F5 Collective wants women to put their economic contribution on the record

Women-focused VC and business builder F5 Collective has launched a national survey to put numbers around how women build businesses, create commercial value and influence where money goes – a part of economic activity too often filed under “niche”.

The Women’s Economy Survey takes about three minutes, asks five core questions, and is open to women across Australia – and you don’t need to own or run a business to respond.

As a bonus incentive, you can submit a separate, optional application for one of five merit-based $5,000 grants.

F5 wants to bring together evidence spanning business ownership, the creator economy, investment and consumer demand, arguing that the existing picture is fragmented.

CEO and founding partner Tracey Warren says the current narrative is that access to capital has become harder and too many investors still regard women-led businesses as a niche. She wants the data to challenge that thinking.

“Women are not building side hustles or lifestyle plays. They are building scalable, defensible businesses with product-market fit and staying power,” she said.

“The problem is that too few decision-makers can see it in the data.”

Survey respondents can choose from three tracks: Women Who Build, covering those building, buying and growing businesses; Women Who Create, for those commercialising ideas, expertise, influence and community; and Women Who Back, covering investment and the businesses women buy from, trust and recommend.

The findings will inform The Women’s Economy Report, intended to help investors, brands, retailers and policymakers understand emerging demand, businesses ready to scale and what support women need to grow.

Warren says the aim is for subsequent capital, partnerships and policy to reflect how women actually build.

The survey closes at midnight on Monday, November 16. Women can take part at thewomenseconomysurvey.com.