Raising capital is a major problem for startups because they need money to grow. In the U.S., only 2 percent of women-run startups receive funding from venture capitalists, says a study by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners and Wells Fargo & Co.

Yet women in the U.S. own 38 percent of U.S. businesses, or 9.1 million companies, says the study. Women-owned firms produce $3 trillion annually in the U.S. economy and create 16 percent of U.S. jobs.

More organizations are providing funding for women-owned startups.Springboard Enterprises in Washington, D.C. is one of these. The organization introduces women-owned startups to investors.

Springboard began 15 years ago. It has helped about 600 companies that are fast growing and women-owned raise $7 billion globally. According to their website, the companies created “tens of thousands of new jobs” and generated “billions of dollars” in annual profits.

Kay Koplovitz is a co-founder of Springboard Enterprises.

“Women need to access the so-called ‘Stiletto Network’ to push theirbusinesses forward,” she told TheStreet.com. Stilettos are high-heeled shoes worn by women. Koplovitz is saying that women need to tap intocapital of successful women entrepreneurs and female business leaders.

Golden Seeds in New York City is another organization that focuses on investing in women-owned businesses. Golden Seeds has more than 285 women angel investors in the U.S.  

Some companies also give cash to innovative women-owned startups.Cartier is one. In 2006, the French luxury-goods firm partnered withMcKinsey & Co., a consulting firm, and INSEAD business school in Paris.They created the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.

They run an annual competition to recognize top female entrepreneurs from around the world. Each winner gets $20,000, and experts from McKinsey and INSEAD coach them.

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