Women-led startups capture less than 2% of U.S. venture capital each year. Two founders are trying to change that with a crowdfunding platform designed exclusively for women-owned businesses.

Molly Huyck, a 21-year PayPal veteran, and Amie Konwinski, a U.S. Navy veteran and marketing executive, launched Aequitas Invest in 2024. The platform is known as AQi. It is an SEC-registered and FINRA-member funding portal that uses Regulation Crowdfunding to help female entrepreneurs raise money from everyday investors.

The idea came from a simple observation. Women start nearly half of all businesses in the United States but receive just 2% of venture capital and less than 20% of small business loans. Research shows women-led startups deliver 2.5 times better returns than male-founded ones. Yet the funding gap persists.

The Funding Gap That Inspired AQi

Huyck spent two decades at PayPal mentoring women through a partnership with the Cherie Blair Foundation. She learned about the $5 trillion global GDP gap caused by women lacking access to capital. That statistic stuck with her.

She considered starting a venture fund but realized many already exist. Instead, she wanted to build a crowdfunding platform exclusively for women. The economic irony drove her forward. Women entrepreneurs earn 78 cents for every dollar invested compared to 31 cents for men. That disconnect fueled the creation of AQi.

Konwinski brought operational and military discipline to the venture. She had seen firsthand how women struggle to gain traction in male-dominated tech circles. The two co-founders decided to create a platform that levels the playing field.

How AQi Works as a Reg CF Platform

AQi is not a broker-dealer. It is an SEC-registered and FINRA-member crowdfunding platform. Regulation Crowdfunding, created under the 2012 JOBS Act, allows nonaccredited investors to invest in private early-stage companies. About 50 active platforms operate in the U.S. AQi is the only one founded by women, owned by women and exclusively serving women-owned businesses.

The platform defines a women-led business as one that is at least 50% women-owned. It helps entrepreneurs navigate regulatory disclosures and business documentation. AQi acts as a quarterback, connecting founders with accountants, lawyers and marketing firms. The goal is to create a community where women can build their businesses without competing for attention in traditional VC circles.

Passing the federal vetting process meant agreeing to strict oversight. That ensures transparency and investor protection. The platform aims to help female founders raise money while holding onto more equity.

Why This Matters

Women-led startups face a persistent funding gap that limits economic growth. AQi offers a direct alternative to venture capital and small business loans. It opens startup investing to everyday people, not just accredited investors. This could reshape how women access capital and how investors discover high-return opportunities. The platform also helps female founders retain control. By avoiding traditional VC terms, they do not have to give up board seats early. For women building businesses in a system that often overlooks them, AQi provides a new path forward.