The country's 12.3 million women business owners employ more than 4 million workers and collectively add about $1.8 trillion to the U.S. economy. Yet even though the future looks bright for women of all backgrounds, female entrepreneurs face difficulties when it comes to business funding. Women typically don’t ask for as much financing as men do. When lenders approve financing, women receive $5,000 less on average than their male counterparts. Women business owners face challenges in the public sector, too. Candace Waterman, president, and CEO of Women Impacting Public Policy testified before the Senate that the federal government has only met its modest 5% goal of awarding contracts to women-owned small businesses twice.