The Global Support Ecosystem for Women Entrepreneurs and Investors

340+ VCs, accelerators, angel networks, conferences, platforms, and communities supporting women innovators and investors

Joshua Henderson
Been There Run That
7 min readApr 28, 2020

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There is a new version of this list available here.

Last updated September 6, 2020 (out of date)

An original version of this list in 2015 could fit on a single slide…

Maintaining this list over the last five years has been a labor of love, and one that has allowed me to witness the exponential growth of this support ecosystem for women that build and invest in early-stage companies. Over the last 12 years as the Vice President of Springboard Enterprises, a global network of women innovators transforming industries, I’ve met the leaders of many of the organizations included in this list and I’m honored to be part of a community of exceptional people that recognize this is not only a valuable mission but a lucrative one: there is big money to be made in finding and funding companies led by diverse teams.

Since the last edition of this list there is a significant amount of new funding in the hands of women, including funds that do and don’t focus on investing in women-led teams. I love how Jane VC’s Ann Bordetsky put this in a recent post on women-led VC funds: “The most exciting and transformative trend happening in the Tech community right now is a new generation of venture funds — founded, raised and led by experienced, badass women. This wave of Wonder Women will reshape Silicon Valley as we know it.”

COVID-19 is also reshaping the startup world and the way that all of us connect with and support those on the herculean mission to build a viable business. Communities are convening in new, virtual ways and evolving their support models. In the coming months, I will update this post to call out those organizations with virtual engagement opportunities.

If you’re part of a woman-led company, I hope this list makes your life easier by pointing you to valuable virtual resources and human capital you didn’t already know about.

Notes: I strive to maintain this list on a monthly basis, which I do through my own research, the support of my Springboard colleagues, and through recommendations from the community. If you want to nominate an addition to this list, please comment below or message me on LinkedIn.

Organizations overlooked in the October 2018 edition, January 2017 edition and March 2015 edition of this list are included below in bold font.

Academies and Accelerators for Women-Led Companies

  1. Ad Astra Ventures
  2. AIM-HI Accelerator Fund’s Women’s Venture Competition
  3. Althea-Imperial Programme
  4. Atto Accelerator
  5. Backstage Accelerator
  6. Beta Boom
  7. The Big Push
  8. Camelback Ventures
  9. The Capital Network’s Fellowship for Female Founders
  10. The Circular Board
  11. Colliders Pre-Accelerator
  12. DivInc (DivInc)
  13. Diversity Innovation Hub
  14. Emerge
  15. Equita
  16. F-Lane
  17. Female Founder School
  18. Female Founders Accelerator
  19. Female Founders Competition by Microsoft
  20. Female Innovators Lab by Barclays and Anthemis
  21. FemTech Accelerator Program
  22. FounderGym
  23. FourthWave
  24. GUILD Academy
  25. Halo Incubator
  26. HearstLab
  27. Her Corner
  28. Hillman
  29. Launchpad2x
  30. MassNextGen
  31. Monarq Incubator
  32. Multicultural Innovation Lab
  33. mystartupXX
  34. NY Fashion Tech Lab
  35. NYC Immersion Program by FD Global Connections
  36. The Pinkubator
  37. PledgeLA Summer Lab Fund
  38. Project Entrepreneur
  39. Prosper
  40. Ready Set Raise
  41. The Refinery
  42. Sephora Stands
  43. SOAR
  44. The Seed Scheme (Australia)
  45. Springboard Enterprises (Springboard Enterprises)
  46. Stella Labs (fka Hera Labs)
  47. TechDiversity Accelerator
  48. Upstart
  49. WiSTEM by 1871
  50. WMN•FINtech by 1871 and BMO Harris Bank
  51. Women in Cloud Accelerator
  52. Women Innovating Now Lab
  53. Women on the Move
  54. Women Who Dare
  55. Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator
  56. Women’s Startup Lab

Others with demonstrated awareness of the need for diversity of thought: 500 Women, American Underground, Founders Institute, Ignite Accelerator, Make in L.A., NewMe Accelerator, as well as Design Technologies produced accelerators ABCT, ELabNYC, and Next Milestone

Co-Working for Women-Led Companies

  1. Blooms London
  2. CoworkHERS
  3. EvolveHer (Chicago)
  4. HeraHub (Multiple Locations, Hera Hub)
  5. Luminary
  6. One Roof Melbourne
  7. The Hivery (Mill Valley, CA)
  8. The Riveter (Multiple Locations)
  9. WeAct (Los Altos)
  10. WMN (Tel Aviv)
  11. The Wing (New York City)

