Shattering the Ceiling: 11 Female Investors You Should Know
The funding landscape for female founders remains a hurdle despite their impressive track record. While organizations like the Female Founders Fund are making strides, the numbers speak for themselves: a mere fraction of venture capital goes to women-led businesses. This lack of investment hinders innovation and squanders the potential of talented entrepreneurs.
However, the solution isn't just about changing the system from the outside. We, as female founders, need to revolutionize the support structure from within. Instead of viewing each other as rivals in a limited funding pool, we must cultivate a collaborative spirit. By fostering mentorship programs, knowledge-sharing networks, and angel investor groups specifically focused on women, we can create a rising tide that lifts all boats. This collaborative approach, coupled with external efforts, is the key to shattering the glass ceiling that holds back female-founded ventures.
While US VC funding for female-founded startups did secure more capital in 2023 compared to 2020, it's important to note that the deal count dropped significantly. This indicates a concerning trend where fewer female-led businesses are receiving funding despite the overall increase in capital.
The investment world is seeing a refreshing influx of brilliant female minds across diverse industries. From tech gurus backing the next big social media platform to healthcare visionaries funding life-changing medical research, women are shaking things up and proving their investment prowess. This growing contingent is not only influencing where capital flows but also bringing new perspectives and priorities to the table, ensuring a more inclusive and impactful investment landscape.
Female investors
When female investors and VCs have a seat at the table, more female-founded startups get the funding support they need to grow and build thriving businesses. When it comes to shining a light on underrepresented groups across the private markets, these investors—all submitted by PitchBook’s blog readership—play a pivotal role in bringing innovative new solutions to market.
Here is a handy list of female VC investors as well as angel investors you should reach out to today.
CHERYL CAMPOS
Cofounder of VCFamilia along with Af Hernandez, a community of 200+ Latinx investors supporting current and emerging VCs and founders. Launched in January 2021 to address a lack of Hispanic and Latino representation in venture capital, VCFamilia has quickly become the industry's largest Latinx VC affinity group. In addition to her work at VCFamilia, Campos is the head of venture growth and partnerships at Republic, a private investing platform, and an investment partner at The Community Fund, a $5 million early-stage fund that invests in community-driven companies.
Cheryl’s Bio:
Cheryl is passionate about the intersection of finance, technology, and social impact. She is the Head of Venture Growth and Partnerships at Republic, an investment platform for founders to raise capital from both accredited and non-accredited investors. She joined as full-time employee #10 in 2018 and has been instrumental in its growth to unicorn status ($1BN valuation). In other direct investing roles, she is a scout for Lightspeed and an investment partner at The Community Fund, writing checks to 20+ companies in community centric startups, particularly healthcare and web3. Cheryl is also co-founder of VCFamilia, a community of 340+ Latinx investors supporting peers and founders through collaboration.
Previously she worked as an analyst in a Connecticut-based private debt & equity firm with an emphasis on minority and women entrepreneurs. She started her career in Investment Banking at Barclays, working in the Financial Institutions Group and Structured Finance. She holds a BA in Economics with honors from Harvard University and is a MBA candidate at Stanford Graduate School of Business Class of 2024.
GALIT HOROVITZ
Cofounder and partner at WellTech Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Tel Aviv that invests exclusively in the wellness space.
Galit’s Bio
As Co-founder and Partner at WellTech Ventures, a leading venture capital firm specializing in wellness and health, I am passionate about revolutionizing wellness innovation through effective science backed solutions. This passion drives me to be deeply committed to fostering positive change in the wellness and health sector.
With a robust history of aiding wellness and health tech startups, coupled with our expertise in investment, WellTech Ventures stands out as a preferred partner for investors and entrepreneurs. Positioned uniquely, we serve as a valuable ally in the evolving landscape of the Wellness and Health industries. Our mission is to shape the future of wellness.
POCKET SUN
Cofounder and managing partner at SoGal, one of the world's largest communities of diverse entrepreneurs and investors with 40+ chapters worldwide.
Pocket’s Bio:
Born and raised in China, Pocket Sun came to LA for her master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Never did she plan on becoming an entrepreneur, but she quickly realized that gender disparity is a huge issue. She felt compelled to change the status quo and disrupt the boys’ club. And that’s exactly what she did. SoGal was born – a platform that empowers the next generation to succeed, and a community that connects global entrepreneurs to change the world. Since the beginning, SoGal has been relentlessly bringing new ideas to life and supporting great startups. Pocket also went on to become a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SoGal Ventures which invests in diverse founding teams in the US and Asia.
Pocket has extensive experience working with startups and corporations across the US, China, and Southeast Asia. She has been on the cover of Forbes Asia magazine as a 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital, selected as LinkedIn Top 10 Voices in VC & Entrepreneurship, and interviewed by BBC, CNBC, Fortune, CCTV, Inc., Harper’s BAZAAR, etc. Pocket has been a featured speaker at the most prestigious conferences around the world, including Microsoft CEO Summit, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, and TEDx. She holds a Master of Science degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from University of Southern California.
