Female business owners in Austin seek increased resources and support

Women entrepreneurs in Austin are facing significant challenges, according to a recent report. The Mayor’s Task Force for Austin Women Entrepreneurs was formed last July to address these obstacles and find solutions to make Austin a more supportive environment for women in business.

One of the major hurdles identified in the report is the lack of access to capital. 62% of women entrepreneurs surveyed cited this as their biggest challenge. To combat this issue, the task force recommended creating an angel investor group specifically for women-owned businesses and establishing initiatives to help women entrepreneurs find affordable childcare.

Mina Ibañez, the owner of Los Chilakillers in north Austin, shared her struggles as a woman in a male-dominated industry. She emphasized the difficulty of securing funding to expand her business, especially when trying to franchise it. Despite the challenges, Ibañez remains determined and hopeful for more support for women entrepreneurs in the future.

“It’s been hard, especially being a woman in a male-dominated industry. If you want to get any funds to expand your business, which is my case, it’s been really hard trying to find help,” Ibañez said.

Despite the obstacles she faced, Ibañez is determined to empower other women to pursue their dreams. She plans to give her first franchise business to another woman, highlighting the importance of supporting and uplifting fellow female entrepreneurs.