Networks of Entrepreneurial Women

  1. accelerateHER
  2. Ada’s List
  3. Alley to the Valley
  4. Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs
  5. Astia
  6. Athena League
  7. BEACON DC
  8. Black Women Talk Tech
  9. Blooming Founders (Blooming Founders)
  10. Bossy Chicago
  11. Chief
  12. Chooks SA
  13. C-Sweetener
  14. Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network
  15. digitalundivided (digitalundivided)
  16. Dreamers & Doers
  17. Ellevate Network (Ellevate Network)
  18. EnrichHER
  19. Female Equity
  20. Female Founder Collective
  21. Female Founders (Europe)
  22. Female Founders Alliance
  23. Female Ventures
  24. Femstreet Membership
  25. Firstboard.io
  26. Found & Flourish
  27. Girlboss
  28. Global Invest Her
  29. Hautepreneurs
  30. Heads Over Heels
  31. LandIt (Landit)
  32. Lesbians Who Tech
  33. Mums & Co
  34. OneTech
  35. Pepperlane (Pepperlane)
  36. Philly Women in Tech
  37. SBE Australia
  38. SheEOs
  39. SheWorx
  40. SoGal (SoGal Ventures)
  41. The Fourth Floor
  42. The Startup Ladies
  43. StartupChicks
  44. Tech Ready Women Academy
  45. TechWomen Canada
  46. theBoardList (theBoardlist)
  47. TheNextWomen
  48. UPWARD Women
  49. the Vinetta Project
  50. WE Venture
  51. WE@Yale
  52. WEConnect International
  53. WEST
  54. Women@Austin
  55. Women 2.0 (Women 2.0)
  56. Women Founders Community
  57. Women Founders Network
  58. Women in Bio
  59. Women In Innovation
  60. Women in Tech by ICON
  61. Women Led
  62. Women Presidents’ Organization
  63. Women Tech Founders
  64. Women Who Startup
  65. Women Who Tech
  66. Yazamiyot

Organizations Dedicated to Diversity in Venture

  1. AllRaise (AllRaise.org)
  2. Black Girl Ventures
  3. BLCK VC
  4. Capital Access Lab by Kauffman Foundation
  5. Consider Something Better
  6. Diversity Rider Initiative by Act One Ventures
  7. Diversity.VC (Diversity VC)
  8. Female Founders
  9. Financial Alliance for Women
  10. Founders for Change
  11. Included VC
  12. iNTENT Manifesto
  13. Israeli Power in Diversity Initiative
  14. Project Include
  15. The Billion Dollar Fund for Women
  16. Transparent Collective
  17. VC Include
  18. Venture Forward
  19. WLOUNGE
  20. Women.VC

Networks of Women Investors

  1. #Angels (#ANGELS)
  2. AllBright (UK, AllBright)
  3. ArcAngels (New Zealand)
  4. Astia Angels
  5. Beehive Holdings
  6. BELLE Capital (Lauren Flanagan)
  7. Broadway Angels
  8. Golden Seeds (Golden Seeds)
  9. Eleanor Venture
  10. Hera Fund
  11. How Women Invest
  12. Invest for Better
  13. Investing Women Angels (Scotland)
  14. The JumpFund
  15. New Voices Fund
  16. Next Act Fund
  17. NNE WIN (Northern New England Women’s Investor Network)
  18. OSEA Angel Investors
  19. Scale Investors (Australia)
  20. SheEO (SheEO World)
  21. Sofia Fund
  22. Topstone Angels
  23. We Angels Network (Chile)
  24. We Are Enough
  25. WE Capital
  26. WOMENA (Womena)
  27. X-Squared Angels

Investor Training Programs/Networks

  1. 37 Angels (37 Angels)
  2. Angel Academe (Angel Academe)
  3. Female Funders
  4. Kauffman Fellows
  5. Pipeline Angels (Pipeline Angels)
  6. Portfolia (Portfolia by Trish Costello)
  7. WeDemption
  8. Women First Enterprise by the Angel Resource Institute
  9. Women in Venture