ASYA BRADLEY
Limited partner at Cowboy Ventures and Ganas Ventures, as well as founding member of The Gathering Spot and founder of Kinly.
Asya’s Bio:
Asya Bradley is a multi-exited Serial Founder, Super Angel Investor, LP, advisor and board director in tech startups and emerging fund managers.
With over 20 years of experience in tech (founding team @Synapse, founder @Kinly: Acquired by Killer Mike's Greenwood, Cisco alum) and a track record of supporting underestimated founders, Bradley is an experienced investor, operator, and fintech entrepreneur.
She is a world traveler, having lived and worked throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and now North America. Asya is also certified at the highest attainable level by the Yoga Alliance in Ashtanga Yoga and speaks multiple languages fluently including, amongst others, Dutch, Punjabi and Arabic.
ANU DUGGAL
Founding partner of Female Founders Fund, an early-stage VC fund that invests in female-founded technology companies—especially those in the digital health, education and climate change.
Anu’s Bio:
Anu Duggal is the Founding Partner of Female Founders Fund, the first early-stage fund focused on investing exclusively in female founders. With less than 2% of venture capital going towards companies led by women, FFF is also moving the industry forward with a mission to diversify venture capital.
Over the last ten years, Anu has been investing in female leaders from pre-launch, including industry leaders like Maven Clinic, Tala, Zola and Zeera and is one of the few female solo GP’s managing over $100 AUM in the venture capital industry.
Since launch, Female Founders Fund has raised over $100M of AUM funds, has $100m+ AUM with 4 successful exits, including BentoBox, Billie, Eloquii, and Sawyer.
Anu has been honored in Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list and Crain’s “Notable Women in Tech” list and been included in Business Insider’s “Ultimate List of Female Startup Investors” and “Top 4 Venture Firms Investing in Women.” Anu is a regular contributor to leading outlets like The TODAY Show, Bloomberg TV, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC Squawk Alley, Fortune, Inc, Yahoo! Finance.
Anu is the host of the podcast, The Two Percent Podcast featuring guests including Time CEO Jessica Sibley, CEO of Briogeo Nancy Twine, and CEO and Chair of Instacart, Fidji Simo. She has spoken at events like Brilliant Minds, Milken, and more.
Prior to starting Female Founders Fund, Anu co-founded Exclusively.in, the first private-sale e-commerce company in India backed by Accel Partners and Tiger Global, which was acquired by Myntra in 2011. Her first entrepreneurial venture was in 2005 with the launch of India’s first wine bar, The Tasting Room in Bombay. She holds an MBA from London Business School and a BA from Vassar College.
Anu has been an active political fundraiser for both Obama 2008 and 2012, along with Head of Finance for Reshma Saujani’s Public Advocate campaign in Manhattan. She was previously a member of the Board of the Rubin Museum of Art.
Anu resides in NYC and Long Island and is a passionate gardener.
LESLIE FEINZAIG
Founder and managing director of Graham & Walker, a Seattle-area venture firm that activates the potential of all women in business through programs, community, and early-stage capital investments.
Leslie’s Bio
Leslie Feinzaig is a technologist, operator and startup founder described as an “industry trailblazer” by USA Today, and a contributing writer for Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Techcrunch. In 5 years, she turned a 25-person Facebook group into the largest community of women founders in North America, supporting thousands of founders along the way, and launching a venture capital fund to invest in them.
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Leslie was named one of Forbes Magazine’s Most Powerful Women from Central America, Worth Magazine’s Worthy 100, Puget Sound Business Journal 40 Under 40, and Seattle Magazine’s Most Influential People. Leslie serves on the Boards of the Washington Technology Industry Association, the Girl Scouts of Western Washington, and the Harvard Business School Equity and Entrepreneurship Initiative Alumni Advisory Board. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the London School of Economics and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
In her free time, Leslie loves to travel (especially to see her family in Costa Rica), dance, write and cook. She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and two young daughters.
ARIAN SIMONE
Cofounder and CEO of the Fearless Fund, a fund that invests in women of color-led businesses seeking pre-seed, seed-level, or Series A financing.
Arian’s Bio:
Arian Simone is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, investor, best-selling author, and international speaker. Arian is the Co-Founder and General Partner of the Fearless Fund, a $25MM venture capital fund investing in women of color-led businesses seeking pre-seed, seed level, or series A financing. Fearless Fund partnered with peer coaching platform The Cru and the Tory Burch Foundation for a multi-phase program that will provide grants between the size of $10,000 - $20,000, resources, and peer coaching services to women of color-led businesses. Arian is also on the board of directors for the fashion brand Steve Madden.
She received her MBA from Florida A&M University and has over 17 years of entrepreneurial experience from pioneering and growing a successful PR and marketing firm that included billion-dollar corporate clients, such as Sony Pictures, Walt Disney, Universal, and more to founding the Fearless Platform in 2010 with a mission of inspiring entrepreneurial women.
