Women Rising
Ownership Economy | October 2, 2023
How Dearfield Fund helps Black women buy homes to build wealth and health
ImpactAlpha, October 2 — Equitable homeownership is a key strategy for narrowing racial wealth gaps. Centering Black women is key to the success …
Galvanize Climate Solutions' Tom Steyer.
Climate + Gender | September 18, 2023
Galvanize Climate Solutions closes Innovation+Expansion fund with more than $1 billion
ImpactAlpha, September 18 — Galvanize Climate Solutions has raised over $1 billion for its inaugural Innovation+Expansion Fund. The San Francisco-based growth equity fund, …
Return on Inclusion | June 23, 2023
Deal spotlight: Women-led venture capital funds
ImpactAlpha, June 23 — The venture capital industry, with over $2 trillion in assets under management, is still heavily male-dominated. Women-led funds manage …
India | June 22, 2023
India’s Avaana Capital raises $70 million for climate and sustainability fund
ImpactAlpha, June 22 — Mumbai-based, women-led venture capital investor Avaana Capital is looking to raise a total of $120 million for its first …
Gender Smart | May 22, 2023
Bringing women to the forefront of sustainable development
The following is an excerpt from “Working to restore: Harnessing the power of regenerative business to heal the world,” by Esha Chhabra. In …
Dorcia Whitebrake, an Everytable franchisee candidate. Photo by Everytable.
Ownership Economy | May 18, 2023
With inclusive loans and business support, franchise ownership offers a path to wealth for entrepreneurs of color
ImpactAlpha, May 18 — Employee ownership is having a moment. One promising strategy: democratizing the franchise model to widen pathways to ownership and …
Photo by Amplifica.
Women Entrepreneurs | January 17, 2023
Amplifica Capital raises $11 million to invest in women tech founders in Latin America
ImpactAlpha, January 17 — Mexico City-based Amplifica Capital has raised $11 million for its first venture capital fund. The fund will make early-stage …
Photo by Herself Health.
Investing in Health | January 9, 2023
Herself Health scores $7 million to provide value-based care to older women
ImpactAlpha, January 9 — St. Paul, Minn.-based Herself Health is looking to deliver advanced primary care to women with Medicare and Medicare Advantage …
Photo by MEDA.
Dealflow | December 9, 2022
ImpactAlpha Deal spotlight: Financing women-led small businesses in Africa
ImpactAlpha, December 9 — Small businesses are drivers of jobs and inclusive economic growth. In Africa, where more than half of small businesses …
Photo by MEDA.
Women Rising | December 6, 2022
How Mastercard Foundation’s $200 million Africa Growth Fund invests at the intersection of gender lens and good jobs
ImpactAlpha, December 6 — An African consortium led by Mennonite Economic Development Associates, the international development organization known as MEDA, will manage Mastercard …
Satgana's founding team | Photo by Satgana.
Climate + Gender | November 1, 2022
Satgana raises funds for climate tech startups in Africa and Europe
ImpactAlpha, November 2 — Luxembourg-based Satgana, which means “a good company” in Sanskrit, has raised an undisclosed amount in a first close from …
Image by standret on Freepik
Women Rising | September 26, 2022
African Women Impact Fund secures initial $60 million for gender-lens investments
ImpactAlpha, September 26 — South Africa’s Standard Bank Group and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa are looking to raise $1 billion …
McKeever “Mac” Conwell | Photo by Kaitlin Newman.
Inclusive Economy | September 19, 2022
Emerging fund managers form pooled investment vehicle to raise capital for overlooked founders
ImpactAlpha, September 19 — Baltimore-based RareBreed Ventures, Oregon’s Rogue Women’s Fund and VitalizeVC in Chicago are combining efforts to raise a collective $10 …
Women Rising | September 12, 2022
Janngo Capital secures €34 million for its African gender-lens fund
ImpactAlpha, September 12 — Fatoumata Ba launched Janngo Capital at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020 to help bridge the capital …
Arlan Hamilton. Photo: Arlan Hamilton.