Investors Targeting Women-Led/Diverse Companies

  1. 1843 Capital
  2. The 22 Fund
  3. Amplifyher Ventures
  4. Anthemis
  5. Array VC
  6. The Artemis Fund
  7. Authentic Ventures
  8. Avestria Ventures
  9. Backstage Capital (Arlan)
  10. Bambu Health Ventures
  11. BBG Ventures (Susan Lyne and Nisha Dua)
  12. BDC Capital Women in Technology (WIT) Fund
  13. BELLE Funds
  14. Bootstrap Capital
  15. Borski Fund
  16. BRAVA Investments
  17. Bumble Fund
  18. Capita3
  19. Chloe Capital (Chloe Capital)
  20. Citrine Angels
  21. Cleo Capital
  22. Collab Capital
  23. Cross Culture Ventures
  24. CTA Fund
  25. Daintree Capital
  26. Diana Capital Partners
  27. Disruption Ventures
  28. Elevate Capital
  29. Fearless Fund
  30. Female Founders Fund (Female Founders Fund)
  31. Founders First Capital Partners
  32. Fund The Women Ventures
  33. Gingerbread Capital
  34. Gotham Gal Ventures
  35. Halogen Ventures
  36. Harlem Capital (Harlem Capital Partners)
  37. The Helm
  38. Her Capital
  39. Impact NH Fund
  40. Intel Capital Diversity Fund
  41. InvestHer Ventures
  42. JANE.vc
  43. Janngo Capital Startup Fund
  44. Jump Canon
  45. JumpStart Focus Fund
  46. Karmijn Kapitaal
  47. Launch with GS
  48. LDR Ventures
  49. Lightship Capital
  50. Luna Cap Ventures
  51. Marigold Capital
  52. MergeLane (Elizabeth Kraus)
  53. Merian Ventures
  54. NEOME
  55. New Age Capital (New Age Capital)
  56. Next Wave Impact
  57. Pique Ventures
  58. Pivotal Ventures
  59. Plum Alley (Plum Alley)
  60. Red Capital Partners
  61. Reign Ventures
  62. Reinventure Capital
  63. Rethink Impact
  64. Rogue Women
  65. Shatter Fund
  66. SoGal Ventures (SoGal Ventures)
  67. Springboard Growth Capital (Kay Koplovitz)
  68. StandUp Ventures
  69. Sybilla Masters Fund
  70. Talent x Opportunity Fund by Andreessen Horowitz
  71. Texas Women Ventures
  72. The Billion Dollar Fund for Women’s Fund Partners
  73. True Wealth Ventures (Sara T Brand)
  74. Unconventional Ventures
  75. Victress Capital (Victress Capital)
  76. W Fund
  77. WE Fund
  78. Canadian Government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund and Women Entrepreneurship Fund
  79. Women’s Venture Capital Fund
  80. WXR Fund (The WXR Venture Fund)
  81. xElle Ventures
  82. XFactor Ventures (XFactor Ventures)
  83. xxAngels
  84. XXelerate Fund
  85. Zane Venture Fund

VC Funds Led by Female Partners

  1. 11.2 Capital
  2. 1776 Ventures (1776)
  3. Acrew Capital (The Acrew Team)
  4. Ada Ventures (Ada Ventures)
  5. Aligned Partners
  6. Aspect Ventures (Aspect Ventures)
  7. Astarte Ventures
  8. Backend Capital
  9. BackingMinds (BackingMinds)
  10. Bloomberg Beta
  11. Blossom Capital
  12. Boston Seed
  13. Breakout Ventures
  14. Brilliant Ventures
  15. Chingona Ventures
  16. Construct Capital
  17. Converge (Converge)
  18. Cowboy Ventures (Cowboy Ventures)
  19. Day One Ventures
  20. DBL Partners
  21. Define Ventures
  22. District Ventures Capital
  23. Energize VC
  24. F7 Ventures
  25. Fika Ventures
  26. Forerunner Ventures (Forerunner Ventures)
  27. Glasswing Ventures
  28. H Ventures
  29. Hadean Ventures
  30. Human Ventures (Human Ventures)
  31. Hustle Fund
  32. Illuminate Ventures (Cindy Padnos)
  33. Impact America Fund
  34. Impact Engine
  35. Ingressive Capital
  36. Inspired Capital
  37. Katalyst Ventures
  38. Leadout Capital Partners (Leadout Capital Partners)
  39. Longevity Fund
  40. Magnetic Ventures
  41. Metrodora Ventures
  42. MILA Capital
  43. Moderne Ventures
  44. Moxxie Ventures
  45. Nia Impact Capital
  46. Operator Collective
  47. Reach Capital (Reach Capital)
  48. Relentless Venture Fund
  49. Renegade Partners
  50. Rivet Ventures
  51. Rucker Park
  52. Spero Ventures (Spero Ventures)
  53. Starvest Partners
  54. SteelSky Ventures
  55. Supernode Ventures (Supernode Ventures)
  56. Teja Ventures
  57. The Community Fund (Lolita Taub)
  58. The Venture Collective
  59. Urban Innovation Fund
  60. Valor Ventures
  61. Wave Capital
  62. Wedbush Ventures
  63. Westlake Village BioPartners
  64. WorkLife Capital (Brianne Kimmel)

