mnAi launches Australia’s first national gender index to transform understanding of female-led businesses in Australia

Data and analytics company mnAi, one of the growing fintechs in our community, has announced the launch of The Gender Index Australia (TGI Australia), the country’s first national dataset dedicated to providing comprehensive insights into female-led businesses across the Australian economy.

Building on the success of The Gender Index in the United Kingdom, the Australian initiative will deliver an evidence-based view of where female-led businesses are being created, how they are performing, the industries in which they are thriving, and the opportunities that exist to unlock greater economic growth. The launch represents a significant milestone in Australia’s entrepreneurial landscape, providing policymakers, financial institutions, investors and industry leaders with the robust data needed to make more informed decisions.

“Better data leads to better outcomes,” said Ricky Cowan, Global Head of Partnerships at mnAi. “Our ambition is to provide Australia with the first national benchmark for female-led businesses, helping identify where women are succeeding, where barriers remain, and where targeted support can have the greatest impact.”

A Proven Model with International Impact

The Gender Index was first established in the United Kingdom to provide a comprehensive, data-led understanding of female-led businesses. Since its inception, it has informed major national initiatives including the Rose Review, the Investing in Women Code, and the Pathways Report, helping shape policy discussions around entrepreneurship, access to finance and women’s economic participation.

Australia now becomes the first country outside the UK to adopt the programme.

A Year in Development

Over the past twelve months, mnAi and its partners have:

• Developed a national dataset covering millions of Australian businesses.
• Completed independent academic research led by Professor Naomi Birdthistle.
• Collaborated with leading Australian organisations and financial institutions.
• Developed a robust methodology for identifying and analysing female-led enterprises at scale.
• Generated early insights into the characteristics, growth patterns and financing opportunities of female-led businesses.

The resulting dataset will enable stakeholders to explore critical questions including:

• Where are female-led businesses being created?
• Which industries are experiencing the strongest growth?
• How does access to finance differ for female-led businesses?
• Where are the greatest opportunities to drive economic growth through entrepreneurship?

Collaboration Driving Change

The launch of The Gender Index Australia has been made possible through collaboration with an exceptional network of organisations, financial institutions, researchers and industry leaders who share a common belief that better evidence creates better policy, investment and commercial outcomes.

Further insights and findings from the Index will be released in the coming weeks as the programme officially launches.

Learn More

To explore The Gender Index Australia, visit www.thegenderindex.com.au

For information about the original UK programme, visit www.thegenderindex.com

Organisations, investors, policymakers and businesses interested in supporting or learning more about the initiative are encouraged to get in touch. Those wishing to attend upcoming launch events or discuss partnership opportunities are invited to register their interest.