Astia, a Silicon Valley-based investment organization, launched a $100M early-stage venture fund focused on addressing the disparity in funding for companies that include women Ā in founding or executive roles. Ā
Led by an investment from Mastercard, the Astia Fund will invest globally in high-growthĀ companies that have at least one woman in an executive, equity-holding position. AdditionalĀ investors include:
- Priya Mathur, past president of the board of CalPERS;
- Jim O’Neill formerĀ chief economist and former chairman of Asset Management at Goldman Sachs;
- FarvatnĀ Venture;
- Portola Creek Capital;
- Tides Foundation; numerous members of Toniic, a globalĀ network of impact investors; and other notable LPs.Ā Ā
Since launching investment activity in 2013, Astia has invested over $27M in companiesĀ sourced by the Astia Expert Siftā¢ that is proven to eliminate gender, racial, age andĀ geographic bias in the investment sourcing and screening process. Those companies haveĀ gone on to raise more than $450M.
Founded in 1999 as a nonprofit organization, and led by Sharon Vosmek, CEO, Victoria Pettibone, Evie Mulberry and Omar Ali, Astia works globally to level the investment Ā playing field for high-growth startups led by women.Ā
FinSMEs
08/02/2021