LAST YEAR SAW a 100 per cent increase in the number of female-led high-potential start-up investments.

This figure was revealed today as a new online initiative was launched to help women in business communicate with each other and develop their businesses.

The online networking platform is supported by Enterprise Ireland who also announced they will invest €600,000 in 12 female-led businesses.

The agency said the new platform will facilitate greater communication and connectivity between the growing number of female entrepreneurs in Ireland, with investments up considerably in 2013.

Commenting today, Minister of State John Perry said the platform would help to significantly boost the number of start-ups led by women in business over 2014.