Female Invest, a London-based finance app dedicated to empowering women through subscription-based learning, financial news, and a supportive community, has successfully closed its Series A funding round, raising €10.3 million. This milestone positions Female Invest as a frontrunner in the financial tech sector tailored for women.
The platform, which helps women enhance their financial acumen and investment skills, has attracted over 73,000 paying members across 123 countries and boasts an online following of more than 512,000 on social media.
In July 2024, Female Invest raised €9.4 million in a funding round led by venture capital firms Educapital and Rubio. Complementing this, a member-exclusive crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs raised an additional €900k, breaking several world records. These include the highest number of pre-registrants (12,000+), the fastest campaign to raise €900k in just 4 minutes, and the highest number of female investors in any crowdfunding effort (94%). This success is notable given that less than 2% of funding goes to female-founded companies, highlighting Female Invest’s groundbreaking achievements.
Co-founder Camilla Falkenberg expressed amazement at the community’s rapid investment: “Our members invested $1 million in just 4 minutes, despite investment caps. The overwhelming response reflects the strong demand we anticipated.”
Founded in 2019 by Emma Due Bitz, Camilla Falkenberg, and Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, Female Invest was born from their experiences at finance events where women were underrepresented. They aimed to bridge the gender gap in investments and savings by creating an inclusive platform.
The co-founders are alumni of the Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator (2021) and authors of the Sunday Times Best Seller “Girls Just Wanna Have Funds.” They also feature in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for finance and have endorsements from high-profile figures like Hillary Clinton and Emma Watson.
With a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 240%, Female Invest has seen remarkable growth, particularly in the UK, where 40% of its users are based. The new funding will support the company’s US launch, expansion of trading offerings, and further scaling of operations.
Addressing the gender investment gap is crucial, especially when 70% of stocks are owned by male investors, and women retire with significantly less in pensions compared to men (Nest survey – Oct 2020). Female Invest aims to equip women with the skills to manage their finances and achieve independence. Research from Warwick Business School indicates that women investors tend to outperform men in investment returns, reinforcing the need for a female-centric financial platform.
Co-founder Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen highlighted the platform’s mission: “Women are financially lagging worldwide, earning, saving, and investing less. Our goal is to close this gap swiftly and effectively.”
Camilla Falkenberg emphasized the need for tailored financial advice for young women: “Traditional financial advice often focuses on cost-saving tips, neglecting investment growth. Female Invest addresses this by providing resources to help women grow their wealth.”
Emma Due Bitz added: “The financial industry has long been male-dominated, resulting in unintentional exclusion of women. Female Invest aims to change that narrative.”
