---
title: When Self-Funding Your Startup Affects Your Self-Worth
description: Today’s venture capital process continues to fail female founders, forcing many to risk their own savings to start a business. But that can come at a cost to their personal well-being.
---

[Empowering Women to Develop, Network & Connect | As Seen In ](https://www.weareluminary.com/asseenin)

# [When Self-Funding Your Startup Affects Your Self-Worth](https://www.weareluminary.com/asseenin/when-self-funding-your-startup-affects-your-self-worth)

 Written by [Marie Claire](https://www.weareluminary.com/asseenin/author/marie-claire) | March 2, 2023

Written by *Tanya Benedicto Klich*

Today’s venture capital process continues to fail female founders, forcing many to risk their own savings to start a business. But that can come at a cost to their personal well-being.

“Emotionally and financially the responsibility is all on you, so it can cause a great deal of worry and concern,” says Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, a New York City-based workspace for women that also serves as a global education and networking platform. (Luzio bootstrapped Luminary.) “Anxiety is a major issue, especially if you end up needing to access capital, or if you’ve depleted your savings, racked up debt, or gone into retirement [reserves] to fund the business.”

[Read the full article here.](https://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/self-funding-female-founders/)

[View full post](https://www.weareluminary.com/asseenin/when-self-funding-your-startup-affects-your-self-worth)

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