PRESS RELEASE: The Female Founder Series connects APAC female-led startups with VC investors

SINGAPORE (23 MARCH 2023) – The first ever “Female Founder Series,” an in-person event connecting female-led startups with top investors from leading venture capital firms, kicks off on 30 March 2023 in Singapore.
Harriet, the leading platform championing female founders, has partnered with venture capital firms Artesian, Wavemaker Partners, Wavemaker Impact, B Capital, and 1982 Ventures to bring together more than 40 VC funds, mentors, and entrepreneurs committed to creating a level playing field for women in business.
The event is by invitation only, and interested attendees can request an invitation by registering by 24 March 2023 at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLF_463D4B9h-QV2BNJGd56lL7LBKsFTn-tI3iPv1B50qlXg/viewform
This initiative marks a significant milestone in the journey towards gender parity in the startup ecosystem in Asia-Pacific. These exclusive forums will provide a unique platform for female-led startups to connect with top investors from leading venture capital firms in the region, incorporating elements of unconscious bias training and breaking pattern recognition to educate investors and empower founders to showcase their innovative ideas and secure the necessary funding to drive growth and success.
Estimates by the International Financial Corporation (IFC) show that a US$300-billion gap in financing exists for women-owned small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and remains a major constraint, particularly in developing countries. (https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/bridging-gender-gap)
“This is a pivotal moment for female founders in Asia-Pacific. We are thrilled to lead the charge in creating this series empowering female founders to succeed. The Female Founder Series will redefine what it means to be a female founder in the region and set a new standard for inclusive and equitable investment practices,” said Anna Pearson, Co-founder, Harriet.
“We’re honoured to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. The future of innovation depends on a diverse and representative startup ecosystem. We are committed to supporting female founders and ensuring a more equal, inclusive and sustainable investment landscape in Asia,” said Steve Melhuish, Founding Partner, Wavemaker Impact and Venture Partner, Wavemaker Partners.
“Through this initiative, and via investments from our US$100 million Female Leaders Fund, Artesian is committed to actively supporting female founders across the Asia-Pacific region. We want to help create a startup ecosystem which is wholeheartedly inclusive and is moving rapidly to achieve gender equality, and we invite other investors to join us on this mission,” said Alexandra Clunies-Ross, Portfolio Manager, Artesian.
“The Female Founder Series” is just the beginning of Harriet’s mission to bridge the funding gap for female-led startups in the region. The company is also launching “Connecting Harriet,” a dedicated platform that provides female founders with access to tools, know-how, and resources designed to support their growth and development.
Request an invitation by registering on the link here by 24 March 2023.

About Harriet

Harriet is a platform that supports female founders as they grow and develop their businesses and fundraise for external capital. We work with founders to help them secure the right funding for their business and we partner with strategic Venture Capital Funds with a focus on bridging the gender gap, an important yet challenging metric for many venture funds. https://harriet.asia/

About Artesian

Artesian is a global alternative asset manager specialising in venture capital and debt investments. Artesian’s venture team invests in startups across Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region, with extensive experience in critical technology sectors including climate & clean energy, agriculture & food security, health & well-being, AI & robotics, education, and gender equality. Artesian integrates an impact lens into all investment mandates. The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and is a certified B-Corp. https://www.artesianinvest.com/

About Wavemaker Partners

Wavemaker Partners is Southeast Asia’s go-to VC firm investing in early-stage enterprise, deep tech, and sustainability startups. Since 2012, it has backed 190+ companies with US$300 million in assets under management (AUM) across four funds. The firm has seen 25 exits and acqui-hires valued at over US$1.8 billion. These exits include TradeGecko’s acquisition by Intuit, and Moka’s and Coins.ph’s acquisitions by Gojek. Today, 85% of Wavemaker’s active portfolio startups in Southeast Asia are aligned with at least one UNDP Sustainable Development Goal. For more information, visit: http://wavemaker.vc/sea.

About Wavemaker Impact

Wavemaker Impact is a climate tech venture builder that co-founds sustainability-focused
businesses in Southeast Asia with proven entrepreneurs. It aims to rally individuals, investors, and businesses who care about the planet, and want to make a rapid, tangible change in the reduction of carbon emissions. For more information, visit: https://wavemakerimpact.com/.

About B Capital

B Capital is a multi-stage global investment firm that partners with extraordinary entrepreneurs to shape the future through technology. With $6.3 billion in assets under management across multiple funds, the firm focuses on seed to late-stage venture growth investments, primarily in the enterprise, financial technology and healthcare sectors. Founded in 2015, B Capital leverages an integrated team across nine locations in the US and Asia, as well as a strategic partnership with BCG, to provide the value-added support entrepreneurs need to scale fast and efficiently, expand into new markets and build exceptional companies. For more information, click here.

About 1982 Ventures

1982 Ventures is the leading seed fund investing in fintech startups in Southeast Asia. Our focus makes us the first port of call for fintech founders and the first money in.Our investments include Southeast Asian Open Banking API Platform Brick, Vietnam’s leading investment platform Infina (YC S21), Vietnam’s leading Buy Now, Pay Later Fundiin, Vietnam’s Rent-to-Own Home Financing app Homebase (YC W21), Indonesia’s first Earned Wage Access platform Wagely. 1982 Ventures is investing in and supporting the best founders to positively impact the future of financial services in Southeast Asia. For more information visit: https://1982.vc.