Cleo Capital Scout Fund
Empowering female investors to identify and invest in early-stage startups.
Overview
Cleo Capital Scout Fund
Cleo Capital's Scout Fund is a pioneering women-focused venture investment program created to empower female investors as scouts identifying and investing in promising early-stage startups. The $3.5 million fund was established to increase female decision-making power in venture capital by recruiting female scouts who identify deals and earn carry on successful investments.
Founded by Sarah Kunst, Cleo Capital deliberately built its scout network from nontraditional channels including journalists, influencers, and other untapped talent outside typical Sand Hill Road circles. The Scout Fund deliberately does not restrict scouts to women-founded companies, instead empowering them to find the best deals regardless of founder background.
Investment focus
Cleo Capital's Scout Fund focuses on empowering female investors to identify and invest in early-stage startups. The program aims to increase female representation in venture capital by recruiting scouts from nontraditional backgrounds, allowing them to pursue the best investment opportunities without demographic restrictions.
Program details
Applicants are encouraged to leverage their unique backgrounds and networks to identify promising startups. A strong entrepreneurial or investing mindset is essential.
Who it is for
Eligibility is open to women scouts who can conduct deal evaluations and introductions, possess an entrepreneurial or investing mindset, and have a self-directed investment thesis.
Check if you are eligible
Check your eligibility for Cleo Capital Scout FundAdmissions and application
The program is open to women scouts from various backgrounds, including journalism, influence, business, and angel investing. There are no restrictions on focusing solely on women-founded companies.
Benefits
Participants gain the opportunity to earn carry on successful investments, maintain portfolio involvement, and support the companies they invest in, all while being part of a unique network of female investors.
Timeline
The program operates continuously, allowing scouts to engage with startups as opportunities arise.
What came of it
Notable portfolio companies include Ellevest, Hill House Home, Falconx, Planet Forward, and Kobold Metals, showcasing the diverse range of successful investments made through the Scout Fund.
How to go about it
- Read what it asks for
Who can apply, how people get in and whether it is open right now.
- Have something to show
Programs pick people whose work they can already point to. Put yours where it can be found.
- Apply the way the program asks
This one invites people; you cannot apply cold. The way in is work the program can already point to, and the people its own pages name.
What it pays
Scouts earn carry on successful investments alongside fund returns, allowing them to benefit from the financial success of the companies they help to fund.
Questions about this program
Who can apply to the Scout Fund?
The program is open to women scouts from diverse backgrounds.
Do scouts need to focus on women-founded companies?
No, scouts are empowered to find the best deals regardless of the founder's background.
About Cleo Capital
Cleo Capital
Venture Capital
Investing in early-stage software companies.
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From public sources
What the sources say about Cleo Capital Scout Fund
Cleo’s company pitch form advertises $500,000 to $1 million pre-seed checks.
Source: Pitch Cleo CapitalCleo’s homepage advertises a usual fund investment range of $100,000 to $1 million.
Source: Cleo CapitalCleo’s company-pitch form says it reviews company submissions on a rolling basis.
Source: Pitch Cleo CapitalThe linked form asks founders about their companies and describes company investments.
Source: Pitch Cleo CapitalCleo’s homepage links to its company pitch form.
Source: Cleo CapitalIn August 2019, Axios reported Tipograph saying Cleo scout money let her make larger investments.
Source: Cleo Capital debuts scout fund for female investors
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