InvestHer Podcast

"Keep your energy on your vision. Not your current problem and not your bank balance. Keep it on your vision, because where you put your energy is where you're ultimately going to grow."   ⚡ Flipping the Switch: Tracy O'Rourke's Clean Energy Bet!   🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Tracy O'Rourke, Founder & CEO of Vivid Edge, about building an award-winning climate tech startup from a financial services background, navigating a funding journey that defied conventional wisdom, and why the right investor fit matters far more than the size of the cheque.   🌍 Discover how Tracy transformed her expertise in aircraft leasing and financial services into Vivid Edge — a pioneering platform that helps commercial organisations eliminate energy waste through fully funded retrofits, with zero capital outlay for customers. After years of bootstrapping through accounting rule changes and a global pandemic, Tracy flipped the switch on her fundraising approach and closed a €555K angel round in just six weeks — through her own network, without ever directly asking anyone for money.   💡 Don't miss this episode with actionable insights on: • How Tracy identified a massive funding gap in energy efficiency — and why it represents 40% of the climate solution that the world is largely ignoring • The innovative risk and funding model behind Vivid Edge that gives customers fully funded energy retrofits with no upfront capital and no obligation until after installation • Why Tracy said no to an investor when the bank account was nearly empty — and why she has never once regretted that decision • The "flip the switch" fundraising moment: how Tracy closed €555K from seven investors in six weeks by telling everyone she was fundraising — without asking anyone directly for money • Thinking of your investor relationship as a marriage: the questions to ask before you sign, from board control and voting rights to timeline alignment and cultural fit • Why regulatory drivers like CSRD and commercial property energy ratings are creating powerful new tailwinds for Vivid Edge — and what that means for investors right now • Tracy's parting wisdom for every entrepreneur in the trenches: keep your energy on your vision, not your bank balance   Learn how to build a fundable, scalable business — on your own terms.   🔗 Listen Now | 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes   About Tracy Tracy O'Rourke is the Founder & CEO of Vivid Edge, a climate tech company that delivers fully funded energy efficiency retrofits to commercial businesses with no capital outlay required. Drawing on her background in financial services and aircraft leasing, she is also a Fellow of the Cartier Women's Initiative and the Barclays Unreasonable global programme for entrepreneurs.   About Vivid Edge Vivid Edge is an Irish-founded climate tech company that helps commercial businesses identify energy waste, access fully funded energy efficiency retrofits, and manage ongoing reporting — all through one comprehensive platform. Vivid Edge removes the financial and operational barriers that have historically slowed energy efficiency adoption. Customers save energy, reduce costs, and cut carbon emissions with no capital outlay, while Vivid Edge manages the entire process as a long-term service partner.   Resources Mentioned 🌐 Vivid Edge: https://www.vividedge.ie 🏛 Enterprise Ireland: https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/ 🌍 Cartier Women's Initiative: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/ 🌍 Barclays Unreasonable Programme: https://www.unreasonablegroup.com/ 📋 CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive): https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en 🏆 Earthshot Prize: https://earthshotprize.org/   Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 https://www.investherpodcast.com/ 📂 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 🗨️ LinkedIn: Anne Ravanona https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/   #WomenFounders #CleanEnergy #EnergyEfficiency #Climatetech #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInClimate #StartupFunding #IrishStartup #WomenEntrepreneurs #SustainableBusiness #ImpactInvesting #InvestHer #FemaleFounders #ClimateAction

"There's a lot of education that needs to be done to get women more comfortable with investing." 🎙 From Serial Fundraiser to VC: Melinda Wittstock's $20M Journey 🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Melinda Wittstock, Founder & CEO of Podopolo, about her journey raising $20 million across multiple tech ventures—and why she's now on a mission to change the venture capital game for women founders. 🌍 Discover how Melinda built Podopolo, an AI-powered podcasting platform, while navigating one of the most challenging funding climates for women in tech. She shares candid insights from her serial entrepreneurship journey, the reality of keeping momentum alive during delayed funding rounds, and why she's now stepping into the investor role as a junior partner at a VC focused exclusively on backing women. 💡 Don't miss this powerhouse episode packed with actionable insights on: • What it really takes to raise $20 million across multiple ventures as a woman in tech • The harsh realities of fundraising delays—and how to maintain company momentum when capital calls stretch for months • Why tech fundraising is uniquely difficult for women founders compared to consumer product or female-focused industries • The shift from founder to investor—and how Melinda is working to close the funding gap from the other side of the table • Why women make better CEOs and how to educate more women to become comfortable with investing Learn what it takes to not only survive the funding journey—but come out the other side ready to lift other women up. 🔗 Listen Now 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶ Full Show Notes Resources Mentioned 🌐 Podopolo: https://podopolo.com Connect with Melinda 🌐 Website: https://podopolo.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/melindawittstock Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 investherpodcast.com 📁 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 💬 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/ #WomenFounders #PodcastTech #AIInnovation #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInTech #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #WomenEntrepreneurs #SerialEntrepreneur #InvestHer #WomenInVC

"If you have an idea and you feel passionately about it, you will not fail. If you have enough dedication, and you believe in your product, you believe in yourself — you will not fail." 🏢 From Basement to Boardroom: How Shena Brien Built Ireland's Most Customer-Obsessed Telco! 🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Shena Brien, Co-Founder & CEO of IPTelecom, one of Ireland's leading cloud communications companies. Shena shares what it really takes to bootstrap a tech company from scratch, grow it organically for over a decade, and then make the leap to private equity — all while building one of the most gender-diverse teams in Irish tech. 🌍 Discover how Shena and her co-founder, Brian Chamberlain, turned a house basement, second-hand servers, and a shared passion for customer service into a 40-person, PE-backed scale-up now targeting a place in Ireland's top five telcos. With a 50/50 gender split across the company, Shena is rewriting what leadership in the telecom sector looks like. 💡 Don't miss this episode with insights on: Why staying self-funded for 13 years gave IPTelecom the structure and stability to attract the right investor — at the right time How Shena "interviewed" potential investors just as hard as they interviewed her, and what made Development Capital stand out Building a gender-diverse, multinational team (15 nationalities!) in a male-dominated industry — without a quota in sight The "telecom in a box" concept that powered an international proof-of-concept in South Africa — and what it signals for IPTelecom's global future Why zero downtime and customer centricity aren't just values — they're a competitive moat Hard-won founder wisdom: direct debit billing from day one, outsourcing HR until you're ready, and why your employee handbook is your Bible Her message to every woman who hesitates to walk into a room full of men: you belong here Learn how to build a fundable, scalable business — on your own terms. 🔗 Listen Now 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes Resources Mentioned 🏢 IPTelecom: iptelecom.ie 🏛 Enterprise Ireland: enterprise-ireland.com 💼 Development Capital (investors): developmentcapital.ie Connect with Shena 📧 Email: [email protected] (Shena with one 'e'!) 🌐 Website: iptelecom.ie 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iptelecom_ireland/ 🐤 Twitter (X): https://x.com/iptelecom Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 investherpodcast.com 📂 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 🗨️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/ #WomenFounders #IrishTech #Telco #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInSTEM #Bootstrapped #PrivateEquity #ScaleUp #WomenInBusiness #CustomerFirst #WomenEntrepreneurs #InvestHer #FemaleFounders #StartupFunding

"Founders really need to know themselves in this journey, and know where their thresholds are and what their limits are. I am now at the point where I am setting the boundaries and the rules. It's not up to investors to determine the timeline — if you're not there during that timeline, then you're out." 🏠 The Monadd Story: Venture-Backed PropTech with Jessica Mendoza! 🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Jessica Mendoza, founder of Monadd (since acquired by Bunch), about building and scaling a venture-backed, data and AI-powered proptech startup — and what it really takes to raise funding, build with ethics, and grow a business that makes a real difference. 🌍 Discover how Jessica transformed a personal frustration with moving house into a residence management platform now reaching a third of all UK households. She shares her journey from idea to raising venture backing, ranking in the top 💡 Don't miss this episode with actionable insights on: Why founders have more power than they think when choosing investors Building AI and data ethics into your startup from day one Pivoting from B2C to B2B and unlocking commercial scale Navigating the UK vs. US investor landscape — and why Jessica flipped her company to a US domicile Turning rejection into rocket fuel — and setting your own rules Learn how to build a fundable, scalable business — on your own terms. 🔗 Listen Now 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes Resources Mentioned 🏛 Open Data Institute (UK): theodi.org 🏛 Alan Turing Institute: turing.ac.uk ⚖️ Mishcon de Reya (AI & data law specialists, London): mishcon.com 🌐Bunch: https://the-bunch.co.uk/ Connect with Jessica Website: jessgmendoza.me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagmendoza/ Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 investherpodcast.com 📂 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 🗨️LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/ #WomenFounders #PropTech #DataEthics #AIEthics #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInTech #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #WomenEntrepreneurs #VentureBackedStartup #InvestHer

🚀 Women Investors: Unlock the Nordic Investment Revolution! 🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Michaela Berglund, CEO of Feminvest, about investing in women entrepreneurs and transforming women's financial futures in the Nordics. 🌍 Discover how Michaela is challenging the investment landscape, where less than 1% of private equity goes to women entrepreneurs. She shares her inspiring journey from making her first €20 investment at 18 to launching the Nordics' first VC fund dedicated to women-led startups. 💡 Don't miss this game-changing episode packed with actionable insights on: Building financial confidence from scratch Overcoming investment fears Creating a powerful women's investor community Accessing funding for women-led tech and retail startups Learn how to take control of your financial future, build wealth, and support women entrepreneurs across the Nordic region. 🔗 Listen Now 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes #WomenInvestors #FinancialEmpowerment #WomenEntrepreneurs #InvestHer #NordicStartups #VentureCapital #WomenInFinance

🚀 Women Entrepreneurs: Unlock the secret world of grants!                   🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Vanessa Sanchez, Senior Grant Development Consultant at Grants Office, about unlocking funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs. 🌍 Discover how Vanessa is transforming the grant funding landscape by helping women entrepreneurs navigate complex funding strategies. She reveals insider secrets from her unique journey from neuroscience to grants consulting, sharing practical advice on accessing non-dilutive funding across local, national, and international levels. 💡 Don't missthis game-changing episode packed with actionable insights on: Crafting compelling grant applications Understanding different types of grants Overcoming funding barriers Leveraging Dell's Women Entrepreneur Network opportunities Learn how to turn your passionate project into a fundable opportunity and accelerate your business growth with expert grant strategies. 🔗 Listen Now 🎧 Apple Podcasts  | Spotify  | ▶️ Full Show Notes #WomenEntrepreneurs #Funding #BusinessGrowth #Grants #StartupFunding #WomeninTech #EUGrants

🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona sits down with Andie Cooper, Account Director at Beach Hut PR, to unlock the secrets of powerful tech communications for founders. 🚀 Discover how innovative startups transform their stories into global headlines, with insider strategies for media relations, fundraising visibility, and authentic storytelling. Andie reveals the critical differences between a press office and a strategic PR partnership that can truly elevate your startup. 💡 Learn practical tips for: Nailing media interviews Building meaningful journalist relationships Amplifying your startup's mission Positioning yourself as a thought leader in tech Whether you're a women founder, tech entrepreneur, or aspiring innovator, this episode is your blueprint for breaking through the noise and making your mark in the competitive world of tech communications. Get ready to revolutionize how you tell your startup's story! 🌍🔥  #WomenInTech #PRStrategy #StartupFunding #EntrepreneurshipTips

🌍 Transforming Africa's Economic Landscape: One Woman's Mission to Empower 60,000 Entrepreneurs Join Cathy Latiwa, founder of Latiwa Development Foundation, as she reveals how "Build Her A Future" is revolutionizing women's entrepreneurship across Central Africa. From survival businesses to global market players, this episode uncovers the power of digital skills, strategic partnerships, and unwavering determination. Discover how technology, mentorship, and targeted support can turn women's entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, business leader, or change-maker, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about economic empowerment. Get ready to be inspired by real stories of women building factories, breaking barriers, and reshaping their communities - one business at a time! 💪🚀🌟 #WomenEntrepreneurs #AfricaRising #BuildHerAFuture #EconomicEmpowerment #Entrepreneurship

🌟 Transforming Lives Through Beauty: Meet Sarah Naylor, the social entrepreneur rewriting success stories for marginalized communities! From helping teenagers build confidence to supporting individuals seeking a fresh start, Sarah's academy proves that practical skills are powerful tools of empowerment. Her journey from Dublin's challenging neighborhoods to creating a thriving beauty business training program shows that your background doesn't define your potential. Discover how one woman is creating economic opportunities, breaking societal stigmas, and helping people rediscover their worth - one nail, one lash, one dream at a time. 💅🚀 In this raw, inspiring podcast episode, Sarah shares her mission to uplift communities, teach business skills, and prove that entrepreneurship knows no boundaries. Whether you're a teenager, a migrant, or someone seeking a second chance, there's a path forward. Tune in to hear a masterclass in resilience, community building, and turning personal challenges into transformative opportunities! 💪❤️🌈 #WomenEntrepreneurs #EmpowermentThroughSkills #SocialImpact

🔥 Ready to rethink financial security for women? In this episode, Lesley Tully, founder of This is Penny, shares her inspiring mission to close the gender pension gap through innovative fintech solutions.   Discover how This is Penny combines technology, education, and community to empower women to take control of their retirement savings. Whether you're just starting your financial journey or looking to make smarter pension choices, Lesley's insights will inspire you to build a stronger financial future.   Tune in and start revolutionising your pension today! 💼💪💡

🔥 Ready to fuel your climate startup journey? In this episode, Helena Wasserman, founder and CEO of Unstoppable Accelerator, shares her inspiring path from entrepreneur to climate advocate.   Discover at Unstoppable, how community, fundraising strategies, personal branding, and AI tools can supercharge your impact in the climate space. Whether you're a founder or investor, Helena's insights will help you navigate the competitive world of climate entrepreneurship with confidence and purpose.   Tune in and get unstoppable! 🌱🚀

In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona sits down with Marc Ortmans from Global Entrepreneurship Network UK (GEN UK) to discuss the transformative power of shared values in the world of entrepreneurship.  Drawing from his rich background in design and branding, Marc shares insights on the vital role of ecosystems and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and values-driven initiatives. The conversation dives deep into the significance of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), a movement that now spans over 200 countries, promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship worldwide. Marc reveals the backstory behind the branding of GEW and how the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) has grown into a key player in supporting ecosystem builders. Together, they explore the impact of initiatives like Restart Ukraine, which supports displaced women entrepreneurs, and Startup Planet, focusing on sustainability and net-zero innovation. Get the links to the resources mentioned in this episode and learn more in the Show Notes here; https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcastEp46MarcOrtmansGENUK

Join us on the InvestHer Podcast as we explore the fascinating journey of Megha Gambhir, the dynamic founder and CEO of Stupa Sports Analytics. In this episode, Megha shares her transition from a seasoned tech professional to revolutionizing the sports analytics industry. Discover how Stupa Sports Analytics is enhancing the performance of athletes and transforming sports federations with cutting-edge AI technology. Megha also dives into her experiences with funding, scaling, and the pivotal pivots that shaped her business. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned investor, Megha's insights on innovation, perseverance, and the power of networking are invaluable. Tune in to learn how she's navigating the challenges of tech entrepreneurship and making significant strides towards digital transformation in sports. Get the links to the resources mentioned in this episode and learn more in the Show Notes here; https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcastEp45RaisingFundingMeghaGambhirStupa 

Welcome to the latest episode of the Invest Her Podcast! Today, we're diving into the incredible journey of Allison Byers, Founder of Scroobious and a beacon of change and innovation in the funding ecosystem. Allison Byers has earned the title of the Swiss Army Knife of funding and fundraising. From launching a company dedicated to making fundraising more accessible to underrepresented founders to advocating for legal changes in the United States funding landscape and stepping into the role of an angel investor, Allison's multifaceted career is nothing short of remarkable. Get the links to the resources mentioned in this episode and learn more in the Show Notes here; https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcastEp44InvestinginChangeAllisonByersScroobious  

In this inspiring episode of the InvestHer Podcast, your host Anne Ravanona delves into the incredible journey of Sarah Dusek, co-founder of Under Canvas and Enygma Ventures. From experiencing a significant business failure to selling a business for $100 million and becoming a venture capitalist focused on empowering women entrepreneurs in Africa, Sarah's story is nothing short of remarkable. Join us as Sarah shares her insights on entrepreneurship, overcoming challenges, and the power of believing in your vision. Get the links to the resources mentioned in this episode and learn more in the Show Notes here; https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcastEp43SarahDusekEnygmaVentures 

In today's episode, we're excited to delve into an inspiring conversation with Dora Palfi, the Co-Founder and CEO of Imagi. Dora shares her journey of creating a revolutionary approach to coding education, aimed at building a diverse and inclusive tech workforce for the future. Imagi is not just a coding platform; it's a movement to redefine the way girls and boys engage with technology from an early age. Dora discusses how Imagi's unique solutions, such as the 'Imagi Charm' and their interactive app, are making waves in tech education by emphasizing creativity, collaboration, and inclusivity. Join us as we explore Imagi's mission, the challenges of diversifying technology, and the importance of early coding education. We'll also dive into Dora's funding journey, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs navigating the world of startup finance. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an investor, or simply passionate about education and technology, this episode is packed with inspiring stories and practical advice. Let's discover how Imagi is shaping the future of tech, one code at a time! Get the links to the resources mentioned in this episode and learn more in the Show Notes here; https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep41-Dora-Palfi-Imagi 

Tune in to the Latest Episode of Invest Her Podcast: Trailblazing VC Funding in Singapore & Investing in Women Founders with Field Pickering, Managing Partner at Vulpes Ventures. Are you ready to dive into the dynamic world of venture capital and discover how gender diversity is reshaping investment strategies? Join us on the Invest Her Podcast for an inspiring and enlightening conversation with Field where he shares how Vulpes Ventures is breaking new ground by focusing on gender diversity in their investments, the role of networking and perseverance for women entrepreneurs seeking funding. Get the links to the resources mentioned in this episode and learn more in the Show Notes here: https://bit.ly/InvestHer-Podcast-Ep-42-Field-Pickering-Managing-Partner-Vulpes-Ventures 

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Gabriela Isas, founder and CEO of Good With, as she delves into the transformative world of financial education for young adults. In this episode, Gabriela unveils her unique journey to empower the 18-30 age bracket with innovative, AI-driven money management tools. Discover how Good With leverages behavioral science and technology to revolutionize financial literacy, and how Gabriela's passion is shaping a new era in fintech. Whether you're a young adult navigating your financial pathway or an enthusiast for cutting-edge financial solutions, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and practical advice. Learn about their funding journey so far and key resources they used that could be useful to you too. Tune in to explore how Good With is not just changing the game in financial education but also positively impacting lives. Don't miss this inspiring story of innovation and empowerment! Get the links to the resources mentioned in this episode and learn more in the Show Notes here.

🌿 Dive into the world of Cleantech with Mona Hornung, co-founder and CEO of Novo, in our latest episode of Invest Her Podcast. Mona shares her riveting journey from consulting to leading a groundbreaking Cleantech startup in Germany. Discover how Novo is revolutionizing building energy efficiency, the challenges and triumphs of her entrepreneurial path, and the insights from their successful funding journey. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about innovation, sustainability, and women's impactful role in tech. Tune in to hear Mona's invaluable advice for women founders embarking on their fundraising adventures. Join us for an inspiring conversation that delves into making a cleaner world, one building at a time. Learn more about Mona and get valuable resources mentioned in the episode Show Notes here

This week, you'll learn meet Lara Solomon, Founder &CEO of Hoopsy, the sustainable pregnancy test making waves. Lara is a serial entrepreneur who decided to create a medical device company to help millions of women, building on her own personal fertility journey, where she wondered where were the sustainable pregnancy tests that didn't add more plastic waste to the planet. She didn't find them, so she created her own! Join us as you learn from her experience building her product and raising money on the way. Learn more about Lara and access the valuable resources shared in this episode on our Show Notes here.

This week, we have the pleasure of welcoming Gustavo Stecher, our long-time partner and the founder and CEO of Membranding. Gustavo is an extraordinary professional with extensive experience in global branding identity, particularly in startup branding, social branding and city branding. Join us as you learn how startups and emerging funds can use branding identity to get funded faster. Learn more about Gustavo and access the valuable resources shared in this episode on our Show Notes here.

Great VCs and fund managers can come from anyway and Jenna Bryant, a true force of nature is living proof of that. Together with her co-founder Jordan Noone, both from non-traditional backgrounds, they created Embedded Ventures as a next generation VC firm investing in early -stage startups in deeptech and space, that can serve the U.S. Department of Defense. With a degree in fashion design and a passion for dance, she started her career as a tech recruiter, blazing a trail in emerging tech startups, before becoming a venture capitalist and in turn co-founding Embedded Ventures. Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a truly wild ride into deeptech and space tech investing, learn more about Embedded Ventures and who they invest in and get key insights into space tech funding as well as practical key tips for women founders and those who want to get into VC. Ready for Lift Off? You're in the right place!  Have a listen and get all the resources in the show notes here: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep36-JennaBryant

Did you know that today, only 1% of global corporate procurement goes to women-owned businesses? In 2023? Why is it that so few big corporates buy from women-owned businesses and what can women entrepreneurs do to win key contracts with them? Supply chain diversity is not only a buzzword, it's an imperative, if we are to unlock more global growth and close the global pay and customer gap for women founders. That's where WEConnect International comes in. They are on a mission to drive more money into the hands of women and help them better compete in the global marketplace. In this episode, you'll learn from Paulina Dri-Rabell, Market Lead for France, about how WEConnect helps women-owned businesses get certified and enter the corporate supply chain successfully, all over the world.  Learn why this can help more women owned businesses get luctrative corporate contracts, all about the certification process and how access to markets is a key funding and growth strategy for women founders. Paulina also shares her key tips to women founders on how build great relationships with corporates and much more! Get more information about WEConnect and the certification process in the show notes here:

How do you raise money for a hardware, femtech, medical device that is highly innovative and not yet on the market? How do you get partners like the World Health Organisation to support your work? In this episode, you'll hear from Rosanne Longmore, CEO of Coroflo, a company which has developed and patented the world's first accurate breastfeeding monitor, Coro. Coroflo have raised €4m investment and have won numerous innovation and technology awards. Coroflo are raising their Series A to launch Coro to the market in 2024. Learn the behind the scenes story about how Coroflo started, how they pivoted, their funding journey, how to manage prodcut development, research, patenting, funding all in parallel to build a world-class medical device/femtech company. I believe they will become an Irish woman co-founded unicorn so stay tuned! If you are a founder, get lots of great tips on how to raise serious non-dilutive capital. If you are an investor looking for a great opportunity, you should definitely listen to this episode!  Access the resources shared in this episode in the show notes here.

How we tell stories matters. It's the way we all communicate things that really matter, and how you tell your story as a funder (investor) or founder can really change outcomes. In this episode, you'll learn from Tara Todras-Whitehill, an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared on more than 20 front pages of The New York Times. She founded the TW Visual Storytelling Agency and has a clientele of some of the world's leading social impact and news organizations.  If you are a funder (investor) you'll love this episode, as you'll learn how to better tell your stories about how you invest in women and diverse founders, to help you attract more diverse dealflow. Tara will walk through 4 examples of venture capital funds websites, share what they are doing well and how they can elevate their storytelling to connect even better with diverse founders. And if  you are founder, you'll learn how to tell your founder and company story authentically and ethically when you fundraise and to attract clients and team members. Tara shares so many valuable practical takeaways so make sure you take notes and share this episode with other funders and founders who need to hear this too! See the websites she mentions and other resources in the show notes here: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep33TaraTodras-Whitehill

What if you could invest in the change you want to see, by investing in public stocks of companies with women ceos? By investing in what you want to see in the world, breaking barriers and moving the needle forward? Now you can, if you are based in the United States, thanks to Patricia Lizarraga, Managing Partner at Hypatia Capital, who has created the world's first ETF (exchange traded fund) called WCEO. In this episode, you'll learn what's an ETF, how you can use them to diversify your investment portfolio, why they created this ground-breaking solution, and why investing in women leaders, yields higher performance and therefore more money in the bank for you! Don't worry, you don't have to be a finacial wizard to listen to this episode. Patricia does a great job in explaining why it's important to walk the walk not just talk the talk when it comes to investing to make higher returns and in accordance with your values. I think this WCEO ETF is going to be a game changer for all of us in the future and really hope other countries take example from Patricia and Hypatia Capital. We love people who break the mold. Enjoy this episode and go the shownotes for links to learn more. https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep32-PatriciaLizarraga

Roni Eiger is a successful angel investor and technology scout, living in Israel and working extensively connecting Israeli startups with Spain, particularly in the Agrifood/Agtech sector. Learn why she became an angel investor, key insights into Israeli culture and the Startup Nation, and about all the key sources of funding in Israel. You'll also learn about a key women's angel network there, as well as her tips on why more women should become angel investors. If you are a woman founder,  listen out for her key tips when looking for funding in Israel. Get ready for a really interesting episode and enjoy reading the show notes for more information on Roni here.

Mope is Founder and General Partner of Knight Ventures, the Pan Africa Digital Accelerator providing a platform to connect startups, mentors and Investors. Their mission is to develop 100 high-growth tech enabled startups to scale and success and also have a venture fund  (AfriGlocal) to financially back those startups. They primarily invest in west Africa, and are key players in the Africa Rising movement, where local Africans take active part in investing in and developing African businesses. She is also founding a $10M venture fund to invest in the pre-seed portfolio companies coming out of her Accelerator. In this episode you'll learn all about her accelerator and new fund, as well as very interesting insights into the current state of funding in Africa. Find full shownotes with key links here: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcastEp30MopeAbudu  - Enjoy!

Welcome to this latest episode, where you'll hear from  Kanwal Bhatia, Founder & CEO of AI startup Metalynx, about how she raised $800K in pre-seed funding. She shares her challenges along the way, how she kept going, what she learned to help her in her future funding rounds and much more! This episode is in partnership with DWEN (Dell Women Entrepreneurs Network) from Dell Technologies. Full show notes with links to the resources mentioned in this episode here: We agree with Kanwal when she says: "Enjoy the process, learn from it and faith in yourself that you can do it"  Learn more about her and the resources she shares during this episode in the show notes here.

What better to kick off Season 3 of our podcast than by listening to the inspiring story from French serial entrepreneur, Valérie Hoffenberg, about how she raised $1M in seed funding for She Travel Club, the new travel tech startup about to take the women travel market by storm. A former diplomat and advisor to a previous President of France, Valérie has built her incredible diverse network over her career. In this episode she also shares tips for female founders on how to leverage your network during your fundraise. Enjoy! Full show notes here: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep28-ValérieHoffenberg

When you listen to Olga Duka, Managing Partner from Improve Ventures, you cannot help but hear her passion for all things funding great founders in emerging markets, and supporting emerging Fund Managers to help diversify the startup funding landscape.  This episode will appeal to both investors and founders alike, as Olga explains and explores the challenges and opportunities for both 'emerging' sides of the funding table. Once thing's for sure, you'll walk away full of a new found understanding of both topics and assured she's going to leave a mark on this industry. Enjoy! Full shownotes here: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcastEp27-OlgaDuka

Ready to take a trip to funding universe in Mexico and Latam for women entrepreneurs? Meet Anna Raptis, the Australian who decided to create a fund to invest in women and diverse founders in Latin America, because nobody else was doing it and it's the right thing to do. In this dynamic and candid episode, Anna shares some great insights into the world of funding in latin america, key biases that still exist and why she created Amplifica Capital to help solve access to funding for women and diverse founders. Show notes: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcastEp26-AnnaRaptis

