Backing a different future for funding female founders

Only 1.8% of venture capital funding in the first half of 2024 went to female-founded businesses — a startling drop from an already shockingly low 2.5%.

It highlights persistent gender inequities in the investment landscape, but there’s hope for a brighter future with the launch of a £255 million fund dedicated to female-led businesses.

Debbie Wosskow OBE and Hannah Bernard OBE are co-chairs of the Taskforce

Announced this week by the Invest in Women taskforce in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade, the ambition is to actively reshape the economic landscape to better support women in business.

So, while current statistics paint a grim picture, there’s hope ahead.

There’s also work being done by investors like Jem Stein, who has invested 95% of capital into female-only founding teams over the past year. His results prove that change is achievable with the right approach.

That includes prioritising lived experience over traditional backgrounds, running open application processes, and being transparent about investment criteria.

With genuine commitment, the barriers facing female founders can be dismantled.

It’s time for the investment community to take note: making a difference is possible if you’re willing to change how you operate — and stop making excuses.

Read more about the taskforce here

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This is LUMIN

Editorial from our writers and contributors towards our common goal: raising awareness of the issues that matter to women who want to drive greater success for all, in the world of work and in business

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