Harriet, a leading platform championing female founders, has partnered with venture capital firms Artesian, Wavemaker Partners, Wavemaker Impact, B Capital, and 1982 Ventures to launch a new forum aimed at bridging the funding gap for female-led startups in the Asia Pacific region.
Called ‘The Female Founder Series’, this exclusive forum will bring together investors, mentors, and entrepreneurs committed to creating a level playing field for women in business through quarterly invite-only events.
The inaugural edition of the forum is scheduled to take place on 30 March 2023 at 1880, where representatives from more than 40 venture capital funds will attend.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in the journey towards gender parity in the startup ecosystem in the Asia Pacific region. These exclusive forums will provide a unique platform for female-led startups to connect with top investors from leading venture capital firms in the region.
By incorporating elements of unconscious bias training and breaking pattern recognition, the forums aim to educate investors and empower founders to showcase their innovative ideas and secure the necessary funding to drive growth and success.
The International Financial Corporation (IFC) estimates that a $300 billion gap in financing exists for women-owned small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which remains a major constraint, particularly in developing countries.
Anna Pearson, Co-founder of Harriet, said, “This is a pivotal moment for female founders in Asia Pacific. We are thrilled to lead the charge in creating this series empowering female founders to succeed. The Female Founder Series will redefine what it means to be a female founder in the region and set a new standard for inclusive and equitable investment practices.”
Steve Melhuish, Founding Partner of Wavemaker Impact and Venture Partner of Wavemaker Partners, added, “We’re honoured to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. The future of innovation depends on a diverse and representative startup ecosystem. We are committed to supporting female founders and ensuring a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable investment landscape in Asia.”
Alexandra Clunies-Ross, Portfolio Manager of Artesian, said, “Through this initiative, and via investments from our $100M Female Leaders Fund, Artesian is committed to actively supporting female founders across the Asia Pacific region. We want to help create a startup ecosystem which is wholeheartedly inclusive and is moving rapidly to achieve gender equality, and we invite other investors to join us on this mission.”
‘The Female Founder Series’ is just the beginning of Harriet’s mission to bridge the funding gap for female-led startups in the region. The company is also launching ‘Connecting Harriet’, a dedicated platform that provides female founders with access to tools, know-how, and resources designed to support their growth and development.
The event is by invitation only, and interested attendees can request an invitation by registering on the provided link. The Female Founder Series is set to redefine what it means to be a female founder in the Asia Pacific region and set a new standard for inclusive and equitable investment practices.
