What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Scale Across Industries and Regions

On March 16, 2026, The Acceleration Project attended the Women’s Entrepreneurship Institute conversation, Geographies and Industries of Opportunity: How to Unlock Trillions by Backing Women led by Sima Ladjevardian, Co-Founder, President and Board Chair of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Institute (WEI).  WEI’s work focuses on advancing rigorous, gender-informed research, policy ideas, and accessible public education and this seminar was especially meaningful to TAP because Jane Veron, TAP’s Co-Founder and CEO, serves on WEI’s Advisory Council.

One of the most compelling speakers was Nicola Corzine, Founding CEO and Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. Her remarks brought both clarity and urgency to the discussion. She reminded the audience that “Our communities rise when our entrepreneurs rise.” She also made a point that strongly resonated with TAP:

That idea gets to the heart of the opportunity. The seminar pointed to women building businesses in small-scale manufacturing through specialty foods, cosmetics, crafts, and other niche products, while also beginning to enter construction despite high structural barriers. The problem is not a lack of drive. It is that too few of these businesses are supported to grow from solo ventures into larger, employer businesses.

That framing aligns closely with what TAP sees every day. We work with under-resourced small business owners across the country, and we know that capital matters. But as Jane has long said, capital alone is not enough. Funding by itself rarely solves the operational, strategic, financial, and marketing challenges that stand between a promising business and a growing one. Entrepreneurs also need expert guidance, practical support, and trusted partners who can help them make stronger decisions over time.

Nicola’s point about geography also connects directly to TAP’s national model. We believe entrepreneurial talent is widely distributed, even when access to high-caliber business support is not. That is why TAP has built a geographically broad network that includes 186 volunteer consultants across 21 states and serves small business owners in 48 states across the U.S. Our reach is not just a statistic. It reflects a core belief that business owners should not have to live in a major capital hub to access the guidance they need to strengthen operations, navigate challenges, and pursue growth.

That national footprint matters because the needs of small business owners are not limited to one city or one type of market. Founders everywhere are asking similar questions about cash flow, growth strategy, customer acquisition, staffing, and resilience. When support is accessible, practical, and tailored, more businesses have a real chance to move from momentum to lasting growth.

What made this seminar so valuable was that it treated women’s entrepreneurship as an economic infrastructure issue. It pushed the conversation beyond what is missing and toward a more useful question: where is growth already happening, and what conditions help that progress compound rather than stall? For TAP, the takeaway is clear: small business owners need guidance that meets them where they are in their business lifecycle. That is where expert coaching can make the difference between stalled momentum and meaningful progress; and when small business owners receive the right support they build stronger businesses and create lasting impact in their communities.

If you are a small business owner looking for practical guidance, TAP offers no-cost services that meet business owners where they are and help them grow with confidence. We support entrepreneurs across core business areas including marketing, finance, and operations, delivering timely insight and hands-on support at every stage of growth.

Explore this month’s coaching topics and visit TAP’s website to apply for Small Group Coaching, 1:1 Coaching, or register for a free webinar.

Watch the full WEI conversation on youtube