There is a gender race in entrepreneurship in America. Women are proving that they can start and grow businesses at a fastest rate then men. But there are still some major obstacles that continue to get in their way.

Did you know that between 1997 and 2011,  the number of women-owned firms in the U.S. increased by 50% when the number of all businesses increased by 34%?

Did you know that overall, women-owned firms have done better than their male counterparts over the past 14 years. The number of men-owned firms (which represent 51% of all U.S. firms) grew by only 25% between 1997
and 2011—half the rate of women-owned firms. (See American Express Open report).

Women-owned firms continue to succeed in starting and growing small businesses and, when comparing like to like, small- and midsize
women-owned firms are keeping pace with the national average—and are topping the very sluggish growth seen among men-owned firms in the 1997-
2011 period. (American Express Open Report Stats)

However, the report demonstrates the obstacles haven't change for women-owned firms as they attempt to grow into the more than 100 employee range.

Is this a case of not raising money or not taking risks?

It is true that women must prove to those who dole out the money, that they CAN and WILL build companies that scale large enough to make 10 times or more return on investment. It is clear that financial institutions, who now spend time researching the women entrepreneurship phenomenon, have a vested interest in assisting women-owned small businesses in growth. When you (women) are winning the race, it's no surprise that you begin to garner fans ($$$) along the way. But there is still no doubt that men have an easier time of raising money for their businesses. Once women entrepreneurs  have a track record with venture money and are represented in respectable numbers in the venture community there will be a level playing field for the money race.

The second issue of taking risk for growth may be the more complicated. Women entrepreneurs are only beginning to see themselves in the role of CEO at public companies. There are currently 12 in the Fortune 500 down from 15 in 2010. Carly Fiorina was appointed CEO of Hewlett Packard in July 1999 and was the first female CEO of a company in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. In other words, role models at this level have only existed for a little more than 10 years.

Men have had the opportunity of modeling themselves after other men in the news, around the neighborhood and in their own family for decades. This situation is only beginning for women and therefore will take time to develop.

But, just as we have seen women take control of small business startups, I believe, it is only a matter of time before women will be taking larger risk and garnering attention as financial winners in business growth.

Women-owned businesses will stay ahead in the race by supporting each other and proving their abilities to succeed.

So - women....you can stop looking over your shoulder --- he won't catch you!

Mentors are important to small business success: