A Guide To Scoring Seed Funding

Women are harnessing technology and robust ecosystems to pave the way for incredible new businesses in every industry that exists. But there’s a clear inequity of financial support for female founders. In fact, scoring seed funding in a world of unconscious bias from male investors who often don’t connect with business ideas targeting women is no mean feat. All-female teams secured just $1.9 billion (2.2 per cent) of the $85 billion (79 per cent) total invested by venture capitalists in 2017.

On a brighter note, the gap is smaller than last year, with female founders raising just $1.4 billion (1.9 per cent) of total venture capitalist funding in 2016. And the rise in female-only business accelerators, incubators, support networks and education opportunities around the world will no doubt continue to bolster funding flowing into female-run startups. The women on the receiving end, though, are the ones able to demonstrate how their big idea will transform consumer behaviour. They can clearly communicate their big dream, network with the right people, and look outside the box when it comes to funding sources. Here, investors and entrepreneurs reveal their tips to scoring seed funding.