Bayer Foundation’s Post

Last year, just 11% of VC funding in Europe went to startups led by women, but a new report shows progress in the UK. Hear from Alexandra Wyatt, GCB Innovation Economy, on how J.P. Morgan is partnering with female founders to help fuel their businesses and overcome industry challenges. #JPMInnovationEconomy https://lnkd.in/ejrMqhJH

Empowering women and catalysing change in entrepreneurship requires action ❗📣 We are on a mission to drive generational change and create opportunities for women in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Here are our key pillars and what they mean for female founders: Empowering Ventures 👉 Through direct investments, we are committed to backing women-founded startups, supplying them with the necessary capital for sustainable and impactful growth. Advocating for Change Through Policy 👉 Our policy advocacy initiatives focus on breaking down systemic barriers that hinder the progress of female entrepreneurs, paving the way for a more inclusive and supportive business environment. Collaborating for Impact with Industry and Corporate Partners 👉 Collaboration is at the core of our strategy. By partnering with industry and corporate leaders, we aim to amplify our influence, champion gender diversity in the business landscape, and offer vital support to female founders. Empowering Women as Future Investors 👉 Facilitating the journey for women to become angel investors is a pivotal step in fostering a diverse and robust investment landscape. We are dedicated to educating and lifting women, enabling them to navigate the world of investing with confidence. Driving Lasting Change Through Philanthropy 👉 Our foundation actively supports philanthropic initiatives that create lasting change in communities and opens doors of opportunity for women. Diversity fuels innovation - join us in our mission to create an inclusive and innovative future in the startup ecosystem, by becoming an F5 partner. Together, let's push boundaries and create meaningful change! 🌍💪 #WomenFounders #Empowerment #InvestingInChange #DiversityAndInclusion

According to a Pitchbook report, companies founded solely by women received only around 2.1% of the total capital invested in venture-backed startups in the U.S. in 2023. In the same year, women made up 26% of investment professionals at VC firms and 17% were general partners.  In an effort to address gender disparity in the investment ecosystem, Triangle senior leaders Susan Wall, Jenn Summe, Melissa Crosby and Windy Zou Kohl have created Ladies Investing/Local Angels (LiLa), an informal & educational group that covers technology angel investing in the Triangle and beyond. ➡️ https://t.ly/osEzI

Just saying 😅 In a review of five years of investment and revenue data, the gender-focused analysis showed a clear funding gap: • Investments in companies founded or cofounded by women averaged $935,000, which is less than half the average $2.1 million invested in companies founded by male entrepreneurs. • Despite this disparity, startups founded and cofounded by women actually performed better over time, generating 10% more in cumulative revenue over a five-year period: $730,000 compared with $662,000. #Lagertha #duediligence #ESG #LetsLeadTogether #DEIworks #Cofounderdiversity #BoldLead #Letsfixthegap

💃 Happy International Women's Day. Let's celebrate female entrepreneurs and advocates, who help to make the societal changes necessary to unleash the power of female entrepreneurship! 🚀 Let's inspire inclusion by celebrating the achievements and impact of women on today's International Women's Day (IWD). 💪 Let's close the GAP, as women remain largely underrepresented in entrepreneurship ecosystem with only 15.5% of startups having female co-/founders. --> Systemic change is therefore necessary to empower female entrepreneurs! 💰 In 2023, startups founded (or co-founded) by women in Europe raised €5.9B in venture capital. This represents 9.6% of all venture capital raised. The share has doubled in the last decade. But it's also stalled at around 10% since 2017 (data: Dealroom.co) 🇨🇭 In Switzland, 37 women-led businesses managed to raise a total of CHF 175 million in 2023, the highest amount ever raised by women-led startups since 2012. Despite the increase, the percentage of women receiving capital has remained below 10%. (data: Startupticker.ch) 🤩 So let's celebrate together, inspire each other, create awareness & visibility and empowher our local female entrepreuneurs! #IWD2024 #InspireInclusion #femalefounders #FemaleEntrepreneurs #Basel #EmpowHERment #letsclosethegaps

