Closing the Gender Investment Gap

The Alice Anderson Fund has helped support 11 woman-led startups. Picture: UNSPLASH

Since launching in July 2021, the Alice Anderson Fund has supported 11 women-led startups to unlock more than $12.5 million of capital, delivered close to $2.5 million in direct investments and helped to attract a further $10 million from private investors.

Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford joined LaunchVic and the recipients of the Fund to celebrate its achievements so far and drive forward its goal of backing 60 women-led startups by 2024.

“This Fund is about empowering women as they build their own business communities – so they don’t have to feel like they have to fight for their own place in the start-up industry,” said Ms Pulford.

“The legacy of Alice Anderson lives on through these 11 ambitious founders, as we mark this special milestone.”

Named after the founder of Australia’s first all-women motor garage in the 1920s, LaunchVic’s $10 million Alice Anderson Fund co-invests between $50,000 and $300,000 in early-stage startups founded and led by Victorian women.

“LaunchVic is working to close the gender investment gap by backing women-founded businesses at their earliest stages, so they have every opportunity to succeed in entrepreneurship,” said LaunchVic CEO Dr Kate Cornick.

For more information about the Alice Anderson Fund, visit launchvic.org/alice-anderson-fund.