The Bigger Pie

What if some of the most profitable, resilient investments are hidden in plain sight? The US Election has reinforced a crucial lesson: messaging is everything. When your message doesn’t resonate with your audience, they don’t buy in, and they don’t show up for you. Getting the “what’s in it for me” across is essential to earn backing from your intended target. This reality is key as we shape our message to policy makers and investors about why capital should also flow into overlooked opportunities – particularly to female founders and diverse teams. Not out of altruism, but because these areas of real growth and profitability remain underfunded and available for great returns. Now’s the time to align capital with ventures ready to meet real demand, driving growth and returns. And here’s why… - Untapped Market Potential Just as certain demographics felt overlooked in the election, so do many markets that aren’t traditionally served by either mainstream products and services or capital. Look out for the founders who have the unique advantage of lived experiences and insights into these markets. Products that emerge from these perspectives often meet real needs, ensuring both demand and customer loyalty, which are critical drivers of sustainable growth and market differentiation. Bumble founder, Whitney Wolf Herd, is a prime example. She saw how women would prefer to experience dating apps. What if women had the power in dating apps? Everyone said it would fail. "Women won't make the first move." "Men won't accept those rules." "Dating apps need aggressive messaging." She proved them all wrong.* Recognising a profitable gap in the market. February 2021: Bumble goes public. Stock soars 63% day one. Valuation: $7.7 billion For investors, backing these ventures is about accessing profitable investment opportunities in untapped markets and/or products. - Strengthening Portfolios with Resilience and Efficiency Diversifying investments in leadership is a smart way to spread risk and increase resilience. Overlooked businesses often operate with a resourcefulness borne of necessity, stretching capital and finding efficiencies, which are valuable traits in uncertain times. Sara Blakely, built Spanx from the ground up with just $5,000 of her own savings, finding creative ways to market and scale the business without external funding. Sara’s pitch was straightforward. “Spanx will change the way that women feel about their bodies.” And overlooked. As an investor - are you getting access to this type of deal flow? Serena Williams’ VC Fund Has Invested In 14 Companies That Have Gone On To Reach Unicorn Status, A Value Of $1B Or More ?? Reshare this, and if you want more like this go onto my profile and hit the bell ?? #startups #venturecapital #diversity #entrepreneurship #innovation #founderfunding

My thought today... Why do so many choose the familiar shadows over stepping into the light of change? It's a conversation we're having this morning in our inner circle of women looking to drive change with Ingrid Murray ??Sarah Morgan Jenny Rudd and Allison Byers. The resistance to change is deeply ingrained in human psychology, and it’s often driven by a combination of fear, comfort in familiarity, and survival mechanisms that date back to our early ancestors. Change, even when it promises improvement, can feel risky and unpredictable. The known—even if it’s uncomfortable or discriminatory—feels safer than the unknown. It’s an odd paradox that often holds people back from progress, even when that progress is exactly what they need. For many, the energy required to challenge and adapt feels overwhelming. Social structures and expectations also play a role; people often fear being ostracised or criticised for stepping out of the norm, especially when that norm is biased or unequal. They’d rather “keep the peace” in a way, even if that peace isn’t truly satisfying or fair. And then, there's a psychological concept called "cognitive dissonance." When people live with discomfort or discrimination, they might rationalise it to avoid the mental strain of feeling they’re enduring something unjust without taking action. To embrace change, you need resilience, a desire for authenticity, and, often, a support network. Not everyone is ready or willing to muster that on their own—especially when they've been conditioned to see it as an uphill battle. It's interesting how we recognise that change can be transformative, while others see it as a threat to stability or a potential loss. This difference in mindset can be profound in shaping who actively pursues growth and who opts to stay within the familiar boundaries, even if those boundaries are limiting. To all those whose actions are for positive change, I salute you. What makes entrepreneurs rise above the comfort of the status quo to build something new? What's your driving 'why' for creating change? #DrivingChange #EntrepreneurMindset #PowerOfWhy #BuildingTheFuture #CourageToCreate #VisionaryLeaders #PurposeDriven #InnovationJourney

Did you know that not all VC contacts hold the same power to get you to ‘yes’? The Path to 'Yes' Why Knowing Who You're Pitching to Can Make or Break Your Funding Journey For first-time founders, understanding the influence chain in a VC firm can be the difference between securing funding or fading into the background. From accessible analysts who can open doors (but can’t sign cheques) to senior partners with the power to say ‘yes.’ Knowing who you’re pitching to and what they can contribute is crucial. Consider your strategic approach at each stage can improve your chances of success. Targeting Your VC Network Efficiently To build your VC network effectively, balance accessibility with influence. Analysts and Associates Pros: Analysts are accessible and open to introductory calls. They provide insights into firm priorities and feedback on pitch refinement. Cons: With limited decision power, they rely on senior team buy-in. Ensure their genuine interest and grasp of your value to avoid lost momentum. Principals and Junior Partners Pros: Principals hold sway and engage in IC discussions, making them valuable advocates if aligned with your goals. Cons: While accessible, they may be risk-averse or cautious in IC, which can dilute your pitch. Senior Partners Pros: Senior Partners have decision power and can champion your pitch. Securing their interest is invaluable. ?? Reshare this, and if you want more like this go onto my profile and hit the bell ?? #VC #EarlyStage #FemaleFounders #VCNetwork #Funding Cons: Hard to reach and typically only engage through warm introductions or after building rapport with junior staff. Keeping pitch consistency across firm contacts ensures a clear message reaches the IC. With our extensive VC network, we act as trusted introducers, connecting founders to the right investors at the right level.

