Women Rising
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.
Women Rising | 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
Call Recording | 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 …
Photo credit: SheEO
Gender Smart | February 23, 2021
Women’s investment community SheEO commits $500,000 to five entrepreneurs
ImpactAlpha, February 23 – Serial entrepreneur Vicki Saunders launched SheEO in 2015 to redesign how women-led businesses are supported. The Toronto-based network of 30,000 …
Dealflow | February 22, 2021
Promise raises $20 million to help people pay essential bills
ImpactAlpha, February 22 — One out of every 10 Americans are struggling to keep up with their monthly bills as a result of …
Photo credit: Kasha Global
Dealflow | February 18, 2021
DFC backs women’s health startup Kasha Global
ImpactAlpha, February 18 — Rwanda-based Kasha Global operates an e-commerce platform to improve low-income women’s access to menstrual care products, contraceptives, pharmaceuticals and …
Dealflow | February 10, 2021
Panoramic Ventures hunts for underserved founders in overlooked markets
ImpactAlpha, February 10 — Atlanta-based Panoramic Ventures is a partnership between tech entrepreneur and angel investor Paul Judge and BIP Capital, a venture …
Dealflow | February 3, 2021
Catalyst Fund backs six early-stage African fintech ventures
ImpactAlpha, February 3 — Catalyst Fund supports emerging-market entrepreneurs expanding access to basic goods and services. The accelerator has committed £80,000 ($110,000) to …
Dealflow | January 28, 2021
Bank of America places $150 million with minority-led fund managers
ImpactAlpha, January 28 — Bank of America is backing 40 minority-led fund managers to bridge the funding gap for Black, Latinx, women and …
Dealflow | January 12, 2021
Black-led real estate firm East Chop Capital closes $4 million fund
ImpactAlpha, January 12 — Columbus, Ohio-based East Chop Capital, founded by a pair of Black real estate investors and developers, has rallied Black …
Dealflow | December 18, 2020
Grameen America raises $17.5 million for second microfinance fund
ImpactAlpha, December 18 — Grameen America, started by Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, has been providing low-income women business owners with access to …
Photo credit: IFC
Gender Smart | November 25, 2020
Call No. 25 recap: Gender smart investing for a sustainable recovery
ImpactAlpha, Nov. 25 – The pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women is exposing the need and opportunity for more investors to embrace a gender lens. …
Photo credit: HEVA Fund
Gender Smart | November 17, 2020
A guide for fund managers investing in gender equity
ImpactAlpha, November 17 – Venture capital, private equity and debt firms raised $4.8 billion for strategies focused on gender equity in 2019, up …
Signals | November 16, 2020
With billions as bait, development financiers seek to hook private investors on gender-lens investing
ImpactAlpha, November 16 – Private equity and venture capital fund managers have an added incentive to apply a “gender lens” in their investment …
Photo credit: mHUB
Dealflow | November 12, 2020
Chicago’s mHUB raises $5 million to build an inclusive ‘hardtech’ ecosystem
ImpactAlpha, November 12 – Early-stage hardware companies get only a small slice of the venture capital pie—roughly $1 for every $15 software and …
Dealflow | November 3, 2020
Chingona Ventures backs SUMA Wealth to help U.S. Latinos build wealth
ImpactAlpha, November 3 – Beatríz Acevedo built mitú, a media and entertainment company for young Latinos. Now, she has adapted the engagement tools …
Africa | October 22, 2020
Catalyst Fund secures $4.3 million to accelerate digital commerce in Ghana
ImpactAlpha, October 22 – Catalyst Fund supports local fintech entrepreneurs to accelerate access to basic goods and services in emerging markets. A new …
Dealflow | September 23, 2020
Lightship Capital invests in fashion brand Haute Hijab
ImpactAlpha, September 23 – Melanie Elturk founded Haute Hijab to serve hundreds of millions of Muslim women underserved by global clothing brands. Backstage …
Dealflow | September 14, 2020
Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium secures $10 million
ImpactAlpha, September 14 – The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium is tackling a glaring lack of investor and philanthropic attention. The Appalachian …