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Cascade Business News proudly presents our 2026 Women in Business Edition, celebrating the brilliance, resilience and innovation of women-led enterprises of Central Oregon. This special issue highlights not only success stories but also the evolving landscape that empowers women entrepreneurs to thrive, shaping our regional economy and blazing a trail for generations to come.
In 2024, women-owned businesses in the U.S. accounted for 39% of all businesses, employing 12.2 million workers and generating $2.7 trillion in revenue.
Statewide, Oregon stands as a beacon for women in business: as of 2024, nearly 48.5% of all businesses in the state are women‑owned — the highest rate in the nation outside Washington D.C., according to B2B Reviews. That translates into tens of thousands of enterprises injecting creativity, revenue and jobs into the Oregon economy. “What’s behind these huge numbers is that we’re seeing women continue to start businesses at incredible high rates,” Isabel Guzman, head of the federal Small Business Administration until January of 2025, told OPB. “It’s double the rate of men.”
With nearly a third of women-owned businesses in Oregon generating more than $1 million in annual revenue, it’s clear that women entrepreneurs aren’t just launching ventures, they’re scaling them. Oregon women also lead nationally in innovation: they filed 15% of the state’s patents in 2024, according to Portland Monthly.
Across the U.S., women now own around 42% of all businesses, up from 26% in 2000 and just five percent in 1975. With over 14 million women-owned firms generating approximately $2.7 trillion in revenue and employing around 12 million people, women-owned businesses form a foundational pillar of our national economy.
Oregon’s female entrepreneurial boom is backed by robust local ecosystems. Nonprofits like the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network offer training, mentor matchups and investor networks tailored to women-led startups. From Bend to Portland, women are launching businesses across industries — technology, food service, healthcare, manufacturing, legal consulting and creative arts. Central Oregon has seen an incredible surge in women-led ventures driving innovation and job creation.
Oregon’s ascent signals that women are not just participating in entrepreneurship; they are defining it. This edition of Cascade Business News invites you to explore transformative stories, insightful data and experts charting a course toward a more inclusive and vibrant business future. Enjoy their stories and support their work!
