Powering through the pandemic: Local business owner shares obstacles women face in workplace Research shows that less than five percent of venture capital funding went to startups solely owned by women in 2018. Author: Andrea Flores Updated: 9:32 AM CST March 8, 2021 At 9Round Fitness, Franchisee Kari Carlson is getting in a quick workout, and reflecting on when the world turned upside down last year. It was crazy because I was here. I was working out, and all of a sudden, we got this announcement like you have to close at 12pm, Carlson says. It was a shock and everyone got hit the same way.