Are you ready to hang onto your seats? This is a super fast-paced episode, where Susan HayesCulleton, Founder of Active Peers AI explains how she set up her company and used innovation partnerships (research partnerships) as a source of funding, to bring her great idea to life. But it wasn't all plain sailing as she soon discovered. From having to re-think her business model, to learning how to manage complex stakeholders in her innovation partnership, Susan explains the ins and outs of this particular type of funding in detail and all she learned, so you if you plan on using this type of funding, you'll be ready. Full shownotes: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcastEp25-SusanHayesC

In this episode, Sara Zulkosky, Co-Founder and Managing Partner from Recast Capital, a new platform focused exclusively on emerging managers in venture meant to both invest in and support those managers with a focus on diverse partnerships. Basically, they are fund of funds, who invests in and trains upcoming diverse fund managers. They believe deeply the data that shows that diversity drives better outcomes and are on a mission to help make venture capital more diverse. See show notes: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep24SaraZulkosky

In this episode, you'll hear from Denise McQuaid, CEO of GoBeyond Investing, a pan-European ecosystem of early-stage investing experts. Denise has extensive startup and investing experience, and she joined GoBeyond in 2020 with the goal to develop the company's unique approach to angel investing, focusing on talented, ambitious, and unique innovators. Learn more about angel investing, what GoBeyond is looking for among women entrepreneurs, and more about Denise's entrepreneurial journey in this week's episode. See Show Notes: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep23-DeniseMcQuaid

In this episode, you'll hear from Catherine Parry, Founder and CEO of DeepView, a platform targeted to banks and regulated organisations wanting to learn how to safely and efficiently use communication channels for client relations. Catherine is a Serial Entrepreneur and global expert in regulatory technology and finance. In 2014, she was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum for her entrepreneurial success. Hear how she raised $2M for DeepView and more about her funding journey. See Show Notes: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep22-CatherineParry

In this episode, you'll hear from Carlos Torres de la Cuba, Managing Director at AMG Block, a pre-seed venture fund looking to invest in fintech and blockchain startups in Latin America. Carlos's experience in the Mexican and U.S. financial markets led him to an interest in financial technology, and he's passionate about developing the market by funding startups. You'll learn in this episode tips for locating funding in the Latin American market from a VC who's interested in you! See Show Notes: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep21-CarlosTorres

In this episode, you'll hear from Mac Conwell II, Founder and Managing Partner at RareBreed Ventures, a pre-seed to seed venture fund looking to invest in RareBreed entrepreneurs in North America. Mac's VC story was driven by a desire to create a space for entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities in the United States. You'll learn in this episode why there is room outside of North America's major tech hubs for startups, how to successfully approach investors, and other great funding tips from a VC who's interested in you! See Show Notes: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep20-MacConwell

In this episode, you'll hear from Kara Goldin, Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc., known for its award-winning healthy-alternative beverage, Hint Water. Kara's Undaunted spirit has brought much success to her San Francisco-based business, and she has been named one of InStyle's Badass 50, Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business, Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, and EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. Hear how she found funding for Hint by being Undaunted. See Show Notes to access the resources shared on this episode.

In this episode, you'll hear from Vicki Saunders, the Founder of SheEO, an ecosystem for supporting women entrepreneurs who are working toward solving the world's top priorities. Vicki has made a career of entrepreneurial work, co-founding initiatives throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. You'll learn in this episode how the SheEO community practices Radical Generosity to support women in achieving their goals to create a new model of thinking and a better world. See Show Notes: https://bit.ly/Ep18InvestHerPodcast

How do you get 1:1 Meetings with Investors and also make your online event more gender diverse? In this episode, you'll hear from Jan Ameri, CEO of Arctic15, the key matchmaking event between investors and startups in the Nordics and beyond. Learn how to build relationships with investors, who to embed gender diversity across your virtual event and get lots of practical tips from a passionate catalyst in the startup ecosystem. Get the show notes here: https://bit.ly/InvestHerPodcast-Ep17-JanAmeri

In this episode, you'll hear from Angela Lee, Professor of Practice and the Chief Innovation Officer at Columbia Business School where she teaches venture capital and leadership courses. Angela started her career in product management and then moved to consulting at McKinsey. She has started 4 startups and is also the founder of 37 Angels, an investing network that has evaluated over 15000 startups, invested in 60+, and activates new investors through a startup investment bootcamp. This episode is packed with incredible advice from the very dynamic and smart Angela, where she answers live questions and more! See Episode Shownotes  

Black lives have always mattered and Ed Dugger III has been investing in black founders with great success and returns since the 1980s. Now he has created a new fund with Julianne Zimmerman, called Reinventure Capital - to build on this impact and fund even more Black and diverse founders. In this episode, you'll learn about the 3rd Reconstruction building economic opportunity and equity for all, and how Reinventure capital are re-structuring venture capital to make this happen. Don't miss this ground-breaking episode and get all incredible resources mentioned in our Show Notes here:

