Most female founders now raise via angels, family offices, and crowdfunding. Not VC.
And honestly? It's often better. Less pressure. More control. Better networks.
If you've been trying to fit your business into the VC mold and it's not working, this might be why→
Why These Routes Actually Work Better
Angels and family offices don't care about "scalable SaaS."
They're backing people, not formulas. If your business is mission-driven, creative, or solving a real problem in a non-traditional way, they're more likely to get it.
Many of them are women or actively support women.
See: Astia Angels, Chloe Capital, Female Founders Fund. They're not just writing checks, they're opening doors.
Crowdfunding gives you proof before you pitch.
If you can show 500 people already paid for your product, you're not asking investors to believe in your vision. You're showing them the market already does.
How to Actually Find Them
1. Google Like a Detective
Search: "[angel investor female founders UK]" or "[family office women-led businesses US]"
You'll find lists, interviews, and contact info. Most angels are easier to reach than you think.
2. Use AngelList
AngelList lets you filter investors by stage, sector, and geography. Create a profile. Start following investors who back founders like you.
3. Join the Networks
All Raise – US-based, connects female founders with vetted investors
Female Founders Rise – UK network, peer intros, pitch events
Angel Academe – UK women angels backing women founders
Astia – Global network focused on high-growth female-led businesses
Most angels are on LinkedIn. Message them directly.
Don't ask for a call. Lead with traction.
Template: "Hi [Name], I'm building [business]. We've done [revenue/customers/traction] in [timeframe]. I'm raising [amount] to [specific use]. Would love to share more if you're investing in [sector]."
Short. Specific. Shows you've done the work.
What Actually Works When You Pitch
Forget vision slides. Lead with proof.
Revenue numbers
Customer count
Growth rate
Why this problem matters to you
Angels invest in people first. If you've got skin in the game and traction to back it, you're already ahead.
Also: ask for intros. Angels know other angels. One yes often leads to three more.
Practical Steps You Can Take This Week
1. Write your ask email. Use the template above. Keep it under 100 words. Lead with traction.
2. Join a pitch event. LetsFundHer Pitch Clinic hosts regular pitch practice sessions. All Raise runs founder-investor mixers.
3. Start tracking who you meet. Build a simple spreadsheet: investor name, focus area, stage they invest in, how you connected. Makes follow-ups easier.
Real Examples
Michelle raised £110K from women in her network. Half her round came from first-time angels who'd never invested before but believed in her.
Rushina used Instagram. Four of her followers became investors. She didn't have a pitch deck. She had a product people wanted and a story they connected with.
Sarah joined Female Founders Rise for peer intros. Got three angel checks within two months. All from warm connections, not cold pitches.
The pattern? These founders didn't wait for VC to validate them. They built proof, found their people, and closed the round.
When VC Actually Makes Sense
If you're building something that needs massive scale fast, think infrastructure, deep tech, or winner-takes-all markets, VC might be your route.
But if you're building something mission-driven, community-focused, or profitable without needing to 10x overnight, angels and family offices are often a better fit.
Less pressure to exit. More flexibility to build the business you actually want.
Your Move
Pick one network from the list above and join it this week.
Write your ask email. Send it to three angels who back businesses like yours.
If you need help finding a match or want someone to review your pitch email before you send it, reply to this email. I'll walk you through it.
VC isn't the only game. It's just the loudest one.
See you next week,