Dealflow | August 15, 2022
Backstage gets a shot in the arm from Bank of America amid fundraising woes
ImpactAlpha, August 15 — Arlan Hamilton’s Backstage Capital scored a much-needed commitment from Bank of America. The investment comes less than two months …
Dealflow | July 7, 2022
Goodr scores $8 million to combat hunger and reduce waste in underserved communities
ImpactAlpha, July 7 — Black and Brown communities are more likely to face food insecurity than white communities, says Feeding America. Jasmine Crowe …
Illustration by Cayaba Care.
Investing in Health | May 23, 2022
Black-led Cayaba Care raises $12 million to reduce maternal morbidity
ImpactAlpha, May 23 — Maternal morbidity describes short- or long-term health issues during and after pregnancy, labor and delivery. In the U.S., more …
Photo credit: Manara
Good Jobs | May 10, 2022
Manara scores $3 million to upskill tech workers in North Africa and the Middle East
ImpactAlpha, May 10 — Former engineers Iliana Montauk and Laila Abudahi launched Manara last year to offer coding classes for engineering students from …
Theia's founders Flavia Deutsch and Paula Crespi. Photo credit: Theia.
Investing in Health | April 18, 2022
Theia scores $6.4 million for maternal health in Brazil
ImpactAlpha, April 18 — More than 80% of births in Brazil are via cesarean sections, far above the World Health Organization’s recommendation of …
Photo credit: General Mills.
Return on Inclusion | April 14, 2022
General Mills invests $15 million in Fearless Fund and Supply Change Capital
ImpactAlpha, April 14 — Minneapolis-based General Mills backed the pair of women of color-led funds as part of its commitment to advance racial …
Photo credit: Women's World Banking.
Gender Smart | April 5, 2022
Women’s World Banking raises $103 million to invest in financial inclusion for women
ImpactAlpha, April 5 — New York-based nonprofit Women’s World Banking has raised $103 million for its second fund to invest in providers of …
Gender Smart | March 30, 2022
Insitor’s second Impact Asia Fund secures $42 million for early-stage investments
ImpactAlpha, March 30 — Singapore-based Insitor Partners launched in 2009 to help bridge the gap in venture funding for early-stage companies in Asian …
Maria Velissaris. Photo credit: SteelSky Ventures.
Investing in Health | March 24, 2022
SteelSky Ventures raises $47 million to back women’s health ventures
ImpactAlpha, March 24 — Women founders in the U.S. received less than 2% of total venture capital invested last year. Women-led health ventures …
Photo credit: Lolita Taub.
Dealflow | March 9, 2022
Visa and Ford foundations back Black-led fund to invest in funds led by minority and female managers
Impactalpha, March 9 — West Hartford, Conn.-based Fairview Capital Partners teamed up with Ford Foundation in 2019 to launch Fairview Foundations Emerging Managers …
Photo by Flickr.
Climate + Gender | January 31, 2022
Impact Investment Exchange lists $30 million Women’s Livelihood Bond on the Singapore Exchange
ImpactAlpha, January 31 — Singapore-based Impact Investment Exchange has listed WLB4Climate on the Singapore Exchange. Proceeds from the $30 million bond will be …
Left to right: Felicity Gooding, Jenna Palumbo and Nicola Forrest. Photo credit: Minderoo Foundation.
Dealflow | December 22, 2021
Minderoo Foundation launches $100 million women-led strategic impact fund
ImpactAlpha, December 22 — Minderoo Foundation has invested in six entities to date, including Toronto-based Ulula, which makes software to help companies engage …
Women Rising | December 20, 2021
Alitheia IDF secures $100 million for an African gender-lens fund
ImpactAlpha, December 20 — Alitheia IDF, a joint venture between women-led fund managers Alitheia Capital and IDF Capital, aims to positively impact women …
Catalytic Capital | December 14, 2021
Women’s Livelihood Bond from Impact Investment Exchange closes at $30 million
ImpactAlpha, December 14 — Proceeds from the fourth bond will support social enterprises that can impact 500,000 underserved women and girls in India, …
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
The Reconstruction | October 19, 2021
Echoing Green and Goldman Sachs team to back Black women social innovators
ImpactAlpha, October 19 — New York-based Echoing Green will receive $1 million to create fellowships (applications are open) for Black women social entrepreneurs …
Photo credit: Talkspace.
