Peoples Energy Analytics’ Post

The landscape of venture capital is evolving, with women playing a pivotal role in shaping its future. According to recent data from PitchBook, women founders and co-founders secured nearly one-quarter (22.8%) of all VC money in 2023, up from 18.7% in 2022. This reflects a growing recognition of the value women bring to the investment world and an increasing focus on funding startups that prioritize social impact, sustainability, and diversity. The VC ecosystem has seen a major pullback since it peaked in 2021, but female founders have shown tremendous resilience amid market turbulence. Female founders made significant strides in 2023 by securing a record-high proportion of VC capital in the US and near-record levels in Europe. However, there continues to be a wide gap between investment in female-founding teams and male-founding teams. I am incredibly honored to be moderating this discussion - Women Influencing the Future of Investment- with an esteemed panel of investors and former entrepreneurs including SC Moatti, Anshu Agarwal, Eileen Tanghal, and Divya Sudhakar ,who have made significant contributions to the industry.

Hear what Founders and Funders say about the marketplace in a panel discussion moderated by me. It's May 7, 6:15-8:30 hybrid Lasell University presented by ENET. Missing: funds for women and people of color for their startups. Panelists Colette Phillips and Cvic Innocent explain what they're doing about it and how they're investing. Ahmed Fazly is looking for funding for his life sciences startup based on #crispr and he'll tell us what he's learned. #VC #entrepreneurs Details and to regiser https://lnkd.in/g4iKXRJi

#GETInsights - We're eager to create a shift toward equity in funding. Did you know that companies founded solely by women receive less than 3% of all venture capital investments?! It’s clear we’re still seeing inequities in tech funding for women and historically excluded technologists, and we’re on a mission to bridge that gap at an accelerated rate. Every single intervention and pilot we incubate and fund is pursued with purpose. Whether it be an initiative out of our Tech Equity Working Group or #GETChampions program, we’re committed to providing historically excluded technologists and aspiring tech innovators with the tools and resources they need to thrive in tech. We’re committed to building a more equitable tech ecosystem. Are you with us?! Learn more about how you can get involved here: https://bit.ly/45Rhbts Learn more about the VC funding gap, from women founders perspectives here: https://bit.ly/3ODphjC #genderequalityintech #techleaders #womenintechnology #genderequality #inclusivetech #inclusivity #computerscience #womeninstem #equityintech #entrepreneurship #womenintech #genderequity #GETcommunity #innovation #technology #leadership #investment #startups #community #accelerator #blackintech #racialequity #womenintech #indigenoustech #latinasintech #blackwomenintech #latinosintech #latinx #getcities #getcitieshubs

You know what I love the most about SXSW? The diversity of intersectional leaders and innovators coming together make meaningful impact while in the fun, thriving setting of #Austin. Orrick Tech and I are proud to announce that for our SXSW Alternative Capital Femtech After Hours event on March 7th, we have an exceptional group coming together to help femtech founders thrive in 2024: 🔥 Miki Reynolds—Head of Programs of Slauson & Co., where she develops and leads programs - like the Friends & Family accelerator and grants - that advance the firm's mission of economic inclusion. She brings a fierce passion for supporting an inclusive community of entrepreneurs, having directly advised 350+ early stage companies from idea to seed stage, led primarily by Black, AAPI, Latinx and Women founders. 🔥 Somer Baburek, MBA—CEO of Hera Biotech, a women’s health company focused on commercializing a non-surgical diagnostic for early detection of endometriosis. Prior to founding Hera, she spent ten years in life science venture capital at Targeted Technology Fund, the largest life science fund in San Antonio. 🔥Adie Akuffo-Afful—General Partner of _RaiseSherpa, a capital assistance platform that works with founders, debt and equity financiers to help them raise and distribute capital more efficiently. In his previous operator role, he facilitated the capital raise of $67M within three years from crowdfunding and other financial tools. 🔥Grace Lanni—Development Director for DivInc, an accelerator that provides resources, community, and connections to diverse founders. She is an award-winning million-dollar tech entrepreneur now supporting diverse founders to do the same. Launching her first software company in '01 using convertible debt instruments [pre-SAFE], Grace was able to receive a $2M term sheet from a top tier venture firm. This is a way to ease into SXSW with an incredible group, a few slots left: https://lnkd.in/gYxSaEs8 Catering will be provided by the vibrant, quality ingredients + innovative and imaginative Texas meets Latin inspired cuisine of La Pera Catering & Events. La Pera Catering was founded in 2017 by co-owners Bethany DiBaggio and Rafael Rodriguez who set out to bring a little creative flair to the Austin food & event scene. They create vibrant, exciting dishes - inspired by Beth’s background in Coastal Brazilian cuisine and many of Rafael’s childhood food memories, family recipes and travels in and around Guadalajara, Mexico.

🔓 💸 Unlocking opportunities: the art of fundraising 💸 🔓 For any entrepreneur, fundraising is a vital milestone on the journey to success. Whether you’re a start up looking to get off the ground or seeking expansion, mastering the art of fundraising is essential. Here’s why and how our program will help you: ✨ Access to Capital: Fundraising opens doors to capital that can fuel your business growth. Whether it’s through Angel Investors (like Jay Shaffer with VentureSouth), venture capital firms (like Brickyard), or other avenues securing funding is the lifeblood of innovation and progress. 🌐 Expanding Networks: Beyond the financial aspect, fundraising is an opportunity to expand your network. Engaging with investors introduces you to seasoned professionals, mentors, and potential partners who can provide valuable insights and connections.  📈 Accelerating growth: with the right funding in place, you can accelerate your growth trajectory. Whether it’s scaling your team, investing in marketing efforts, or developing new products, fundraising empowers you to execute your vision more effectively.  📝 Learning and adaptation: The fundraising process itself is a valuable learning experience. From crafting your pitch to negotiating terms, each interaction with investors teaches you more about your business, market dynamics, and investor expectations. One of the key objectives of The Company Lab (CO.LAB) Sustainable Mobility Investment Accelerator powered by gener8tor is to collaborate with our cohort to understand that it is not solely about obtaining funds; it is also about cultivating connections, clearly communicating your vision, and highlighting your potential. Donna Ehart and I  aim to assist founders in approaching this process with assurance, transparency, and a readiness to acquire new knowledge. Schedule a call with me to discover the life-changing opportunities our program has to offer or apply TODAY and take the first step towards a brighter future! https://lnkd.in/eDaRZG2s