Bedy Yang, Managing Partner at 500 Startups, is a very seasoned international VC, who focuses on building out 500 startups accelerators and programs across the globe. In this episode, she shares how 500 Startups support women entrepreneurs and future VCs, what needs to change in the funding environment to increase diversity and answers live questions from our curious audience with flair. Listen up, to also get her suggested resources for founders as well as her take on how Covid-19 is impacting funding. Visit here for full shownotes: 

Welcome to our very first LIVE PODCAST, where you, the listeners, get to ask your questions live to our podcast guest and enjoy listening back later! As part of our series of resources to help founders on the fundraise during the Covid-19 crisis, we are delighted to be joined by Laura Connell, Principal at Europe's Leading Tech VC - Balderton Capital - to share her take on the impact the pandemic is having on fundraising now, and what founders can do to keep going and navigate this black swan event. Seize the opportunities available to you now! Learn more from Laura in this episode and our shownotes here: https://bit.ly/Ep13InvestHerPodcast

How should you network with potential investors? What are the key don'ts you absolutely must avoid, if you want to successfully build your dream network to help your business and raise money? Look no further! In this episode, you'll hear all the great truths on the matter from J. Kelly Hoey. Author of "Build Your Dream Network", Speaker, Networking expert and LP in a few funds, former lawyer and startup accelerator leader - you bet she's seen networking from all angles. We'll get you from hating 'schmoozing' with investors, to knowing exactly what to do and how, thanks to this episode. Links to full resources in the Show Notes > https://bit.ly/Ep12InvestHerPodcast

How to raise capital in the U.S. during the Covid-19 Crisis? What are the key current trends coming out of New York when it comes to Angel and Venture Capital investing?  What do entrepreneurs need to know, to navigate these uncertain times in how they should approach investors?  You will learn all of this and more, from our first male investor guest, Ed Zimmerman who is a Partner/Chair of the Tech Group at the law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP, an angel investor in roughly 130 startups, LP in dozens of venture funds, and for the last 15 years, also an Adjunct Professor of Venture Capital at Columbia Business School.  As a Venture lawyer, he's right at the heart of many big current venture deals happening in the U.S and he's also a strong feminist, who believes in the power of diversity and under-represented founders to change the world. Don't miss this latest episode and see the shownotes for more details and links to resources he recommends here: https://bit.ly/Ep11EdZimmerman

In this episode, recorded during Covid-19 lockdown, you'll hear from Delphine Remy-Boutang, founder of Digital Women's Day and The Bureau, is a key influencer in the European Women in Tech Ecosystem. An entrepreneur herself since 2012, Delphine founded the Bureau, a digital & communication group for digital trends, influence, social media and creative services in London and Paris. In 2013 she co-founded and directed Digital Women's Day, an annual event dedicated to entrepreneurship and women, and a European and African community to inspire women to dare, innovate, undertake actions through digital technology, and to create a more just and creative world. Delphine brings together thousands of participants, thought leaders, renowned digital entrepreneurs, through many initiatives:Les Margaret Award an annual prize that pays tribute to Margaret Hamilton, rewarding digital women entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs from Europe and Africa, committed to a better world. Hear her advice to women entrepreneurs to network, network, network, especially during challenging times, her key tips for funding and how to continue to have fun and be resilient, through it all! Check out full show notes and links to her resources here: 

In October 2018 Shelly Porges successfully created a global consortium to build the Billion Dollar Fund for Women - getting investors to pledge over $1 Billion of investment in female founders. Now she's going even further, with her new initiative - Beyond the Billion. In this episode, you'll learn why and how Shelly created Beyond the Billion as a movement and a new way to mobilise key funding stakeholders to truly shift the funding landscape for women entrepreneurs. Get ready to be inspired by this 7 time women entrepreneur, who as a former Senior Advisor, set up the Global Entrepreneurship Program (GEP) at the U.S. State Department, a program she expanded to almost 150 countries, under Secretary Hillary Clinton. Get ready to be inspired! See SHOWNOTES and RESOURCES HERE

Women are behind some of the most crucial roles in emerging companies, even when these companies were founded by all-male teams. The weight of vital growth areas such as client sales, marketing, customer services and other strategic areas are entrusted to females and some VCs are beginning to back the new diverse and inclusive fabric of entrepreneurship. Could this be the catalyst for more female-founded business in the 2020 decade? Anne and Inma certainly think so! Kick off 2020 with updates on the Funding World, a key London-based VC fund breaking the mould re funding women entrepreneurs and where the next generation of female founders is going to come from. Download your Key Takeaways on www.investherpodcast.com and see SHOWNOTES AND LINKS HERE