Detroit, Michigan May 23, 2025 – While men have historically dominated the business world, holding 85% of the top 100 wealthiest positions, the Female Founders Institute believes this isn’t due to inherent ability.
According to Rose Vitale, founder of the Institute, systemic barriers and unequal access to opportunities have hindered women’s wealth accumulation.
Vitale, leveraging her experience as managing partner at a San Diego-based private investment firm, established the nonprofit to provide female founders with crucial resources, community, and capital to build and scale successful businesses.
“It’s appalling that only 2% of venture capital funding goes to startups with a sole female founder,” Vitale stated.
“The Female Founders Institute aims to rectify this by investing in women-owned businesses. Women have the potential to create groundbreaking companies if adequately funded. By establishing a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and recruiting Women Financial Advisors (WFAs), FFI fosters a supportive network for advisors and clients, expanding resource access for women entrepreneurs.”
Vitale seeks partnerships with women-led companies generating $1 million to $5 million in revenue but still facing financing challenges. She’s interested in funding innovative startups and growth-stage companies poised to disrupt industries.
Vitale describes herself as a lifelong “disrupter,” recalling a kindergarten suspension for defending herself.
“A boy and his friend were harassing me about my older sister. Despite my repeated requests, he persisted, so I bit him,” she recounted. “That spirit remains with me.”
This drive to challenge norms motivated her to launch the Female Founders Institute in May 2024, striving to level the playing field for women entrepreneurs.
In addition to investment opportunities, Vitale plans to establish collaborative office spaces for women globally, starting with innovation hubs in San Francisco, Calif.; Detroit, Mich.; and Sicily, Italy. These locations reflect her heritage (Sicilian), upbringing (Detroit), and current residence (San Francisco).
“Studies show that collaborative office environments enhance task effectiveness compared to working alone. COVID-19 has negatively impacted in-person connections. Through these hubs, I aim to reverse this trend, providing spaces where women can effectively collaborate on their ventures,” Vitale explained.
The institute will also provide resources and tools, including daily classes on topics ranging from LLC setup to business growth and scaling, networking opportunities with mentors, advisors, and industry experts, and a supportive community of female entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders.
By empowering women and fostering confidence, Vitale aims to make successful businesswomen the norm.
“Others seek unicorns, but I seek tigers. Unicorns are rare, while I seek the fierce nature of tigers,” she said. “I want to build a network of tigers, prompting people to say, ‘Rose has found another tiger!’ Together, we will be a powerful force, making a significant impact in the business world.”
Vitale emphasizes the need for women to collaborate rather than compete. While men understand the value of collaboration, women have historically been conditioned to compete for limited resources, sometimes resorting to undermining each other.
This is partly due to societal pressures that often emphasize women’s physical appearance, creating a scarcity mindset where they compete for attention, validation, and opportunities. This allows men to focus more on professional success without the same scrutiny.
Vitale stresses the importance of women supporting women. Research indicates that women who receive support from other women are more likely to succeed in business, attain leadership roles, and drive innovation.
“Collaboration allows women to combine strengths, share opportunities, and create synergies for collective success,” she stated.
“Women now have a seat at the table, and progress has been made in increasing female representation in business and leadership, but change is slow. Therefore, it’s crucial for women to actively support each other, and I’m committed to facilitating that.”
For membership inquiries, partnership opportunities, or information on upcoming events and innovation hub locations, visit or connect on Instagram at .
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Source :Female Founders Institute