It has taken me a week to post about the InvestHer Summit given the sheer volume of learnings and uplifting moments, all embedded in our shared desire for system change and a “lift as you rise” ethos.
The intersectionality of international builders across policy, corporates, funding and founding was carefully curated for impact by ⚡Anne Ravanona and team.
For me it all distils down to this. For women to receive more global funding beyond the current stagnant 2%, we need more women across ALL levels of decision making - senior leadership, founding teams, investors, boards.
🔢 I could cite all the rigorous evidence-based findings that clearly demonstrates more diversity across investors leads to investments in more diverse startups which in turn leads to better fund returns and more products/services coming to market that benefit society and the planet.
👨👩👦 Instead, I’m going to tell a human story shared by Brian Caulfield on stage - Brian hired Nicola McClafferty when at Molten Ventures. Nicola enlightened Brian about the market opportunity of smart nipple shields for breastfeeding. Brian became an angel investor in Coroflo.
💸 We are all part of closing the gender funding gap, we need more:
🎯 Women investing as angels - check out AwakenAngels + HBAN in Ireland
🎯 Funds hiring more women investors like Molten Ventures
🎯 Women investors launching their own funds like Naseem Sayani (she/her)
🎯 Fund-of-funds, especially governments, investing in emerging women-led funds, more on this hopefully from Ireland Strategic Investment Fund
🎯 Public companies being held to account when in breach of social justice charters, hat tip to Lisa Hayles and Julianne Zimmerman for their work
#CommunityIsCapital
Global Invest Her has built a powerful community focused on action. If you’re a founder/funder, check out their directories to bring you both closer.
I met some of the most incredible people over the 2 days in Dublin, evergreen relationships in the making. Kudos to all the amazing speakers, special shout out to those on the panels that I was fortunate to moderate. And brava to EY for being lead sponsor of this important movement.
Feeling grateful, energised and full of purpose for this next chapter.
#WomenAreAMegaTrend #InvestHer #Founders #Funders #PolicyMakers