SARAH KUNST
Managing director of Cleo Capital, a Santa Monica-based VC firm founded in 2018. The firm's investment portfolio includes Cameo, MasterClass, BlocPower, and Love Wellness among others. In addition to her role at Cleo Capital, Kunst is a contributing editor at Marie Claire and an investor board member at Venture for America—a program for talented grads with their sights on becoming entrepreneurs.
ADELE CIRONE OLIVA
Founding partner at 1315 Capital, a private investment firm providing healthcare companies with expansion and growth capital.
Adele’s Bio:
Adele Oliva has been a healthcare investor for over 20 years and focuses on commercial stage medical technology, healthcare service, and specialty therapeutic investments. Adele co-founded 1315 Capital in 2014 to establish a firm focused on healthcare growth investing and the firm has $1 billion under management. She was recruited to Quaker Partners in 2007 to expand their growth stage investing practice. Prior to Quaker, Adele was Co-Head of US Healthcare at Apax Partners, where she started in 1997.
Prior to entering private equity as a Kauffman Fellow, Adele held roles at CoreStates and Baxter Healthcare. Adele received a BSc from St. Joseph’s University and an MBA from Cornell University, where she was awarded the Albert Fried Fellowship.
Adele has served on the board of Ascent Healthcare Solutions (acquired by Stryker), EKR Therapeutics (acquired by Cornerstone Therapeutics), ESP Pharma (acquired by Protein Design Labs), Esprit Pharma (acquired by Allergan), Genoptix (acquired by NeoGenomics), Precision Dermatology (acquired by Valeant), Prometheus Labs (acquired by Nestle), and SkinMedica (acquired by Allergan). She currently serves on the boards of 3B Scientific, Colorescience, Homestead, Innovative Health, miraDry, Onkos Surgical.
JANET BANNISTER
Founder and managing partner at Toronto’s Staircase Ventures, where she leads seed-stage rounds into Canada’s highest potential tech companies.
Janet’s Bio
Janet Bannister is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures. Prior to launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s largest and most active early-stage investors. Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem including being Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of Communitech in Waterloo, Vector Institute in Toronto, and Ivey Business School. She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab. In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.
Janet has won numerous awards and recognition including Venture Capital Journal’s 2021 “Women of Influence in Private Markets”, Pitchbooks’ 2021 “Female Founders & Investors to Know”, and American Bankers’ 2019 “Most Influential Women in Payments”.
Janet spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley where she helped transform eBay from a Collectibles to a mainstream marketplace. She started her career as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble and then joined McKinsey & Co. where she was an Engagement Manager. She also founded and built a successful consulting business and was CEO at a venture-backed start-up prior to joining Real Ventures.
Janet was a varsity long-distance runner and Canada’s National Triathlon Champion. She loves to cycle, hike, golf, and spend time with her husband and 17-year old son.
CHLOE SLADDEN
Cofounder of #ANGELS, a San Francisco-based investment collective founded in 2015. Sladden advises startups and invests in early-stage companies, seeking out teams and products that can have a disproportionate impact. #ANGELS backs ambitious founders and their portfolio of 100+ includes Gusto, Coinbase, Carrot, Airtable, and more. Sladden is also a board member at PL+US, a nonprofit that assists employees with paid family leaves, and the co-founder of Honeycomb Labs, a consumer software service that empowers families to share the logistics of parenting across dense, trusted communities.
Chloe’s Bio
I advise start-ups, invest in early stage companies and am a board member at Gannett (NYSE: GCI, publisher of USA Today and over 100 local media organizations). I'm also exploring some start up ideas.
I focus on how technology can even the playing field by democratizing access to data, overcoming challenges, or as a platform for people to connect, communicate and experience the world.
As a founding partner of #Angels and a member of Broadway Angels, I seek out teams and products that can have disproportionate impact. Some of my investments include Color Genomics, eero, Forward, Prefer and uBeam.
At Twitter, I built media partnerships and strategy from the ground up, and oversaw Twitter’s growth from a few dozen celebrities and journalists to daily participation by tens of thousands of the world’s most high profile individuals and media companies. I was responsible for the quality of Twitter’s content across news, music, TV, sports and politics. My team ensured Twitter was indelibly woven into traditional and new media, from hashtags and live voting on TV, to making Twitter the best place to find and report on breaking news. We established Twitter as an influential engagement metric that moved ad dollars. I also helped build Twitter's media ecosystem, a key component of Twitter’s growth.
I joined Twitter in 2009 when the company was pre-revenue and 40 employees. By 2013, Twitter was integrated on-air in over 60% of primetime programming across top-rated networks. In 2015, Twitter won an Emmy for innovation in TV engagement.
You can read about my work in The New York Times, Fast Company, Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter and other publications.
Before Twitter, I worked at Current TV as a vice president for both online and broadcast, where I produced the Webby Award-winning Hack the Debate.
