Discover if this is a suitable investor for your startup. If they are we'll make a warm introduction for free. Otherwise, we'll connect you with matching investors.
How Women Invest is a venture capital firm founded to support female founders and promote gender equity in the investment landscape. Established in the United States, the firm focuses exclusively on investing in companies founded or co-founded by women. This commitment to gender equity drives their investment strategy and operational model.
The firm operates three funds and currently manages a portfolio of eight companies. How Women Invest emphasizes investments from pre-seed to Series B stages, targeting sectors such as healthcare, fintech, climate, consumer, biotech, and commerce. Their notable milestones include successful exits from companies like Long Game and Hitch, showcasing their ability to identify high-potential female-led businesses.
How Women Invest is also recognized for its dual organizational structure, which includes How Women Lead, a community and advocacy platform aimed at increasing the presence of women in private markets. This unique approach not only facilitates capital deployment but also fosters a movement to empower women entrepreneurs and investors.
How Women Invest targets investments in women-led companies across various sectors, including healthcare, fintech, climate, consumer, biotech, and commerce. The firm emphasizes a thesis that female-founded companies can yield 35% greater returns than those founded by men, which forms the basis of their investment strategy. They operate three funds and focus on stages from pre-seed to Series B, highlighting the potential for higher returns from female-led ventures.
The firm seeks to create pathways for new women investors while enhancing diversity in the venture capital space. They look for companies that demonstrate strong revenue traction and innovative solutions within their respective sectors. How Women Invest also values founders who are committed to building inclusive teams and addressing significant market needs.
The portfolio of How Women Invest includes notable companies such as:
In addition to their current portfolio, How Women Invest has achieved notable exits with companies like Long Game (Fintech) and Hitch (Future of Work). These successes highlight the firm's ability to identify and support high-potential female-led businesses across diverse sectors.
Julie Castro Abrams - Managing Partner. Julie is also the Founder and CEO of How Women Lead, with a decade of experience building alternative investment vehicles for women. She has been featured in Forbes and Authority Magazine for her insights on gender equity in investing.
Anne Myong - Operating Partner. Anne brings extensive experience in operational management and investment strategy, contributing to the firm's focus on supporting female founders.
Carmen Palafox - Deal Team. Carmen plays a crucial role in sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities within the firm.
Aury Cifuentes - Principal. Aury focuses on deal execution and portfolio management, ensuring that the firm's investments align with its mission.
Kathleen Osborne - Public Relations. Kathleen manages the firm's communications and public outreach efforts.
Brittany Feehan - Investor Relations. Brittany is responsible for maintaining relationships with limited partners and potential investors.
Liz Mabey - Operations. Liz oversees the operational aspects of the firm, ensuring efficient processes and support for portfolio companies.
Cindy Worthington - Investor Relations Advisor. Cindy provides strategic advice on investor relations and fundraising efforts.
Susan Schroeder - Operations. Susan supports the operational team in various capacities.
Nancy Hayes - Deal Team. Nancy assists in evaluating potential investments and supporting portfolio companies.
Lupe Augier - Operations. Lupe contributes to the firm's operational efficiency and support systems.
Nydia Manos - Investor Relations. Nydia focuses on building relationships with investors and stakeholders.
Julie Candelon - Brand/Marketing Advisor. Julie advises on branding and marketing strategies for the firm.
Christina Bui - Limited Partner Advisory Council. Christina provides insights and guidance from a limited partner perspective.
Lata Setty - Deal Team & Limited Partner Advisory Council. Lata plays a dual role in evaluating investments and advising on limited partner relations.
Nicole White - Limited Partner Advisory Council. Nicole offers strategic advice on limited partner engagement and fundraising.
To pitch How Women Invest, founders should visit their dedicated pitch page at How Women Invest's Pitch Page. The firm prefers pitches that include a clear business model, market analysis, and the founder's vision for the company. While specific response time expectations are not disclosed, founders are encouraged to provide thorough and concise information to facilitate the review process.
In March 2025, Julie Castro Abrams was featured in Forbes discussing the untapped market of women investors and female-founded companies. This coverage highlights How Women Invest's commitment to enhancing gender equity in venture capital.
Recent updates on their website indicate a focus on creating pathways for new women investors and increasing diversity in the investment space. The firm continues to promote its mission actively, showcasing its portfolio and successful exits.
What are the investment criteria for How Women Invest?
How Women Invest exclusively invests in companies founded or co-founded by women. They focus on sectors such as healthcare, fintech, climate, consumer, biotech, and commerce, targeting stages from pre-seed to Series B. The firm emphasizes that female-founded companies can yield 35% greater returns than those founded by men.
How can founders apply or pitch to How Women Invest?
Interested founders can submit their pitches through the firm's dedicated pitch page at How Women Invest's Pitch Page. The firm encourages submissions from U.S.-based companies led by women.
What makes How Women Invest different from other venture capital firms?
How Women Invest is unique in its exclusive focus on female founders and its commitment to promoting gender equity in the investment landscape. The firm operates three funds and leverages a network of female investors and industry experts to provide strategic support to its portfolio companies.
What is the geographic scope of How Women Invest?
The firm primarily focuses on investments in the United States, targeting companies that are founded or co-founded by women.
What kind of post-investment involvement does How Women Invest have?
How Women Invest provides not only capital but also strategic support to its portfolio companies. This includes access to a network of female investors and industry experts, which enhances growth and success for the businesses they invest in.
What is the typical check size for investments made by How Women Invest?
While specific check sizes are not disclosed, the firm targets investments across various stages, including pre-seed, seed, Series A, and Series B, indicating a flexible approach to funding amounts based on the needs of the portfolio companies.
All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks, and brands does not imply endorsement.