Remember Cher from Clueless trying to get invited to the popular kids' parties? 🎬
That's what waiting for warm intros feels like. You're sitting around hoping someone will invite you to the money table.
Plot twist: you can build your own table.
Upcoming
On agenda today:
Why female founders have 53% less network access (and what to do about it) 🔗
4 ways to build investor relationships this week 📱
Female-friendly VCs actually writing checks right now 💰
Scripts that get responses from cold outreach ✉️
Stop waiting and let’s start building.
This week's network building intel:
📈 Female investor growth: 24% of European angel investors are now female (up from 20% in 2021).
More women with checkbooks means more opportunities.
🚀 AI opportunity gap: 56% of all-female founding teams see AI creating opportunities vs. 46% of mixed teams.
We're seeing the future differently.
💰 European momentum: Female-founded startups got €8.6M in just one week in August, even with overall funding down.
My take: The old boys' club is slowly cracking open. But why wait for an invitation when you can build your own network?
Check our Power Women section for who's actually funding female founders right now.
Plus 3 Investor Outreach Templates That Actually Work
Most founders mess up investor emails from the start.
How to Build Your Own Money Network 🎯
Here's the uncomfortable truth: female founders have 53% less access to personal networks that write first checks.
But remember Elle Woods? She didn't wait for Harvard to invite her. She made her own way in.
The Network Gap Is Real
While male founders get introduced through golf buddies and college roommates, we're starting from scratch.
The good news? We're scrappy, and scrappy often wins.
VC firms with female partners are 2.3x more likely to fund female-led startups.
So instead of fighting the old network, let's build connections with the new one.
4 Ways to Build Investor Relationships This Week
1. Join Female Angel Groups:
Alma Angels has 450+ investors and €10M in assets.
Astia Angels runs multiple funds focused on women-led companies.
These aren't just networking groups - they're writing actual checks.
2. LinkedIn + Twitter Strategy Follow and engage with 2025's most active female VCs.
Comment thoughtfully on their posts.
Share their content.
Build real relationships before you need money.
Think of it like Rachel Green networking her way into fashion - persistence with purpose.
3. Attend Female Founder Events Pitch clinics and demo days aren't just for pitching.
They're for meeting other founders who know investors. S
ometimes the best intro comes from another founder, not an investor directly.
4. Cold Outreach That Actually Works We covered detailed email templates in our previous newsletter "How to Find the Right Investor & Outreach Strategies." Here's the quick version:
Keep it short. Reference something specific about them. Lead with your best number. Ask for 15 minutes, not money.
Get the full email templates from our previous issue!
The Secret Sauce
Don't just ask for money. Build relationships. Share insights. Be helpful.
The founders who succeed aren't just looking for checks - they're building a community of people who believe in their vision.
Why This Works Now
Female investors are actively looking for female founders to fund.
New funds like Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund II just closed €26M.
The UK added £50M more to female-led VC funds.
The money is there. The question is: are you building the relationships to access it?
How I can help you this week:
📋 Female-Friendly Investor Database: 50+ VCs and angels actively funding female founders, with contact info and investment focus.
🎯 Share your network wins: Reply and tell me about a great investor connection you made - I love hearing success stories! ✨
Connect with me on LinkedIn
FREE MONEY ALERTS
WAVE 2025 Competition - UK £75K grants for women-led innovation For female founders building innovative solutions Deadline: September 11, 2025 Apply here
FFinc's Forward Faster Accelerator 6-month program for 100 female-founded businesses Launching September 2025 with funding opportunities Applications opening soon Learn more
Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund II €50M fund specifically for female founders Just closed €26M first round, actively investing Focus on early-stage European startups Contact for opportunities
POWER WOMEN WRITING CHECKS📝
Forerunner Ventures: $1.5B fund backing consumer + commerce companies. They funded Glossier, Faire, and The Wing. They get female-focused brands.
Female Founders Fund $275M dedicated to female-led ventures. Portfolio includes Billie, Maven, and Tala. They literally exist to fund women.
Cowboy Ventures $420M for early and growth-stage companies. Backed Guild Education and Lightstep. Strong track record with female founders.
Alma Angels €10M with 450+ investors focused on underrepresented founders. They're actively looking for women-led deals.
These aren't just investor names - they're your potential network. Start building relationships now, before you need the money.
That’s it for this week.
Don't wait for an invitation to the money table. Build your own table.
Talk soon,
OnAgenda Team
P.S.
A founder just told me she met her lead investor through a comment she left on LinkedIn. Sometimes the smallest actions lead to the biggest checks. 💪