How Women Invest

How Women Invest is a venture capital firm dedicated to fueling innovative companies led by high-potential female founders. The firm focuses on an overlooked asset class, aiming to generate significant returns for its investors while driving transformative change. They emphasize an entrepreneur-first process and leverage a vast network of over 25,000 inspiring female executives and entrepreneurs to identify exceptional talent and provide vital tools and opportunities for success. The firm's investment thesis centers on the belief that investing in women-led businesses yields superior returns and addresses the significant underrepresentation of women in the venture capital landscape.

Founded in 2020 by Julie Castro Abrams, who also established How Women Lead, How Women Invest emerged from a commitment to building alternative infrastructure for women founders and investors. Castro Abrams, alongside co-founder Erika Cramer, sought to address the disparity in venture funding for women, leveraging their extensive experience in leadership and finance. The firm's genesis is rooted in the understanding that capital alignment with patient advocates and founders who understand societal challenges can lead to transformative breakthroughs.

How Women Invest maintains a diverse portfolio of companies across various sectors. Notable investments include MyoGene Bio, a biotechnology company focused on permanent DNA corrections, and companies like Cofertility and Fortë in the healthtech sector. Other portfolio companies span areas such as familytech (BabyQuip), human capital services (Inclusively), financial software (Suma, Hello Alice), and multimedia and design software. The firm actively seeks tech-enabled, US-based companies beyond proof of concept, with a target market over $500 million, and a preference for B2B commercialization.

The firm is powered by a 100% women-led team with over a century of combined experience in leadership, finance, and investment. Key team members include Managing Partner Julie Castro Abrams, Operating Partner Anne Myong, and General Partner Erika Cramer. The deal team, comprising Carmen Palafox, Aury Cifuentes, Nancy Hayes, Lata Setty, Nicole Vasquez, Elena Friedberg, and Lisa Rutledge, is instrumental in evaluating and contributing high-quality deal flow. The team's collective expertise and strong network are crucial in providing strategic support, talent connections, market access, and media promotion to their portfolio companies.