Eva Longoria announced the launch of a groundbreaking global initiative in collaboration with Lenovo called Backing Every Business. This initiative is designed to provide crucial support to women entrepreneurs worldwide, focusing on mentorship, grant funding, and access to cutting-edge AI-powered tools. With women consistently facing barriers in the entrepreneurial landscape, this program aims to level the playing field by offering both financial assistance and technological resources.
A Comprehensive Approach to Supporting Women Entrepreneurs
The Backing Every Business initiative is structured around a comprehensive three-pronged support system aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs globally:
- Mentorship Opportunities: Entrepreneurs will receive personalized mentorship from Longoria and a network of industry leaders. Through tailored guidance, women founders will be better equipped to navigate the challenges of growing their businesses.
- Non-Debt Grant Funding: Selected participants will have access to grant funding, allowing them to expand their businesses without incurring debt. This is a crucial component, as many women entrepreneurs struggle with accessing traditional funding avenues, including venture capital.
- AI-Enabled Tools: The initiative will provide participants with AI-powered tools designed to improve digital transformation and streamline business operations. These tools will support small enterprises in areas such as marketing automation, financial management, and customer engagement.
Applications for the program are open worldwide, allowing entrepreneurs to apply through Lenovo’s platform. The program also incorporates an innovative mentorship model known as “business twins,” pairing entrepreneurs with mentors and resources that are specifically tailored to their business needs.
Addressing the Gender Gap in Entrepreneurship
Women entrepreneurs have long faced significant barriers, including limited access to capital and mentorship. Data shows that globally, women-led businesses receive just 2-3% of venture capital funding, a stark contrast to the levels of funding received by male entrepreneurs. Moreover, many women-owned businesses are constrained by a lack of access to affordable technology solutions, making it difficult for them to scale.
In the U.S., women own nearly 40% of new businesses, but remain underrepresented in high-growth sectors like technology and finance. The disparity is even more pronounced in Europe, where women founders receive only 1.8% of venture capital funding. In regions like Latin America, women entrepreneurs often rely on informal lending networks due to limited access to formal financial institutions.
By providing women entrepreneurs with both financial resources and technological support, the Backing Every Business initiative aims to close these gaps and drive meaningful change.
Impact on Global Markets
Women-owned businesses are among the fastest-growing sectors of entrepreneurship. In regions like Asia, women entrepreneurs are driving growth in e-commerce and consumer services, while in Africa, women account for a significant portion of small business ownership, particularly in agriculture and retail sectors.
For instance, in Africa, women represent 58% of small business owners, with many focusing on sectors that are crucial to local economies. Initiatives like Backing Every Business play a critical role in accelerating this trend by addressing structural barriers and providing essential resources for scaling businesses.
Studies show that women founders with access to mentorship networks are more likely to secure funding and grow their businesses. In fact, they are three times more likely to secure funding and twice as likely to scale their businesses successfully. By pairing mentorship with AI-powered tools, the Backing Every Business initiative hopes to deliver measurable improvements in business outcomes for women entrepreneurs.
Corporate Partnerships Driving Change
The Backing Every Business initiative is just one example of how corporate partnerships are expanding to support entrepreneurship. In recent years, companies like Google and Microsoft have launched their own initiatives to empower women entrepreneurs. These programs typically focus on offering training, mentorship, and access to technology, which are essential for business growth.
What sets Longoria’s collaboration with Lenovo apart is the combination of celebrity advocacy with corporate resources, providing a platform that is both high-visibility and globally accessible. Lenovo’s involvement underscores the growing importance of technology companies not just as hardware suppliers but as integral players in driving entrepreneurship.
Regional Case Studies Highlight the Need for Support
California: A Hub for Women Entrepreneurs in Health Tech
In California, women entrepreneurs are making significant strides in sectors like health tech and consumer services. Programs offering mentorship and funding have proven effective, with women-owned startups in the state having a 65% survival rate after five years, compared to the 50% national average.
India: Driving Digital Commerce
In India, women entrepreneurs are playing a pivotal role in the growth of digital commerce. As of 2025, 14% of new tech ventures in the country were led by women, underscoring their impact in the growing e-commerce sector. The combination of funding and access to AI tools has been crucial in enabling these entrepreneurs to scale their businesses rapidly.
Latin America: Overcoming Financial Gaps
In Latin America, women entrepreneurs face substantial challenges in accessing traditional financing. A 2025 report revealed that women-owned businesses in Mexico and Brazil were 40% less likely to secure bank loans compared to their male counterparts. With limited access to formal financial institutions, women often turn to informal lending networks. Initiatives like Backing Every Business aim to provide alternative funding pathways to address these gaps.
