Gender Smart
Photo credit: Elvie
Dealflow | September 9, 2021
Elvie scores $97 million to make health products for women
ImpactAlpha, September 9 — The London-based company offers women tech-based products for pumping breast milk and pelvic floor health. “Our goal is to …
Sakena Yacoobi, Afghan Institute of Learning
Agents of Impact | August 27, 2021
Sakena Yacoobi, Afghan Institute of Learning
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 27 – The Taliban is in power in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Not going away are the education centers, health clinics …
Photo credit: Alerzo
Africa | August 25, 2021
Nigeria’s Alerzo raises $10.5 million to digitize informal businesses
ImpactAlpha, August 25 – The digitization trend that’s taken off in the pandemic has focused on helping put small businesses online. Alerzo is …
Dealflow | August 18, 2021
On-demand women’s and family health startup Maven raises $110 million
ImpactAlpha, August 18 — Former journalist Kate Ryder launched Maven in 2014 to bridge a gap in women’s health care. “Our plan is …
Photo credit: Apple.
Climate and Clean Tech | August 18, 2021
Apple’s inaugural Impact Accelerator includes 15 Black and Brown climate startup founders
ImpactAlpha, August 18 — The accelerator is part of Apple’s $100 million Racial Equity Equity Initiative launched in June 2020. The three-month training …
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
Dealflow | July 14, 2021
Zeal Capital Partners and Female Founders Fund raise funds to advance inclusion
ImpactAlpha, July 14 — Washington, D.C.-based Zeal Capital raised $62.1 million for its inaugural fund from Truist Ventures, Paypal, Synchrony, Skoll Foundation, Bank …
Photo by Delightin Dee on Unsplash
Frontier and Growth Markets | July 8, 2021
Growth of gender-smart investing in development finance signals opportunity for commercial investors as well
Businesses in emerging markets run by women receive less than half the funding received by those run by men. In 2021, that fact …
Photo credit: African Entrepreneur Collective
Africa | June 30, 2021
ANDE’s Advancing Women’s Empowerment Fund awards $450,000 to three organizations in Africa
ImpactAlpha, June 30 – The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs’ second slug of funding from its Advancing Women’s Empowerment Fund was awarded to three …
Miriam Rivera and Clint Korver, the founding husband and wife duo behind Ulu Ventures. | Photo credit: Ulu Ventures.
Dealflow | May 18, 2021
Ulu Ventures raises $138 million to invest in diverse early-stage founders
ImpactAlpha, May 18 — Palo Alto, Calif.-based Ulu Ventures has raised $138 million for its third fund to invest in startups led by …
Dealflow | May 3, 2021
Two Sigma Impact and Avance acquire Wholesale Supplies to supply artisans with quality products
ImpactAlpha, May 3 — Hedge fund Two Sigma in January launched Two Sigma Impact, a nine-figure impact investing business from its own balance …
Photo credit: Invest2Innovate
Asia | April 21, 2021
In Pakistan, investing with a gender lens gives i2i Ventures an early-stage edge
ImpactAlpha, April 21 – If overlooked markets and underserved entrepreneurs represent untapped opportunities, Pakistan presents i2i Ventures with a rich bounty of possibilities. The …
Clean Energy | April 19, 2021
Overheard at the Island Finance Forum: Caribbean’s inclusive recovery
ImpactAlpha, April 19 — Volcanic eruptions in the Caribbean that have caused residents of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to flee their homes …
Photo credit: Les Ateliers de Corrine
Africa | March 29, 2021
Gender-lens fund WIC Capital backs Senegalese bakery
ImpactAlpha, March 29 – Dakar-based WIC Capital invested in Les Ateliers de Corinne, a woman-led bakery in Dakar that hosts cooking workshops. The investment …
Africa | March 15, 2021
Savannah Fund reaches first close on Africa tech seed fund
ImpactAlpha, March 15 – Savannah Fund backs Africa-based tech startups “that create jobs and make an impact.” For its second fund, the Mauritius-based investment …
Dealflow | March 11, 2021
Goldman Sachs commits to investing $10 billion in Black women
ImpactAlpha, March 11 — Goldman Sachs is looking to invest in at least one million Black women by 2030 via a $10 billion …