This document summarizes efforts in Germany to foster female entrepreneurship. It outlines that women entrepreneurs often start businesses in services, act locally rather than internationally, and start with smaller capital from family and friends. It then describes the National Agency for Women Start-ups and Entrepreneurs, a nationwide body since 2004 that provides information, services, and represents regional partners to support women starting businesses in all phases. The agency coordinates over 1,700 regional partners across Germany's 16 states.

1. Fostering Female Entrepreneurship Iris Kronenbitter National Agency for Women Start-ups & Entrepreneurs Germany Copie 2 Partner-Meeting, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Berlin, 21.05.2010

4. European Social Fund (ESF) Funded by

5. National Agency for Women Start-ups and Entre-preneurs: Nation-wide body for all activities focusing start-ups by women and female entrepreneurs since 2004. Providing information and services for all areas and phases of company foundation, consolidation and succession for the political, business, academic and public sectors. Awarded by the European Union as Best Practice in 2009.

8. Tasks & Services exchange of information experts‘ database education consulting data and facts networking innovations advice to federal government research services internet portal rising awareness

11. Thematic current focus Business Transfer by women, Technology oriented & Innovative start-ups through women Selfemployment of women in the growing markets like the Creative Industries Connecting Research with Practice, Leading to Transfer into Practice Service sector approach, female Freelancer & Business Cooperations