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Partners Exclusive: The Second Spring

  • May 9
  • 3 min read

Menopause, Entrepreneurship, and the Power We’ve Been Taught to Dismiss


In many societies, menopause is framed as an ending—biologically, socially, even economically. Women who reach this milestone often find themselves rendered invisible, not only in social circles but in entrepreneurship and investment landscapes. Age, compounded with gender, becomes a silent disqualifier.



While some rural traditions view post-reproductive animals as disposable—such as the infamous practice of killing hens that no longer lay eggs—this metaphor has permeated cultural narratives about women. Once they stop menstruating, many women report feeling overlooked, undervalued, or excluded from spaces of innovation and influence.


This cultural bias isn’t just anecdotal—it shows up in data. Women-led startups received only 2% of venture capital funding in 2023 (PitchBook, 2023). Older female founders are even more rarely represented in pitch rooms. A study published in Harvard Business Review highlights that women over 50 often face a double bind of ageism and sexism, resulting in a significant disadvantage when seeking startup funding.


In contrast, many Eastern and Indigenous cultures view menopause as a pivotal transformation. In Japanese culture, konenki reflects not only physical changes but also a broader process of spiritual and emotional awakening. According to anthropologist Margaret Lock, Japanese women report fewer negative symptoms from menopause, in part because of cultural framing that views the transition as natural and dignified (Lock, 1993, Encounters with Aging).

Similarly, in many Native American tribes, post-menopausal women take on respected roles as wisdom-keepers and spiritual advisors, central to community life.


But in Western contexts, hormonal changes are often pathologized. Symptoms like brain fog, mood swings, and fatigue are treated clinically, without recognizing the broader transformation at play. A 2021 study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine found that menopause significantly affects brain metabolism, memory, and cognition—indicating not a decline but a neurological reorganization (Weill Cornell Medicine, 2021).


Dr. Louann Brizendine, neuropsychiatrist and author of The Female Brain, puts it succinctly:

“The drop in estrogen during menopause actually rewires the female brain. It’s not a decline, it’s a recalibration.”

This recalibration can lead to increased clarity, emotional independence, and resilience—qualities that often define seasoned women entrepreneurs.


Yet, despite the potential, ageism in the investment world persists. Investors frequently favor younger, male founders with scalable, tech-driven visions. But this bias is economically irrational. A study by Boston Consulting Group found that startups founded or cofounded by women deliver higher revenue—$0.78 per dollar invested—compared to $0.31 for male-led startups (BCG, 2018).


The experience of becoming a grandmother is also misrepresented. Instead of symbolizing decline, it can be a powerful shift in purpose and time allocation. Many women use this life phase to launch legacy projects, invest in mentorship, or finally pursue businesses that align with their deepest values. Here, entrepreneurship becomes not a second chance—but a natural evolution.


To change this narrative, we must redefine what value looks like. Hormones are not liabilities. Age is not obsolescence. Menopause is a multifaceted biological transition with social, psychological, and cognitive implications—and one that can unleash tremendous creativity and leadership.


Menopause is not the end of ambition.

For many, it’s the beginning of building with wisdom, vision, and renewed drive.

Let’s stop asking whether post-menopausal women are "still capable." Let’s start recognizing them as some of the most potent creators of change we have yet to fully support.



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