This National Women’s Small Business Month, NL Capital Ventures proudly honors the incredible women who are leading the way in business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. 💼💪✨ Here’s how NL Capital Ventures is championing women in business: Investing in Women-Led Startups: We actively support women entrepreneurs by funding their innovative ideas and providing them with the resources they need to grow and succeed. Our investments aim to level the playing field and create more opportunities for women in business. 💰📈 #WomenEntrepreneurs #InvestInWomen Mentorship and Guidance: We connect women business leaders with experienced mentors who help them navigate challenges, grow their networks, and unlock their full potential. 🌱👩💼 #WomenInBusiness #MentorshipMatters Building a Strong Support System: At NL Capital Ventures, we foster a community of collaboration and support. We bring together women entrepreneurs and investors to share insights, collaborate on projects, and create lasting partnerships. 🤝🌟 #WomenSupportingWomen #BusinessCollaboration Promoting Gender Equity: We believe in closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship and leadership. Through our initiatives, we advocate for equal opportunities and representation for women across all industries. ⚖️🌍 #GenderEquity #EqualOpportunities Highlighting Success Stories: By showcasing the success of women-owned businesses, we inspire the next generation of female leaders to dream big and break barriers. Every milestone reached is a step toward a more inclusive business landscape. 🚀👩💻 #WomenInLeadership #SuccessStories At NL Capital Ventures, we are proud to support women entrepreneurs who are making waves in the business world. Together, let’s build a future where every woman has the opportunity to lead, innovate, and succeed! 💼💪✨ #WomensSmallBusinessMonth #NLcapitalventures #WomenInBusiness #InvestInWomen #WomenEntrepreneurs #GenderEquity #EmpowerWomen #SuccessStories #WomenInLeadership

There's a gender gap in deeptech: only 15% of Europe's startups in this sector are founded or co-founded by women, with just 7% by all-women teams. Those who do enter entrepreneurship often raise less VC funding than their male counterparts. (EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology) Women entrepreneurs bring unique and invaluable perspectives, enriching the landscape of entrepreneurial endeavors and fostering a more diverse and inclusive business world. 👩💼🌟 From a lack of entrepreneurship education for young girls to investor attitudes towards different leadership styles, there’s significant work to be done to bridge the #GenderGap. In the current landscape, initiatives like EWA - Empowering Women in Agrifood have emerged as indispensable pillars in championing women's entrepreneurship, particularly in sectors traditionally dominated by men such as agriculture and foodtech. 💡 This 6-month entrepreneurial programme offers training, mentoring, business coaching, and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector. How can we empower women innovators in #agrifood? 🚀 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dY5R5RGJ #ImprovingFoodTogether #FutureOfFood #FoodSystems #WomenInTech #WomenInSTEM #STEM #GenderEquality

Celebrating Women Unicorns in Business! 🌟 In the dynamic world of startups, women entrepreneurs are rising as formidable leaders, driving innovation and transforming industries. Women-led companies are increasingly reaching unicorn status, proving that gender diversity is not just beneficial but essential for business success. Investors and venture capitalists are recognizing the unique perspectives and strengths that women bring to the table. Studies show that gender-diverse teams often outperform their peers, leading to better decision-making and higher returns on investment. By supporting women entrepreneurs, we can foster a more inclusive and prosperous business ecosystem. Let’s champion these trailblazers who are breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks in the startup world. Their success stories inspire future generations of women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.Join the movement to support and invest in women-led ventures! #WomenInBusiness #WomenEntrepreneurs #UnicornStartups #VentureCapital #InvestInWomen #DiversityAndInclusion #FemaleLeadership #WomenInTech #StartupSuccess #GenderEquality #Innovation #BusinessGrowth

Happy International Women's Day to the female founders, sustainability leaders and all other female professionals! The environmental and social benefits of gender diversity on boards, in management and across businesses of all sizes are well documented. Some of those statistics are summarised below. Let's continue to support female founders and leaders--present and future--and address structural barriers to gender equity in order to build a more sustainable, equitable and just world for all. 🌍 👭

Today, I had the opportunity to watch the ChangeNOW panel on "Mobilizing Kickass Investors for Women Entrepreneurs," led by ⚡Anne Ravanona of Global Invest Her. It was empowering to hear about the trillions of investment the panel aspires to mobilize for female-led companies and funds and, of course, their commitment to measure it. "When you start counting, you know what you want to change." ~ Marijn Wiersma, 2X Global According to pitchbook, in 2023, "Women Founders Raised [$34.4B,] 23% of All US VC Money in 2023," a record-high despite an overall slowdown in VC funding activity. This kind of growth comes, at least in part, from the kind of leadership demonstrated at ChangeNow, including Anne, Marijn Wiersma, Stephane Bourbier Founder & Managing partner Asterion Ventures, and Helena Wasserman, CEO & Founder Unstoppable.    Fundraising is never easy, but I look forward to the day when we all feel a comparable degree of difficulty. Thank you for creating space for the conversation and handing the mic to a few of the leaders ChangeNOW. Watch the full session here: https://lnkd.in/e_Tc8iZV Pitchbook report: https://lnkd.in/equEPh8R . . #womenentrepreneurs #investing #leadership #genderequality