UK's Invest in Women Taskforce Collaborates with Bootstrap4F to Boost Women-Focused Funding

• The Invest in Women Taskforce, a British organization, is moving forward with its partnership proposals with Bootstrap4F
• Bootstrap4F is an European organization that channels funding to venture capital firms led by women
• Bootstrap4F has been designated as the lead contender to run the new fund of funds

The UK-based Invest in Women Taskforce is pressing ahead with arrangements to collaborate with Bootstrap4F, a European organization that steers investment towards women-led venture capital funds. Bootstrap4F has been appointed as the favored candidate to take over the new "Women Backing Women" Fund.

Bootstrap4F consists of a group of seasoned women with established success within the venture capital community and is backed by European Women in VC, a community of female venture and growth investors throughout Europe. As part of the partnership, Debbie Wosskow, co-chair of the Taskforce, has been invited by Bootstrap4F to become chair, as stated in a statement issued by the Taskforce last week.

The Taskforce is aiming to deal with the "structural under-representation of female founders and female investors," noting that just 1.8 percent of equity capital now goes to companies totally founded by women. The programme has been supported by the UK Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade.

Stephanie Heller of Bootstrap4F said "As an asset management fund general partner and fintech founder, I've witnessed both the hurdles and yet-to-be-exploited potential of the UK investment scene. It is a privilege to have been selected as a strategic partner of the Taskforce. Our aim is to inject true change by directing and raising more capital for female founders through outstanding female investors."

Kinga Stanislawska, representing both European Women in VC and Bootstrap4F, added "I’m thrilled to support this groundbreaking initiative, which aims to shift the balance in UK venture capital, where currently only 9% of assets under management are overseen by female general partners. This effort will not only create a fairer venture capital ecosystem but also bring significant benefits to society by increasing capital access for female founders."

The Taskforce first made plans for the fund public in November. Hannah Bernard, Barclays' head of business banking and co-chair of the Taskforce, highlighted the economic significance of the initiative, saying "Women-led businesses have been proven to achieve 35 percent greater returns, opening a crucial route to UK economic growth."

A 2024 report from European Women in VC, based on a survey of more than 300 European venture capital partners and limited partners, found there was strong backing for diversity. Eighty-seven percent of those surveyed felt that more diversity results in improved investment and financial return. Additionally, 82 percent of VCs and 77 percent of LPs stated that founding team diversity matters when making an investment decision. In a symbolic gesture to commemorate the partnership, last Wednesday, CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group Julie Hoggett, Bootstrap4F representatives and members of the Taskforce's board opened the stock market trading session.