Women Elevating Women launches new framework for business capital

Women Elevating Women is rolling out the WEW Economic Engine, a new framework meant to help entrepreneurs grow with more than just funding. The launch comes ahead of the 2026 Women Elevating Women Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, as women business owners still face major barriers to bank financing.

Why it matters: - Women entrepreneurs are still being blocked by capital gaps even as new-business formation among women remains strong. - The WEW Economic Engine tries to widen the definition of capital beyond cash, which could help owners find growth resources they already control. - Recent federal research cited by WEW found that 66% of women entrepreneurs say access to capital is critical to success, while 42% of applicants did not receive a bank loan after applying.

What happened: - Women Elevating Women is launching the WEW Economic Engine, a framework built around six forms of capital: financial, knowledge, institutional, relationship, technology and global expansion. - The framework will debut at the 2026 Women Elevating Women Conference, set for Oct. 21-23 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. - Entrepreneurs, executives and business leaders from across the country are expected to attend and focus on ways to grow beyond traditional financing. - The conversation starts earlier, with the inaugural WEW Capital Activation Series on Aug. 26 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at CereseD Jewelry in Atlanta. - That Aug. 26 event is free and will focus on financial readiness and global expansion.

The details: - The WEW Economic Engine is built around WEW’s five guiding pillars: Connect, Collaborate, Communicate, Courage and Cultivate. - The framework pushes entrepreneurs to identify resources they already have and then build strategies to access what they need next. - Betty J. Hines, CEO and founder of Women Elevating Women, said capital includes money, but also networks, knowledge, technology and relationships. - Hines said entrepreneurs should stop waiting for opportunity and start creating it by using the assets already around them. - Hines also said businesses that thrive will be the ones that leverage relationships, technology, innovation and collaboration as strategically as dollars. - The National Harbor conference will feature Eric L. Kelly, chairman and founder of Bridge 2 Technologies, as opening keynote speaker. - TEDCO CEO Troy LeMaile-Stovall will join Hines for a fireside conversation on entrepreneurship, innovation and building companies for long-term success. - The conference will open with the Entrepreneurial Women of Impact Awards. - WEW will recognize 25 Women Pillar Honorees and 12 Visionary Men during the WEW Signature Luncheon. - The organization says those honorees reflect the idea that impact includes the opportunities leaders create for others. - Early-bird registration ends Aug. 31. - More information, sponsorship opportunities and registration are available through WEW’s conference site.

Between the lines: - WEW is reframing capital as a broader operating system for growth, not just a funding problem. - That approach reflects a practical response to tighter lending and higher costs, especially for founders who may have strong networks or expertise but limited bank access. - The emphasis on relationship capital, technology and global expansion suggests WEW sees growth opportunities in assets many entrepreneurs overlook.

What's next: - WEW will preview the framework at the Aug. 26 Capital Activation Series in Atlanta. - The full launch will happen at the October conference in National Harbor. - Registration and sponsorship activity will likely build toward the Aug. 31 early-bird deadline and the Oct. 21-23 event window.