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These common traits of thriving states and cities can be valuable insights into strategies that can be adapted to level the playing field for women entrepreneurs.

Success in the startup world combines innovation, adaptability and perseverance.

The resistance to paying women-owned businesses fairly for their products and services is a significant hurdle contributing to economic disparities.

Women-owned businesses outperform the market in a number of key KPIs, including revenue, people retention and overall economic contribution.

Don't underestimate the power of human interaction.

There is power in numbers. Small businesses are successful when we work together and take advantage of each other's strengths. Diverting focus from our core business to spending time on internal business processes can be costly and a waste of time.

There are simple ways to support women-owned businesses and have an economic impact on your community and the country. This is a list of things you can do today to support women-owned businesses and change the world.

Like many places, the United States is facing a challenging economy. If we were to support the businesses that data tells us outperform the overall market, it could jump-start a new cycle of growth and prosperity.

There is no question that capital is queen, and it is number one on the list of what women need to support their businesses. But with investment in women-owned businesses declining, looking beyond the capital is more important than ever.

The idea of small businesses creating their own websites and seeing immediate returns is touted by all of the ecommerce service providers. The reality of the investment and time it takes to develop and grow an online business is much different from an entrepreneur's perspective.

Culture is the most important factor for startups. There are many priorities in a startup, but if your team isn't aligned, your business will fail no matter what else you have going for you.

Let's reflect on a rollercoaster year for startups. What should the real measures of success beyond short-term revenue be? How important is it to build a sustainable business during difficult economic times?

We claim to make buying decisions based on our values, but in reality, most people are swayed by fast shipping and the lowest price.

Running a business means making decisions, small and large, that will determine the trajectory of your success.

When this entrepreneur launched her mission-driven company, family, friends and community members overwhelmingly pledged their support -- then didn't follow through. Here's what she learned.