?? VC Firms Are Leaving Money on the Table Every Day ?? $0.47 on the $1 – that's huge!* ?? Reducing their chances of a successful exit by 20%.** Not to mention the cost of turnover, talent replacement, and missed opportunities. Want to know how to fix it? And improve your firms performance? On average, only 28.8% of all VC investments have a profitable exit; this figure rises to approximately 31% for VC firms with a female partner (Gompers & Kovvali, 2018). Speak to us, and check out the latest report from WVC:E - link in the comments ?? Key Insights from the Latest Venture Capital Report ?? The challenges for women in venture capital are real, persistent, and deeply intertwined with family and career planning. The latest report, based on insights from 120 women in the industry, highlights the key issues many are facing today: ?? Imbalance in Leadership: Women make up only 16% of General Partners (GPs) in Europe, and despite ongoing discussions, progress on representation remains slow. At partnership levels, the numbers drop even further. ?? Parental Leave Challenges: 84% of women surveyed reported concerns around parental leave policies. It's not just women who are concerned about career progression and parenthood, it's a concern for fathers and fathers to be too. Experiences vary significantly depending on geography, fund size, and company culture, but one common theme was the lack of support and equitable policies. In many cases, women were left to manage these challenges with minimal guidance. ?? Career Progression and Parenthood: The balance between career growth and family responsibilities remains a significant hurdle. 71% of women expressed concerns about how returning to work would affect their career. The top concerns included career progression, sustainability of working in venture capital while parenting, and setting personal boundaries. VC firms are missing out on profit every day by not fixing this issue. Let's start by plugging the leaky pipeline of existing female VC talent. If you like this post, ?? Reshare it, and if you want more like this, ?? subscribe to our newsletter! ?https://lnkd.in/ejfaPcpR *(Abouzahr et al., 2018) **studies show that lack of demographic diversity among venture investing teams is associated with around 20% lower investment performance.?

?? Learning the Language of VC: How Much to Ask For ?? Entering the world of Venture Capital is like learning a new language. For most first-time founders, it’s not just about growing your business—it’s about understanding how to speak “VC”. Here’s a breakdown of how to navigate crucial decisions: ?? How VCs Think About Valuation: Cash-on-Cash Return (63%): VCs are betting on how much return they’ll get on their investment. If they invest $1 today, will it turn into $5 in a few years? Internal Rate of Return (IRR) (42%): VCs also care about how fast they’ll see that return. They want to know you’ll scale quickly and turn their investment into big gains sooner rather than later. ?? How Much Should You Ask For?: VCs want to know that their money will help you achieve key milestones that reflect a higher valuation at the next funding round. Ask yourself: What’s the next big milestone that will significantly increase your company’s value? Is it hitting $1M in revenue? Building your product? Expanding into a new market? Raise only what you need to get to this next major milestone. When you show VCs that their investment will push your company to a higher valuation, they’ll feel more confident in backing you. ?? What to Give Away in Exchange: - Equity: VCs typically ask for between 10-30% of your company in early rounds. The less you raise, the less equity you have to give away, but don’t underfund your growth. - Control: VCs might ask for things like board seats or veto rights on major decisions. Make sure you’re comfortable with these levels of influence before committing. ?? The Milestones VCs Want to See: VCs are investing in your future success, and they’re looking for key milestones that prove your company’s value is growing. Some critical milestones could be: - Revenue growth - User acquisition - Market expansion - Product development ?? Plan for VCs’ Exits: VCs aren’t just looking at how your company will grow—they’re also thinking about how they’ll exit and realize their returns. Their exit strategies typically include: - Acquisition (53%): The most common exit strategy is selling your company to a larger business. Make sure your milestones show that you’re building something that would be attractive to potential acquirers. - IPO (15%): If your company has the potential to go public, showing progress toward a future IPO can drive higher valuations. - Failure (32%): Not every deal works out, and VCs know this. They’re betting on the big wins to make up for the losses. ?? What This Means for Founders: - Raise to reach key milestones - Know your worth - Align your goals with the VC’s exit strategy. By speaking the language of milestones and exits, you’ll show VCs that their investment is in safe hands—and position yourself for a higher valuation down the road. Enjoy this? ?? Repost it to your network and follow Bridget Greenwood & Amber Ghaddar , PhD