Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry under study Core Insights - The study investigates how intrahousehold dynamics affect the investment decisions of female entrepreneurs in Ghana, revealing that unconditional grants have limited impact on business performance, while savings mechanisms show significant positive effects [2][10][16] Summary by Sections Introduction - Female entrepreneurship is on the rise globally, yet significant gender gaps in business performance persist, with cash grants showing limited effectiveness in enhancing performance [6][7] Methodology - A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 3,096 couples in Accra, Ghana, assessing four types of support mechanisms for women-owned businesses [10][18][22] Findings - Unconditional grants provided to female entrepreneurs or their spouses did not improve business performance, while conditional grants linked to training and savings goals led to increased sales and profits [11][15][52] - The savings intervention resulted in a 15% increase in sales and a 10% increase in profits, particularly for women facing high expropriation pressure [15][16][69] Mechanisms - The study highlights the role of expropriation pressures within households, where women often face demands to share their income, impacting their investment decisions [13][62] - The savings treatment was effective in mitigating these pressures, allowing women to maintain greater control over their resources [68][69] Conclusion - The findings underscore the importance of understanding intrahousehold dynamics and suggest that well-designed interventions can enhance the autonomy of female entrepreneurs, leading to better business outcomes [16][69]

Core Insights - Block Advisors by H&R Block has relaunched its Fund Her Future grant program, accepting applications from April 28 to May 30, 2025, to support women-owned small businesses with high growth potential [1][5] - The program will award a total of $100,000 in grants, with one recipient receiving $50,000 and up to five others receiving $10,000 each, along with a year of small business services valued at nearly $30,000 [1][4] Group 1: Program Details - The 2025 Fund Her Future program aims to recognize six women-owned small businesses that demonstrate community impact [1][5] - Eligibility requires applicants to be over 18 and owners of a U.S.-based business, with a focus on those showing community impact [5] - The program received over 6,000 applications in 2024, highlighting the significant interest and need for support among female entrepreneurs [6] Group 2: Challenges for Female Entrepreneurs - Female entrepreneurs face significant barriers in accessing capital, with 42% of women business owners denied bank loans and nearly 90% relying on personal finances and credit cards for funding [2] - The 2024 State of Women's Small Business Report indicates that women entrepreneurs encounter more hurdles compared to their male counterparts [2] Group 3: Impact of Previous Grant Recipients - Grant recipient Heather Jiang reported a 50% increase in online traffic to her business after receiving the grant, which allowed her to expand product lines and hire staff [7] - Erica Cole leveraged the funding to launch a sensory-friendly collection in Walmart and acquire another brand, demonstrating the scaling potential enabled by the grant [7] - Ameka Coleman anticipates a 400% revenue increase from onboarding additional hospital networks due to the support received from the grant [7] Group 4: Company Overview - H&R Block, through its Block Advisors division, provides year-round services for small businesses, including bookkeeping, payroll, and advisory services [10] - The company combines digital innovation with human expertise to assist clients in achieving better financial outcomes [10]