Historically, less than 2% of venture capital funding has gone to female founders.
To help close the funding gap, we have curated a collection of useful resources to help female entrepreneurs break barriers.
For Fundraising
Tools
Startup-Investor Matching Tool is a free matchmaking platform that connects underestimated founders to investors for capital.
Hockeystick uses AI to match startups with funders, like VCs and debt lenders. 100% for startups.
The Funding Divide is a resource from DocSend that offers founders information and insights into the world of VC decision-making.
Female-Focused Capital Resources
500 Women: Powered by 500 Startups, 500 Women is on a mission to double down on strong women-led companies. To be eligible, the company must have at least 1 woman founder who holds minimum 10% ownership of the company. 500 will invest $50-100K per company and aim to syndicate anywhere from $250-500K per company to the syndicate backers.
Ada Ventures is a UK-based venture capital fund that invests in overlooked founders and overlooked markets in the tech industry.
Anthemis Venture Studio focuses on best-in-class, high-growth, digitally-native financial services companies based around the world.
Astia is an angel group that invests in women-owned companies operating in cleantech, SaaS, life sciences, and IoT sectors.
Backstage VC is a venture capital fund that invests in new companies led by underrepresented founders.
Built By Girls (BBG) Ventures is an early-stage fund focused on consumer tech startups with at least one female founder.
Black Girl Ventures is dedicated to creating access to capital for Black and Brown women entrepreneurs.
Cartier Women’s Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs.
Chingona Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in founders from backgrounds or in industries that are not always well understood by the traditional investor. The firm focuses primarily on pre-seed and seed-stage companies.
Chloe Capital is a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on women-led companies.
Digital Undivided offers programs focused on Black and Latinx women foundering tech companies.
European Women in VC is a community of senior women investors that brings together over 350 women from all over Europe.
Female Founders Fund invests in female-led startups in e-commerce, platforms, and web-enabled services.
Forerunner Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to investing in ambitious entrepreneurs to define and dominate a new generation of business.
Gingerbread Capital provides early through later-stage growth capital investments in women founders and women-led businesses.
Golden Seeds is an angel investor network and fund investing in women entrepreneurs.
Hypatia Capital is a private equity firm focused on female founders.
Intel Capital Diversity Fund invests in female and minority-led startups.
Next Wave Impact is an innovative learning-by-doing early-stage venture fund.
Tory Burch Foundation Capital Program provides loans for small businesses founded by women.
Valor Ventures is an Atlanta-based venture capital fund focused on funding female founders.
For Accelerating
Digital Undivided’s BIG Pre-Accelerator Program is designed for Black and Latinx women founders who have already begun to build their startup, have a startup that is tech-enabled, and are still pre-revenue.
Halo Incubator is devoted exclusively to women founders to provide special guidance and resources.
Her Corner is an accelerator for women entrepreneurs.
MergeLane discovers, accelerates, and invests in high-potential startups and venture capital funds with at least one woman in leadership.
Springboard Enterprises is an accelerator for women-led growth companies.
The Refinery is an accelerator that transforms women-led startups into scalable businesses.
For Learning
Financial Fundamentals by The Forum
Never feel out of your depth again talking about your business finances.
Get a free education in day-to-day money management so you can balance budgets, price work, and invest in your future with confidence – for life.
Learn more here.
Money Moves
Money Moves is a 5-week, virtual co-learning intensive for women entrepreneurs, structured around live webinars, self-paced exercises, and a community of lenders, investors, and peers to feel championed by.
Learn more here.
For Listening
The Two Percent
Historically, less than 2% of venture capital funding has gone to female-founded companies. Hosted by founding partner, Anu Duggal, The Two Percent by Female Founders Fund is dedicated to highlighting stories of powerful CEOs, founders, investors, and industry leaders who are changing this dynamic, both as female founders and female funders.
Listen here.
The Femails
The Femails is a podcast from Career Contessa that deep dives into the world of women, work, and what it takes to build a successful and fulfilling career on your terms. Host and CEO of Career Contessa, Lauren McGoodwin, interviews a variety of women about their explorations, failures, triumphs, and takes a real-talk approach to women’s career development.
Listen here.
Women Taking the Lead
A weekly podcast containing interviews with women who have achieved success and men who help women develop their leadership; topical episodes giving insights and how-to’s in the areas of leadership and personal and professional development, as well as “on-air” coaching episodes to showcase the common stumbling blocks of professional women.
Listen here.
For Mentorship
The Female Factor
The Female Factor’s mentoring program connects the next generation of female leaders to global decision-makers of today passionate about sharing their valuable know-how and network.
Learn more here.
Immersion: Women Founders
Immersion: Women Founders is a 12-week, skill-building mentorship program for high potential women-led startups selected from startup communities across Europe.
Learn more here.
Global Invest Her
Global Invest Her offers a 6-month mentorship program to help women entrepreneurs get investor-ready by matching them with experienced business professionals and providing a toolkit of resources.
Learn more here.
The Forum
The Forum’s Mentor Program was started in 2002 with a desire to connect women entrepreneurs with the guidance, knowledge, and community they’ll need to thrive in business. Since its inception, the program has paired an average of 100+ women entrepreneurs per year with mentors all across Canada.
Learn more here.
For Mental Health
BetterHelp
BetterHelp connects people who face life’s challenges with a provider from their network of licensed, accredited, and board-certified therapists.
Learn more here.
Headspace
Headspace offers sets of guided meditations, aimed at tackling problems related to anxiety, sleeplessness, and relationships.
Learn more here.
Yoga with Adriene
Join our favorite yoga flow instructor, Yoga with Adriene, who provides free, high-quality yoga practices on her Youtube channel.
Try a yoga class here.