Diverse Lists of Investors

  1. #womeninVC
  2. Founders for Change Diverse Investors List
  3. Gender Metrics List
  4. The Fundery
  5. VC Diversity Index
  6. Where Black Female Founders Can Find Funding, Resources, and More by Lolita Taub

Crowdfunding for Women-Led Companies

  1. Arya Women (Turkey)
  2. AWE Ventures
  3. iFundWomen (iFundWomen)
  4. TheNextWomen Crowd Fund(Europe, The Next Women)

Tech, Services, Content for Women-Led Companies

  1. 24 Hour Assembly
  2. Alice (Alice)
  3. Connecting Founders
  4. Declare
  5. Diversify Tech
  6. EllePod
  7. Elpha (Elpha)
  8. FD Global’s ScaleUP Programs
  9. Femstreet
  10. For Colored Girls Who Tech
  11. Hastartuptiot
  12. Impact By Women
  13. Impulse4women
  14. Let’s Get to 51%
  15. Piloting Your Life — a Podcast by Terri Mead
  16. Project W by Davis Wright Tremaine
  17. The GUILD (The GUILD)
  18. The Pink Ceiling
  19. The Point 25 Initiative
  20. Scroobious
  21. Startup-Investor Matching Tool
  22. The State of Women (Women INVESTING)
  23. Stride Ventures
  24. Ventureneer (Geri Stengel)
  25. Venturous Counsel
  26. Virago
  27. Wingpact
  28. wiseHer
  29. Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub
  30. Women’s Business Development Center
  31. WoVen (Women of Venture)

Conferences for Entrepreneurial Women

  1. Black Women Raise
  2. Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards
  3. Female Founders Conference
  4. Female Founders Program at The Montgomery Summit
  5. FemTech Bootcamp
  6. Ladies Who Launch
  7. Million Dollar Women Summit
  8. Qualcomm Female Founders Summit
  9. SERENDIPITY by The GUILD
  10. She Leads Conference
  11. Women @ Republic (Republic)
  12. Women Entrepreneurs Boot Camp
  13. Women Entrepreneurs Festival
  14. Women’s Venture Summit

Developing Women Tech & Executive Talent

  1. 23 Code Street (23 Code Street)
  2. allWomen
  3. Baot by Extend
  4. Bella Minds
  5. Black Girls Code
  6. Canada Learning Code
  7. Code First: Girls
  8. Code Like a Girl
  9. CODE2040 (Code2040)
  10. For Colored Girls Who Tech
  11. Girl Develop It (Girl Develop It | GDI)
  12. Girl Geek Academy
  13. Girls Who Code (Girls Who Code)
  14. GoldieBlox
  15. Hackbright Academy (Hackbright Academy)
  16. Hello Career Guru
  17. Jewelbots
  18. Kode With Klossy
  19. mBolden
  20. MotherCoders
  21. National Center for Women & Information Technology
  22. PowerToFly (PowerToFly)
  23. Queen B
  24. Rails Girls
  25. RailsBridge
  26. She Codes
  27. Skillcrush
  28. Tech Ladies
  29. TechGirlz (TechGirlz)
  30. Venture for America (Venture For America)
  31. Women In Product
  32. Women of Wearables
  33. Women Who Code (Women Who Code)
  34. YSYS

Developing Young Women Entrepreneurs

  1. GirlMade

I’m the VP @ Springboard, a venture catalyst and premier global network of women innovators transforming industries and will soon be launching a new project focused on advancing treatments to rare genetic diseases. Follow me at @joshuahenderson or joshuahenderson.com and Springboard at sb.co or @springboardent. If you enjoyed this article, please clap for it.

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Joshua Henderson
Been There Run That

1000% committed to helping women innovators transform industries, cure diseases, and build scalable businesses