Three headline findings stood out:

1. Research indicates that if women were given equal access to resources, female-founded businesses would yield a return of 78 cents per dollar invested — more than twice the 31 cents generated by male-founded start-ups.
2. In Australia, bringing female entrepreneurship to the same level as male entrepreneurship could add between $71 billion and $135 billion to the economy, representing 5.1–9.7% of GDP.
3. Women make up only 27% of founders among new Australian start-ups. The OECD puts the number of ‘missing entrepreneurs’ across its member countries at 34.1 million, of whom nearly three-quarters are women.

Our review concluded that the Decadal Plan holds considerable potential to make the Australian economy more inclusive, innovative, and prosperous. This forward-looking proposal would build a stronger pipeline of successful female founders, unlocking a new kind of demographic dividend – one that taps into the talent and ingenuity of half the Australian population.

The Plan’s recommendations would advance Australia’s economic prospects across three dimensions: broadening labour force participation by removing obstacles facing female founders; boosting productivity through greater innovation and entrepreneurial risk-taking; and opening up employment opportunities for underemployed and underrepresented groups throughout our society.