Full Breakdown
Addressing the Gender Investment Gap: Initiatives in Australia and Africa
9/2/2025, 11:40:18 AM
The Gender Investment Landscape in Australia
Recent analysis from Blackbird, a venture capital fund, reveals that all-women founding teams in Australia face significant challenges in securing funding, with a mere 1-in-5000 chance of being backed. In the fiscal year 2025 (FY25), Blackbird aimed for 40% of its investment committee pitches to feature teams with at least one female or non-binary founder, but this target remains unmet for the third consecutive year, with only about one-third of pitches coming from such teams. Despite these challenges, Blackbird reported an 80% increase in investments in female co-founded companies, with nine new investments made in FY25, representing 32% of new investments from their core fund.
Blackbird's head of impact, Kate Glazebrook, emphasized the importance of increasing the volume of women founders in their pipeline. While female co-founded companies have shown equal chances of success compared to their male counterparts once they reach the investment committee stage, the challenge lies in sourcing more women-led businesses. In FY25, Blackbird added nearly 1800 deals to its pipeline, with 39% from all-female or mixed teams, yet only 2% of total investments went to all-women teams.
The African Women Impact Fund: A Commitment to Empowerment
In a parallel effort to address gender disparities in investment, Standard Bank has pledged $10 million to the African Women Impact Fund (AWIF). This initiative, launched at the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group event, aims to support women fund managers and businesses across Africa. Luvuyo Masinda, CEO of Standard Bank's corporate and investment banking division, highlighted the bank's commitment to driving sustainable growth by mobilizing capital for women-owned enterprises.
The AWIF, a collaboration between the UN Economic Commission for Africa, UN Women, and the African Union Commission, seeks to tackle the $42 billion funding gap faced by women entrepreneurs in Africa. Research indicates that female fund managers are twice as likely to invest in women-led businesses, creating a positive cycle for financial inclusion. The fund aims to empower women as fund managers and investors, focusing on high-impact sectors such as renewable energy and agriculture.
Criticism and Challenges
Despite these initiatives, critics point out that systemic barriers continue to hinder women's economic empowerment. Issues such as limited access to resources, gender biases in corporate settings, and cultural norms contribute to the ongoing challenges women face in securing funding and leadership roles. The AWIF and Blackbird's efforts are seen as steps in the right direction, but there is a consensus that more needs to be done to create an equitable investment landscape.
Official Statements & Responses
Kate Glazebrook stated, “Our biggest challenge is top-of-pipeline: meeting more women founders pursuing businesses that match our mandate.” Luvuyo Masinda remarked, “By strengthening the role of women as fund managers and decision makers, we are helping expand access to finance, unlock opportunities and drive growth.” Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga welcomed Standard Bank's investment, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing women's economic empowerment.
What's Next
Both Blackbird and Standard Bank are committed to continuing their efforts in 2025 and beyond, focusing on increasing the visibility and support for women entrepreneurs and fund managers. The AWIF aims to raise up to $1 billion over the next decade, while Blackbird seeks to enhance its pipeline of women-led businesses to meet its investment goals.