Entrepreneurship 
Although Utah ranks well in some elements of women’s entrepreneurship, it ranks low on other metrics and measures. However, there continue to be barriers for women starting businesses nationally, and those that are unique to Utah women more generally. The greatest barriers to women’s entrepreneurship are fair access to capital, access to mentors, access to affordable childcare, and lack of awareness of business training and resources. Even in the face of multiple hurdles, women are establishing businesses that not only generate revenue and employ other Utahns, but also contribute to their quality of life and the prosperity of local and statewide economies. The Entrepreneurship spoke seeks to eliminate these barriers and support Utah women who desire to own and/or operate their own business. To learn more, check out the resource box below.
Spoke Leaders
Ann Marie Wallace
State Director, WBCUtah
LinkedIn Profile
Ann Marie Wallace is the State Director of the Women’s Business Center, the same organization that helped her become an entrepreneur. She worked in hotel management and launched her own business before mentoring other women.
Seth Jenson
Director, UVU Entrepreneurship
LinkedIn Profile
Seth is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute at Utah Valley University and helps lead its sister organization WE LIFT. Previously, he was a Strategy Researcher and Entrepreneurship Centre Fellow at the University of Oxford.
Tara Spalding
Chief Experience Officer, WTC
LinkedIn Profile
Tara Spalding is the CXO and MD of International Programs at World Trade Center Utah, a non-profit that helps Utah companies increase revenue and create jobs by expanding international sales, attracting foreign investment, and facilitating international partnerships.
Bold Vision & Goals
To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the Entrepreneurship spoke leaders and partners have crafted the vision and goals below.
Vision: Lead the nation with the highest concentration of women who own businesses with the most growth and longevity.
Goals:
- Increase the number of Utah women-owned businesses from 109,554 in 2019 to 112,500 (2.7% growth) by 2026 and to 115,000 (5% growth) by 2030. This will include employer and non-employer businesses. [Metric Dashboard]
- Increase the total annual revenue of Utah women-owned non-employer businesses by 3.8% growth by 2026 and 11% growth by 2030. [Metric Dashboard]
- Increase the percentage of employer businesses of total women-owned businesses from 10.1% in 2019 to 12.6% (2.5% growth) in 2026 and to 16.1% (5% growth) in 2030. [Metric Dashboard]
- Reduce Utah’s entrepreneurship-rate disparity between men and women. [Metric Dashboard]
- Improve Utah’s entrepreneurship-rate disparity with an increase to 25% female entrepreneurs (of businesses with more than 1 employee) by 2030.
- Move up in state rankings on WalletHub’s “Entrepreneurship-Rate Disparity” (for businesses with more than 1 employee).
- Shift Utah women’s agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas: [Metric Dashboard]
- If I had the opportunity and resources, I would like to start a business. [Increase women’s agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
- If I started a business, my family and friends would approve/support of my decision. [Increase women’s agreement by 5% by 2026 and 7% by 2030]
- If I started a business, it would grow to be big enough to employ others. [Increase women’s agreement by 8% by 2026 and 16% by 2030]
- If I were to start a business, I would know how/where to access resources and support. [Increase women’s agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
Thriving Statement: Women and girls thrive when they experience the aspirations and options to own and operate businesses. This includes equitable access to capital, mentors, and business training and resources, fostering an environment where they can achieve success.
- What Utahns Need to Know
- Informational Video
- Spoke Introduction Podcast
- Living Room Conversation Guide
- Research Summary
- The Status of Women & Entrepreneurship in Utah: A 2020 Update
- Women-Owned Businesses in Utah: Status, Challenges, & Opportunities
Partners
Working Groups
- Communication & Public Outreach Working Group
- Women & Business Centers Working Group
- Resources for Utah Women Working Group
- UVU Entrepreneurship Center Working Group
What You Can Do
Share Utah resources with women you know who are considering starting a business or interested in growing their existing business. Explore the following resources: Startup State, Women’s Business Center of Utah, and the Entrepreneurship Toolkit.
Get girls and young women excited about the opportunities they could have to start their own businesses. Share resources that will help them prepare, including the Lassonde Seeding Program and resources on this page.
Encourage elementary, middle, and high school teachers to invite women business owners to speak to students about their experiences. Find women business owners here, and encourage others to list their companies in this directory.
Get Engaged: Ways to get engaged include joining a spoke working group and spreading the word that Utah has many resources available for women who own or want to start a business. Thank you for your interest!
Aubrey Hanks
Spoke Coordinator
LinkedIn Profile
ajdk.hanks@gmail.com