Business Research/Data: SBA Issues Report on Diversity Trends in Small Business Investing

Today Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released a groundbreaking SBA study showing the racial and gender makeup of investment boards is tied directly to investment decisions they make, especially with regard to the race and gender of the owners of companies in which they invest.
Contreras-Sweet highlighted the importance of the findings, saying, “I have made it a top priority as SBA Administrator to ensure that firms led by women and underrepresented groups are able to reach their full potential. I know some of these challenges firsthand. Unfortunately, start-ups owned by women and minorities often face an even more daunting challenge accessing the capital they need to grow and prosper. This study confirms that challenge but it also shows that we can expand opportunity and increase our overall economic strength by ensuring more women and underrepresented groups are in a position to make major investment decisions.”