Women-led startups are chronically under-supported and under-represented, especially within the #climatetech sector. Elbow Beach was pleased to attend the Village Capital Greentech Community Event. Greentech Europe is an accelerator programme supporting women-led #greentech innovation in Europe with proven success: entrepreneurs that graduate from the programme raise over 3x more capital, earn over 2.7x more revenue and create over 40% more jobs. Despite the important achievements of this programme, there is still a low supply of female-founded businesses in climate tech hardware, largely due to the long-standing gender disparity in STEM fields. It was great to be in a room full of exceptional female founders, including Goulnara AGUIAR from ORMEX, Ana Rachel Estrougo from The Octopus Club, and Sarah-Marie Rust from EVE. Elbow Beach Capital is a signatory of Investing in Women and as part of our commitment we seek to ensure we are exposing ourselves to diverse deal flow. #VentureCapital #StartUps #WomenInTech

VCs betting on femtech Fierce Foundry: championing female innovation in femtech Investment thesis Fierce Foundry, a pioneering venture studio, prioritizes fostering a thriving femtech ecosystem. They invest in female-founded startups with high-impact solutions that address unmet needs in women's health and wellness. Key investment areas Fierce Foundry seeks passionate and capable female founders with unique perspectives on women's health issues. They prioritize technologies that offer significant advancements in various aspects of women's health across different life stages. Their co-founding model focuses on building startups so they are attractive to investors, with clear paths to profitable exits. This generates returns to fund future ventures by women. Beyond investment: the FemTech Venture Studio advantage Fierce Foundry's unique studio model differentiates them from traditional venture capitalists: They conduct internal research and trend analysis to identify promising FemTech concepts, staying ahead of the curve. Strategic Founder Matching: Once an idea is established, they actively seek female founders with the necessary expertise to bring it to fruition. They offer comprehensive mentorship, resources, and guidance through a well-defined launch process, accelerating growth and mitigating risks. Addressing the gender funding gap The femtech industry is experiencing exponential growth; however, female founders remain disproportionately underfunded. Fierce Foundry addresses this disparity by: Their team of industry veterans and visionary leaders are committed to fostering a more inclusive FemTech ecosystem. They provide the resources, capital, and mentorship needed to build successful FemTech companies.

What’s fueling the rise of femetch? Learn why the timing may be right for women’s health technology startups. See #ThePulseDeloitte.

📈 London's Venture Capital Landscape Experiences Surge in Deal Activity, While EU Counterparts Navigate a Shifting Terrain 🌍💼 In a dynamic shift in the world of venture capital, London witnessed a significant spike in activity between December and January, propelled largely by Limited Partners (LPs) steering dealmaking endeavors. However, this surge has given rise to concerns as some VCs in the capital continue to hold substantial cash reserves, posing a potential risk for investors eager for higher yields. 💰 Risk Factors Amidst Cash Hoarding: The surplus liquidity among certain venture capitalists in London has raised eyebrows within the investment community. The risk of these funds remaining idle poses challenges for yield-hungry investors seeking opportunities in the thriving startup ecosystem. 🌐 Contrasting Trends in the EU: Conversely, across the English Channel, the scenario is not uniform. Smaller venture capitalists in the European Union, once exuberant and trigger-happy in pushing valuations, now appear to be adopting a more cautious stance. This shift suggests a recalibration within the EU venture capital landscape. 📉 Challenges Persist for Founders: Founders in both London and the EU have faced a formidable set of challenges since the severe contraction in investments witnessed from June 2022 to June 2023. Despite the passage of time, liquidity has not fully returned to pre-contraction levels, presenting both obstacles and potential opportunities for savvy investors on the lookout for strategic bargains. 🔍 Navigating the Evolving Investment Landscape: As the venture capital landscape continues to evolve on both sides of the Channel, founders and investors alike find themselves navigating uncharted waters. The tug-of-war between surplus cash, risk mitigation, and the quest for lucrative opportunities paints a complex picture for the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Stay tuned for further developments in this ever-shifting investment terrain. 🚀💼 Join me at the University of Warwick on February 29 Book your free place here https://lnkd.in/ecxuzxP6 #medtechmakerslab #capitalkinetics #christiankumar #bowtietravels

The latest data from PitchBook shows that femtech startups are on track for a record fundraising year — 2024 has already seen $1.2B invested in startups addressing conditions specific to women.    As we shared on our blog in late 2023, the fraught challenges within women’s health present opportunities and potential value creation for current and future founders of software companies. Founders in the women’s health space are playing an outsized role in driving education about women’s bodies and fostering public discourse around some of the biggest issues within women’s health.   As increased awareness, research, and education drive innovation, more healthcare and technology investors will take notice. And according to Pitchbook, they have. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/egXZysds. And, revisit our femtech blog post in the comments from Managing Director Scott Barclay, Vice President Alexandra Lundin, and Mira Kaufman.