Women in business have historically faced the bulk of disadvantages. However, a new network aims to resolve the shortcomings that exist in venture capital (VC) funding for women-owned companies.
Sie Ventures brings together women-led businesses and connects them to investors in an effort to support the next generation of female founders in Europe.
“I think it’s still the best time to be an entrepreneur, because the best ideas are born when the consumer needs change,” said Triin Linamagi, founding partner at Sie Ventures. “You can find gaps in the market that weren’t there [in the past] — before, you didn’t notice. Learn more about your customers and build with them”.
The gaps in this case come in VC funding. For every £1 of VC funding men-led businesses receive in the UK, female founded companies receive less than £1. This number grows even more when considering women of color-owned companies.
So in order to prepare these companies for presentation, Sie Ventures helps these organizations plan their fundraising strategies and the best way to present their model to potential investors.
“We help them prepare for the first fundraise — reviewing the financial models and how you present your technology, versus how you talk about your future vision to investors,” said Linamagi.
Women tend to focus on creating businesses that address real-world programs, so by creating this program, Linamagi says that these companies can “have stronger societal impact and change the world for the better.”
Since its founding in 2021, Sie Ventures has helped 32 companies raise over £26 million in pre-seed and seed funding.