Web Summit has released its fifth global Women in Tech report, highlighting women’s ongoing challenges in the tech sector, including pay disparities, underrepresentation, and limited access to funding.

Among the 1,000 women surveyed, nearly a third (29.6%) identified funding as a significant barrier to launching a business. Additionally, more than half of the respondents noted a lack of women in leadership positions, and nearly 51% believed they were earning less than their male counterparts in similar roles.

The report also highlights persistent workplace challenges: over half of the participants (50.8%) reported experiencing sexism at work. In comparison, nearly 49.1% felt pressured to choose between their careers and family responsibilities, marking a 7% increase from the previous year.

Over 75% of the women surveyed believe they must exert more effort than their male colleagues to succeed. Key hurdles identified include unconscious gender bias, challenges in balancing career and personal life, a lack of female role models, imposter syndrome, and inadequate support networks.

Despite these challenges, nearly 76% of respondents expressed confidence in their ability to pursue or hold leadership positions. Also, more than 80% indicated that their companies have a woman in senior management, while 68.2% reported having a female executive at the C-suite level.

However, the survey highlights a strong desire for change: 56% feel the industry is not doing enough to address gender inequality, and 69% are dissatisfied with government efforts to tackle these issues.

There is a sense of optimism about the future. Over 68% of respondents believe that AI and automation could positively influence gender equity within the tech industry.

Since its launch in 2015, Web Summit’s Women in Tech Programme has been pivotal in increasing female participation at its events. In 2016, shortly after the program’s inception, women comprised 42% of attendees, a notable increase from 25% in 2013. By 2021, women comprised 50.5% of participants, surpassing men for the first time.

The number of women-led startups has also seen substantial growth. At Web Summit Rio 2024, 45% of the 1,000 participating startups were founded by women. Meanwhile, at Web Summit Qatar 2024, women accounted for 37% of attendees, 30% of speakers, and 31% of startups with female founders.