Innvotec launches Female Ventures Fund to buck the 1% VC trend
by Startacus Admin
New investment fund launched by Innvotec to back female founded UK startups
Good news to start the week with the announcement that Alternative Investment Fund Manager, Innvotec Limited (Innvotec), has launched its Female Ventures Fund (FVF) to invest exclusively in UK female founded or co-founded enterprises. Innvotec also aims to encourage more women to invest in start-ups and early stage businesses.
With less than 1% of VC investment going to all-female founded enterprises, the FVF aims to tackle this funding gap by focussing on carefully selected, early-stage businesses founded and co-founded by women.
Innvotec will provide initial capital, followed by further financial and advisory support to further development after the early stages and beyond.
The FVF was created with the express intention of also encouraging more female investors into the VC space. It is aimed at retail investors as well as high-net worth individuals.
The FVF Advisory Board is led by Lesley Gregory, an experienced corporate lawyer and the Chair of law firm, Memery Crystal. Lesley specialises in flotations and secondary capital raising, as well as advising growth companies on alternative forms of raising finance. She also founded Memery Crystal’s successful female entrepreneurs’ Women In Business network.
Lesley Gregory, Chair of the FVF’s Advisory Board, said:
“For every £1 of venture capital investment in the UK, all-female founder teams get less than 1p, while all-male founder teams get 89p. This statistic is not new and yet it is, nevertheless, staggering to me. What is more obvious is that it must be addressed. In my profession, I come across a wide range of female entrepreneurs who have solid business models and yet don’t receive the funding they need. We want to change that. The FVF model will provide, not only funding, but also, support in critical drivers of VC success – networking, negotiation, business planning and mentoring.”
“As well as investing in female-led businesses, the fund is designed to encourage more women to become investors and back female led businesses.”
The FVF portfolio will be sector agnostic and initially will be comprised of companies selected from Innvotec’s existing portfolio, which contains more than 35 female-founded companies.
The fund is managed by London-based Innvotec, an independent AIFM that already has 25% of its portfolio dedicated to female-led companies, more than double the industry average of 12%.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
.jpg)
How to select your best ideas and take them forward - Chris Thomason, Founder of Ingenious Growth shares 5 tips to help you do just that.
Early stage VC fund Anamcara led by Female Solo GP Closes $10.6M Seed Fund to Invest in Founders Building Defining B2B Software Companies
Want to ensure your startup runs smoothly? Hamid Bagherzadeh, Legal expert and Co-Founder of LegaMart shares insights on the legal contracts that will help you do just that.
Koala, the innovative travel insurtech startup, secures investment to fuel its growth in Europe, expand its team and build additional travel protections.
The best early stage tech startups from across the UK revealed in Tech Nation’s final Rising Stars competition.
Over 100 organisations come together via The Micro Business Alliance to help provide a voice for the UK's startups, micro businesses and small businesses.
The lowdown on London-based hearing wellness startup Mumbli and its mission to help businesses provide inclusive spaces for all hearing abilities and preferences.
Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.
Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.
.jpg)
With the UK facing a clear digital skills gap, Amy Caton, Digital Talent and Impact Senior Manager at BT Group shares some insights on what businesses should do to close that divide.
Published on: 29th June 2020
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Anamcara launches $10.6M seed fund to back new wave of business tech 30th Mar 2023 Early stage VC fund Anamcara led by Female Solo GP Closes $10.6M Seed Fund to Invest in Founders Building Defining B2B Software Companies
- Travel insurtech Koala raises €2m to accelerate its growth 29th Mar 2023 Koala, the innovative travel insurtech startup, secures investment to fuel its growth in Europe, expand its team and build additional travel protections.
- Tech Nation announces the 10 winners of its latest Rising Stars competition 29th Mar 2023 The best early stage tech startups from across the UK revealed in Tech Nation’s final Rising Stars competition.
- Micro Business Alliance launches to represent 75% of the UK’s businesses 28th Mar 2023 Over 100 organisations come together via The Micro Business Alliance to help provide a voice for the UK's startups, micro businesses and small businesses.
