Despite growing participation in Iraq’s startup ecosystem, women entrepreneurs continue to face systemic barriers that limit their visibility, access to investment and progression into leadership roles. These challenges were brought to the forefront once again during an Orange Corners Baghdad roundtable earlier this month.
Women founders from diverse sectors describe a persistent lack of visibility and storytelling opportunities, limited access to mentorship and investor networks and the need for stronger peer support communities. Our alumni emphasise that capability is not the issue; rather, confidence gaps, cultural expectations and restricted access to decision-making continue to hold many women back. These insights point to a broader trend across the private sector: women often deliver strong performances, but struggle to convert that into leadership opportunities or investment.
These findings formed the foundation for Orange Corners Baghdad’s Global Entrepreneurship Week programming. It opened with an interactive Orange Corners Alumni Gathering, which included a roundtable with our Orange Corners Iraq programme advisor Raïsa and an open Q&A session where startups engaged directly. The gathering provided a space for alumni across cohorts to exchange feedback and discuss the evolving entrepreneurial landscape.
The second part of the evening, the Women Entrepreneurs Event, translated the roundtable insights into action. Designed as a space for peer learning and mutual support, it connected women across industries with role models and practical examples of leading and innovating within Iraq’s private sector. The first panel, “From Participation to Leadership,” examined why the path to leadership remains narrow for many women despite their qualifications. The second panel, “Women-Led Innovation: How to Create It?” explored how women identify real market gaps and transform them into competitive and scalable business models. Speakers showcased how scientific expertise, community knowledge and data-driven insights play a central role in creating solutions that respond to genuine market needs. The conversation also addressed the confidence barriers that often discourage women from testing new ideas or expanding early successes.
By grounding our GEW events in women’s lived experiences, Orange Corners Baghdad reaffirmed the importance of designing support systems that reflect real challenges and of amplifying the voices of women shaping Iraq’s entrepreneurial future.
