Why Women Investors Are Prioritizing Private Markets and Values-Driven Portfolios

Nearly 90% of women investors surveyed have already allocated capital to private markets. That's a key data point from Forbes' 2026 Women, Wealth & the Capital Continuum report, which underscores a clear, deliberate shift in how women are building portfolios. For an audience focused on wealth-building, this isn't anecdotal—it's a structural trend backed by significant planned investment.

Capital Is Moving with Intention

The survey of 315 women investors reveals high participation alongside clear future plans. While 89% have made at least one private market investment, the forward-looking data is equally telling: 67% intend to invest between $25,000 and $49,000 in venture funds this year. This suggests capital deployment is methodical, not sporadic. The broader context supports this; women already control over $10 trillion in U.S. household financial assets, a figure poised to grow substantially by 2030.

The Access and Knowledge Gap

High interest doesn't erase structural hurdles. The report identifies a significant navigation problem:

• Confidence Deficit: Only 19% of respondents feel "very" or "extremely confident" in their private-market decision-making.
• Guidance Reliance: 63% seek guidance or rely entirely on advisors for these allocations.
• Plan Gap: 44% lacked a clear plan for venture investing and expressed a desire to learn more.

The barrier, as the report frames it, is less about conviction and more about access. Private markets have historically operated through relationship-driven networks with high minimums and opaque processes. For investors outside those circles, participation remains challenging to decode.

Values as a Diligence Framework

For many women, values alignment isn't a separate filter—it's integrated into due diligence. The data shows 77% invest with a values-based lens, and 58% specifically use a gender lens. This approach can serve as a practical tool, helping investors identify opportunities where they have operational insight or understand the end customer, thereby making unfamiliar asset classes more navigable.

Bottom line: The mechanics are clear. Capital is flowing into private markets with intentionality, but access and knowledge gaps persist. Using a values-based framework appears to be a methodical strategy for evaluating opportunities, not an emotional luxury. The key metric to watch is whether structural pathways for participation broaden in step with this accelerating demand.