion) in sales. However, female entrepreneurs have received less than 9% of venture capital dollars. This is a disproportionately low share of available funds, said the study commissioned by the Kauffman Foundation, an endowment created to foster entrepreneurial activity.