Jules Robertson’s Post

In 2023, the proportion of U.S. venture funding going to startups with at least one female founder reached a new peak at 15% (thanks, AI). But the funding to female-only founded companies has been flat since 2015 at 2-3%. Here's how we do better: train women founders to get better at pitching. Right where the business metrics start to matter, at Series A. Yup, people start looking at them that early. That's why Leah Solivan, Alison Rosenthal (She / Her), Selina Tobaccowala, David Hornik and the team at Lobby Capital host Lobby: Elevate | Female Founders Summit. It's a full day for female founders to meet like-minded women, and more importantly, get candid, constructive 1:1 feedback from VCs and peers before they pitch. We did it for the first time last year, and got such rave reviews, it's back. It's August 27th in Napa, California. Know a female founder whose trying to raise an A soon? Encourage her to apply. https://lnkd.in/gRbrxUZV #founders #VCs #venturecapital #startup #startups #femalefounders

Women startup founders receive just 2% of total U.S. venture capital funding. If you’re a woman founder, here’s my Thanksgiving gift to you. I’ve worked with many amazing women founders (and GPs!) and have seen how tough it is for them to secure funding on good terms. The stats tell the story: in 2023, startups led only by women received just 2% of all U.S. venture capital funding. Even startups with male and female co-founders did better, taking in 20.7% of funding—the highest ever recorded. The funding gap is real, and closing it isn’t easy. If you’re a woman raising your first round (SAFEs or convertible notes), I’m offering a free call to review your deal terms. While I can’t change the system, I can help you feel more prepared to navigate it and negotiate for what’s fair. First woman founder to comment “WOMAN FOUNDER” gets my Calendly link. Let’s make this season about gratitude and empowerment. #startuplawyer #startupfounder #womenfounders

Interesting insights into venture funding ecosystem as described by female founders* ⏩ 100% of the female founders polled say the European investor ecosystem is biased against women ⏩ 64% believe gender bias has made raising funds more challenging ⏩ 92% believe VCs aren’t doing enough to support women founders Still long way to go... Example of inappropriate questions some female founders were asked by VCs: “What is it like being 30 and not having children?” “Do you think you’ll lose interest in the business once you’ve had your baby?” “Do you think you will end up being another Elizabeth Holmes?” “Two women building a tech product — are you sure you’re the right people to do this?” “Can you send me your qualifications?” * please note that the survey was based on a very small sample size (43 women founders of early-stage startups), hence the results should serve only as insights. 301/365

In 2023, less than three percent of venture capital (VC) funding went to female-only founded startups. These statistics are alarming and we are happy to see Innovate UK are championing female founders with the ‘Invest in Women Taskforce’ which has secured over £250M to support female founders in the UK! This historic milestone empowers women-led businesses to thrive, with female investors leading the charge to break barriers. Read the announcement: https://bit.ly/3ANCrGk Let us help your business find the perfect funding: https://bit.ly/3Osaqas #Swoop #FemaleEntrepreneurs #InvestInWomen #InnovationForGrowth

Did you know that in 2023, women-led startups received just 5% of total VC funding? While there’s progress —in Q1 2024, this grew to 21% for all-female teams and 30% for startups with at least one female founder— the funding gap remains significant. The median funding size for female-led teams is still far smaller than for male-led ones, limiting women's opportunities to scale their businesses. The good news? Initiatives like the F5 Collective aim to invest 1,000 female founders in the Asia-Pacific region by 2030, amplifying women's undeniable value to the startup ecosystem. Proposals like California’s diversity disclosure bill could also pave the way for greater transparency across the VC industry. The talent is here. The solutions are forming. Now it’s time for action. 💪 Link: https://lnkd.in/dP9drpWP #StartupFunding #FemaleFounders #VCTransparency #DiversityInVC

Wondering why you should invest in female founded startups? Here’s why: 1.Women-led startups generate more ROI 2.Women-led companies are underfunded 3.Women founders are more likely to generate jobs for women Join us in championing female founders and driving impactful change in the business world. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e6Hkpr9T #GetPlaybook #WomenSpark #FemaleEntrepreneurs #WomenInBusiness #inspiration

Wondering why you should invest in female founded startups? Here’s why: 1.Women-led startups generate more ROI 2.Women-led companies are underfunded 3.Women founders are more likely to generate jobs for women Join us in championing female founders and driving impactful change in the business world. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e6Hkpr9T #GetPlaybook #WomenSpark #FemaleEntrepreneurs #WomenInBusiness #inspiration

A fantastic opportunity for women Entrepreneurs in Ireland to chat with international investors. This event takes place virtually on 7th November. Find out more in the post from Chris Smith from Playfair below. #enterpreneurs #womanenterpreneurs #investors #playfair #founders #startups #venturecapital #crowdfunding #femalefounders

Female founders are making waves, but funding gaps persist. New data shows that startups with women at the helm now make up 20% of ventures, up from 18% in 2015. Yet, they still only receive 12% of VC funding. Dive into my latest article exploring the evolving landscape for women in entrepreneurship and the challenges that remain. https://lnkd.in/g3YXDgam #FemaleFounders #startups #KatrinaRogers

We can't solve the gender imbalance in funding solely through FFOH, but we can make a dent - £194m has been raised by participants so far this year & with the support of 200+ investors we will >2x that this time 💰 Here's everything you need to know about Edition 12 It'll be the largest event yet with more investors signing up to mentor women founders than ever before It'll take place virtually on November 7th and we have space for 300 women founders to have 4 one-on-one meetings with investors to pitch, seek advice or simply ask questions If you're a woman founder or know one who fits the criteria below, please tag them in the comments or share with them Inception to Series A 🌱 Tech company 🖥 European HQ 🌍 Women-led 👩🔧 A huge thank you to everybody for their support and to our sponsors who for this edition are Carta, Microsoft for Startups and FieldHouse Associates 🙏 To apply, please check out the link in the comments below 👇 Finally, thank you Clare Zhang, Lucia Polverino, Felix Neubeck, Anouska Moss & Deanne Saunders for their incredible work bringing this all together 🙏 #startups #venturecapital #technology #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #innovation #future #fundraising #womenintech #femalefounders #diversityintech