Privilège Ventures announced the launch of their new fund, Fund IV. The fund scouts and invests in female-led early-stage startups across Europe. The CHF 20 million fund, the first of its kind in Switzerland, and one of very few globally, acts on research that shows that for every $1 of investment raised, startups run and co-run by women generated roughly twice the revenues on investments compared to male-led companies.
The venture capital firm’s values, authorized by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), derive from previous experience as founders’ entrepreneurs, operators and investors. As Privilège Ventures does portfolio-wide, Fund IV will provide women unceasing support, expertise and valuable network access on their journey to innovate and build successful companies.
“Our investment thesis builds upon strong statistical evidence. Companies led by women are stronger performers,” said Lucian Wagner, Privilège Ventures Founding General Partner. “The numbers are staggering. It’s not just about being ethical and doing good. Global GDP would grow 6 percent if rates of entrepreneurship were equal between men and women.”
Who conducted the research that led to Fund IV?
Boston Consulting Group conducted the analysis of investment and revenue data over a five-year period. The study also showed that startups founded and co-founded by women received less than half the average investments made into companies led by men. Even though, female-led startups generated 10 percent more revenues over time.
“There are very few funds worldwide backing up female founders,” said Jacqueline Ruedin Rüsch, Privilège Ventures Founding General Partner. “And despite the rapid growth in the VC industry, the percentage of female or gender-diverse led teams are falling. Combining the Privilège team’s extensive experience, the numbers supporting investing in women, and the tremendous energy in Europe driving young entrepreneurs, Fund IV taps into an opportunity that few VCs have seemed to recognize. .”
In addition to Wagner and Ruedin Rüsch, seasoned founder and Venture Partner Lea von Bidder (femtech health company Ava Women AG, L’inouï) will oversee Fund IV. With previous experience with HNWI at UBS and Credit Suisse, Cecilia Orlando will head investor relations. The fund will seek 15-20 seed and early-stage female-led companies across Europe, with an initial ticket size of about 250’000.
“Doing the right thing ethically and financially isn’t mutually exclusive,” said von Bidder. “Female-led focused funds are a major untapped opportunity for venture funds and their investors. And they are also simply the right thing to support”.
Privilège Ventures existing portfolio already features stand-out female innovators and talent including von Bidder’s Ava Women AG, which recently exited to U.S.-based FemTec Health; AgroSustain SA, pioneers in all-natural crop protection coatings; and IDUN Technologies AG, the neural interface unlocking secrets to better sleep and direct brain-machine interaction.
For more information, or to arrange an interview with Wagner and Ruedin Rüsch or von Bidder, contact Owen Phillips:
owen@thoughtgangmedia.com
About Privilège Ventures:
Privilège Ventures is a Swiss-based Venture Capital firm, authorized by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as a venture capital asset manager, investing in promising early-stage startups. With offices in Lugano, Zurich and Boston, we aim to support young founders on a mission to build the future. Our unique values derive from previous experiences as founders, entrepreneurs, operators and investors. We provide unceasing support, expertise, and valuable network access to help entrepreneurs forge ahead. More information at privilege-ventures.com.
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