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Women-Led Startups Receive 2.3% of VC Funding. Even less goes to Black, Indigenous or Hispanic Founders.

It’s Time for A Change

WEL Silicon Valley

Women's Equity Lab Silicon Valley (WEL SV) is an independent fund in the US consisting of 25 experienced women leaders from around the world. Startups will be able to leverage this global network and draw on our collective experience to help them on their path to success. 

The WEL investing model was created to address the chronic and systemic underrepresentation of women in early-stage investing. By reducing the barriers to entry that have typically kept women out - gender bias, lack of previous investing experience, capital needed to get involved - the WEL Learning On Investment approach is designed to facilitate entry into this investment class.

Our Criteria

  • Industry & sector agnostic 

    • For products requiring FDA approval, we only invest post-approval

  • Gender Balance - aiming for 50% of investments in women-led startups

  • Angel, pre-seed, & seed stage

  • We only invest in SAFEs and priced rounds; we are unable to invest through convertible notes or uncapped SAFEs

  • Lead investor required - we do not lead rounds 

  • Geography: North America-based companies that are US C-Corporations

  • Companies that “do no harm”  

Fund Size: $350,000 USD

Check Size: $25K to $50K USD

Our Partners

Our Investment Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis and meets every 6 weeks to evaluate deals.

2-3 companies will be invited to pitch at our Investment Committee meetings.