Poland this year broke the top 20 of world’s largest economies. It’s one of the few markets where venture capital is on the upswing.
Among the newest entrants: Vastpoint VC, an all-women fund manager that is investing in the country’s early-stage innovators. The firm has raised €18 million ($22 million) for its first fund and is set to cut its first checks next month. Vastpoint did not disclose the names of its limited partners.
For founders, by founders
Vastpoint’s team includes Aleksandra Pedraszewska, co-founder of UK-based deep tech startup VividQ; former startup founder and investment banker Karolina Kukiełka; and Zuzanna Brzosko, a neuroscientist who worked for pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and co-founded a biotech startup.
“We built Vastpoint to be the partner we wished we had: hands-on, globally connected and deeply understanding of the journey,” Pedraszewska wrote on LinkedIn.
Kukiełka noted the team’s “deep understanding of the founder’s journey,” and added, “Trust me, we’ve been in your shoes.”
Gender dynamics
Vastpoint is a rare women-only GP team in Europe. There are fewer than two dozen such firms, according to one tally.
The share of venture funding that goes to women-led companies in Europe is about 12% – higher than the roughly 2% global average. The figure nevertheless represents a decrease since the funding crunch began.
More women are stepping into VC fund management roles, which could unblock the flow of capital to female founders.
Poland has a relatively high percentage of female startup founders: more than 40% of startups report having at least one woman on their founding team.
