Empowering Women, Unleashing Potential
“Osler is thrilled to be working alongside the WFW Collective in support of its mission to empower women-led ventures and close the funding gap. The Collective’s mission is a strategic imperative for unlocking innovation, driving economic growth, and creating a more inclusive and prosperous future for the emerging and high growth ecosystem.” - Osler
“Guardian Women™ is proud to collaborate with the WFW Collective in bridging the education gap for women investors as well as elevate women-led ventures. Together, we are committed to empowering women across all facets of the investment landscape.” - Guardian Women
tl;dr
Mission and Impact: WFW, founded by Sherry Shannon-Vanstone, Lara Zink, and Deborah Rosati, aims to close the significant funding gap for women-led ventures by empowering female entrepreneurs through education, advocacy, and targeted investment.
Addressing Inequality: Despite women-led ventures' success, they received only 2.3% of global venture capital in 2021. WFW is working to change this by fostering inclusivity and providing resources to level the playing field.
Women Funding Women is Harnessing the Power of Collaboration in its Quest to Bridge the Funding Gap
Entrepreneurship is a world where everything travels at break-neck speed, where innovation and ambition collide to produce powerful, world-changing results. But despite this potential, women-led ventures continue to face persistent barriers that leave them with only a tiny piece of the venture capital funding pie.
However, a new Canadian collective is leading the charge to dismantle barriers, bridge that persistent gap and empower women-led ventures. Women Funding Women Inc. (WFW) isn't just a movement; it's a revolution, driven by a passionate trio: Sherry Shannon-Vanstone, Lara Zink, and Deobrah Rosati. Their mission? To obliterate the funding gap that has long unfairly hindered the success of women entrepreneurs.
Picture this: 18 visionary founders, and 50 eager investors—all together, 110 women in a room buzzing with energy. That was the scene at WFW's recent inaugural launch event, a testament to the power of collaboration and community. With a diverse coalition of venture capitalists, angels, and women founders from across industries, WFW is rewriting the script on what it means to support women in business.
The statistics are staggering: despite strides in gender equality, women-led ventures still face a daunting funding gap. Despite their proven success, women-led ventures received a paltry 2.3 per cent of global venture capital funding in 2021. It’s a stark reality that highlights the entrenched inequalities within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. And WFW isn't content to let these disparities persist. Through education, advocacy, and targeted investment, they're levelling the playing field one partnership at a time.
What sets WFW apart is its unwavering commitment to inclusivity and support. At its launch event, walls came down, and alliances were forged, as women from all walks of life came together to lift each other up. No ego, no competition—just a shared goal of empowering women to reach their full potential.
But WFW's impact extends far beyond the confines of a single event. Through strategic alliances and partnerships, they're catalyzing economic growth, driving gender equality, and providing women-led businesses with the resources they need to thrive. From pre-seed financing to seed funding, WFW is paving the way for a future where female entrepreneurs have equal access to capital and opportunity.
At its core, WFW is about more than funding. It's about fostering a community where women can support, uplift, and inspire one another, and it shows no signs of slowing down. With its sights set on expanding its network and amplifying its impact, WFW is poised to continue revolutionizing the venture capital landscape.
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