Leveling the Playing Field in Venture Investing

The Finance Cafe

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Stephanie Andrew, founding partner of Women’s Equity Lab to discuss how Women’s Equity Lab is creating opportunities to invest in more women-led companies and bring more women investors to the table. Stephanie shares how WEL is breaking barriers for women founders and women investors, what exactly venture investing is and how it’s different from borrowing money, myths around VC investments and How more women can get involved as early-stage investors.

Stephanie Andrew is the Women’s Equity Lab National Managing Director, Managing Partner and Co-Founder WEL Victoria. The Women's Equity Lab was first launched in late 2017 in Victoria, BC by 23 founding partners with the support of the National Angel Capital Organization, (NACO), the Capital Investment Network (CIN) and Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt, LLP.

WEL now consists of a powerful community of over 150 women investors from around the world managing a growing portfolio of investments which should reach about 40 company investments by the end of the year. Over 70% of WEL investments are in women-run and women-led businesses. There are funds operating in BC, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia as well as Silicon Valley which also accepts investors outside of North America.

Each group has their own investment thesis and connects closely with the businesses in their region while also making investments across Canada. The groups do not only provide capital to the companies that they invest in but each investment is also backed by a strong network of women who are able to act as advisors, connectors and champions of the investee.

Across regions WEL teams network and share deal flow, education, expertise and resources to support our investees and our communities.

Resources

Episode Blog: https://thefinancecafe.ca/leveling-the-playing-field-in-venture-investing/

Connect with Women’s Equity Lab

Website: https://womensequitylab.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-s-equity-lab/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womens_equity_lab/

Sponsor

For more resources and information for women entrepreneurs be sure to connect to our incredible podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub

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