Goldman Sachs’ Launch With GS Initiative Announces Investment in Female Founders Fund
NEW YORK, July 13, 2021 – Goldman Sachs’ Launch With GS initiative today announced an investment in Female Founders Fund (FFF), an early-stage fund investing in the next generation of transformational technology companies founded by women. Launch With GS is Goldman Sachs’ $1 billion investment strategy grounded in our data-driven thesis that diverse teams drive strong returns.
Founded in 2014, FFF is a seed stage fund that invests exclusively in female-founded companies and has invested in more than 50 companies across B2B, Consumer, Fintech and Healthcare industries, 70% of which are led by BIPOC founders. Today, FFF announced the closing of Fund III at $57 million, which brings its total assets under management to more than $90 million. With Fund III, FFF has created the largest fund for seed capital specifically for female founders. The fund will continue to invest in innovative platforms and products that support diverse communities, including LGBTQ+, women of color, parents and beyond. In addition to investing, the firm is committed to counseling founders throughout their journeys with the help of their ecosystem of more than 50,000 female founders and investors.
“Goldman Sachs is proud to invest in FFF, as we also strongly believe that female-founded businesses generate strong returns,” said Suzanne Gauron, head of Launch With GS. “Less than 3% of US venture capital goes to all women founding teams and Fund III represents a key opportunity to level the playing field.”
About Female Founders Fund
Female Founders Fund is the pre-eminent early-stage fund investing in female-founded technology companies and lifestyle brands. Its goal is to disrupt the current Venture Capital ecosystem and prove to the broader industry that it is possible to achieve great returns by investing in a portfolio that is comprised of only female founders. Since its founding in 2014, Female Founders Fund has raised three funds (Fund I: $6M, Fund II: $25M, and most recently Fund III: $57M) and invested in over 50 of the fastest growing female-led companies nationwide. These include category leaders like Zola, Maven Clinic, Tala, ELOQUII, Real, Peanut, BentoBox, Kin Euphorics, Billie, Co--Star, WinkyLux, Rent The Runway and more. In addition to financial investments, FFF has assembled a network of Industry Experts and CEOs with different expertise to service all needs of their portfolio companies while, in tandem, building a network of inspiring female founders. For more information visit www.femalefoundersfund.com
About Goldman Sachs Asset Management Launch With GS
Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), we deliver investment and advisory services for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals, drawing from our deeply connected global network and tailored expert insights, across every region and market—overseeing more than $2 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of March 31, 2021. Driven by a passion for our clients’ performance, we seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. Launch With GS is Goldman Sachs’ investment strategy grounded in the belief that diverse teams drive strong returns. Through Launch With GS, Goldman Sachs aims to increase access to capital and facilitate connections for women, Black, Latinx and other diverse entrepreneurs and investors.
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Leslie Shribman
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