Global economy 'needs' female entrepreneurs

International venture capitalist Vicki Saunders says the lack of support for female entrepreneurs is costing the global economy around twelve-trillion dollars.

It comes as the Workplace Gender Equality Agency released its yearly statistics last week, with the data showing women represent just 25-percent of board positions in Australia.

'The vast amount of female entrepreneurs reach profitability more quickly than their male counterparts and they're more capital eficient', Ms Saunders told Sky Business.

'(Women) get in there and say 'I'm going to hit these numbers'... The reason (women) run businesses differently, is that it's so hard to get funded.'

Ms Saunders, who is also the founder of mentorship program She-EO, is in Sydney this week to host The City of Sydney's mentoring event 'The Future is Female' - one of 35 events over the next ten days to help grow local businesses and encourage start-ups in Australia.

Vicki Saunders and Jo Burston, founder and CEO of Inspiring Rare Birds, as well as the multi-million dollar workforce solutions firm, Job Capital spoke to Sky News Business' Leanne Jones.