Dealflow | October 7, 2021
Hearst’s Level Up Ventures to invest in Black and Latinx tech founders
ImpactAlpha, October 7 — Media conglomerate Hearst launched Level Up Ventures to make cash investments in pre-seed and seed rounds for Black- and …
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 …
Photo credit: Apple.
Dealflow | 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 credit: Arlan Hamilton.
Dealflow | June 23, 2021
Backstage Capital portfolio companies raise follow-on investments
ImpactAlpha, June 23 — Arlan Hamilton created Backstage Capital in 2015 to back “underestimated” founders and unlock value (see, “Arlan Hamilton, Backstage Capital”). …
Photo credit: Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News.
Dealflow | May 13, 2021
Kroger Innovation Fund and Village Capital to accelerate 10 food-tech startups
ImpactAlpha, May 13 — Halving U.S. food waste is a $14 billion annual investment opportunity. The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation, …
Sixty8's Kelli Jones. Photo credit: Cheddar.
Dealflow | May 11, 2021
Sixty8 Capital raises $20 million to back underrepresented tech founders
ImpactAlpha, May 11 — Indianapolis-based Sixty8 Capital has raised $20 million for a venture fund that aims to invest in more than two …
Community Finance | April 13, 2021
Founders First’s Kitty Fund makes micro-investments in “mompreneurs”
ImpactAlpha, Apr. 13 – The pandemic has been challenging for many small business owners, but mothers have faced particular burdens as childcare routines have …
PC: Reinventure Capital.
Dealflow | April 8, 2021
MassMutual backs Reinventure Capital fund for diverse founders
ImpactAlpha, April 8 — A Reinventure Capital impact venture fund, led by Edward Dugger III, received a “catalytic commitment” of $5 million from …
Kathryn Finney. Photo by Genius Guild.
Dealflow | April 6, 2021
Genius Guild scores $5 million financing to back Black-led tech ventures
ImpactAlpha, April 6 — Racial inequities have cost the U.S. economy more than $16 trillion over the past two decades. Closing racial gaps …
Dealflow | April 1, 2021
Harlem Capital closes $134 million second fund to back diverse entrepreneurs
ImpactAlpha, April 1 — New York-based venture firm Harlem Capital aims to invest in 1,000 companies led by women and minority founders over …
Dealflow | March 11, 2021
Goldman Sachs commits to investing $10 billion in Black women
ImpactAlpha, March 11 — Goldman Sachs is looking to impact at least one million Black women by 2030 via a $10 billion commitment …
Dealflow | March 9, 2021
Black Tech Nation Ventures aims to build an inclusive tech ecosystem in Pittsburgh
ImpactAlpha, March 9 — Tech startups in the city of bridges attract about $3 billion a year. Black Tech Nation’s Kelauni Jasmyn launched …
Photo credit: VeggieVictory
Dealflow | March 3, 2021
Startups in Singapore, the U.S. and Nigeria attract capital for animal-free products
ImpactAlpha, March 3 – Singapore’s Next Gen raised $10 million for its plant-based chicken products. Singapore Economic Development Board, NX Food, FEBE Ventures and …
Dealflow | March 2, 2021
Founders First scores $9 million to deploy revenue-based finance to diverse founders
ImpactAlpha, March 2 — Revenue-based financing investment firm Founders First Capital Partners invests in underfunded and underrepresented small businesses across the U.S. The …
Photo credit: Kuli Kuli
Climate + Gender | March 1, 2021
Call No. 27: Opportunities at the intersection of gender and climate
ImpactAlpha, March 1 – Capital is flowing to climate solutions. Climate bonds have topped $1 trillion. SPACs, or special purpose acquisition companies are …