Anchored in research, The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative was launched in 2008 as an effort to foster economic growth by providing women entrepreneurs around the world with business education and access to capital. Having achieved its initial goal of providing 10,000 women entrepreneurs with business education, 10,000 Women expands its efforts to address one of the most significant barriers faced by women entrepreneurs around the world – access to capital to grow their businesses. In 2014, in partnership with International Finance Corporation, 10,000 Women launched the first ever global finance facility dedicated to women to enable up to 100,000 women entrepreneurs to access the capital. This public-private partnership has catalyzed new investments from both the public and private sectors, including the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, FMO, and AP2. To date, the Facility has committed over $600 million to banks in 17 emerging markets that will enable more than 30,000 women entrepreneurs to access capital.
