How Women Invest
About How Women Invest
Early-stage venture capital firm backing women-founded, tech-enabled companies and leveraging the How Women Lead network to provide capital, mentorship and market access.
How Women Invest was founded in 2020 and describes itself as a sister entity to the How Women Lead professional network. Julie Castro Abrams and Erika Cramer formed the firm. Its first fund, Fund I, was announced in August 2020 as a $10 million vehicle, with a first close of $5 million reached in four months. Crunchbase lists Julie Castro Abrams as a general partner and Erika Cramer as co-founder and general partner, with Heather Jerrehian and Dipti Arora listed as founding limited partners. Crunchbase reports one fund and 11 investments across 10 portfolio organizations. Public sources do not say who leads the firm's AI work.
Public materials describe a focus on women-founded companies rather than an AI-specific strategy. The firm's thesis page says it focuses exclusively on women-founded companies and sources a large share of its deals through its network. Profiles list health, fintech, climate and consumer as its main sectors. Sources reviewed did not name an AI-labelled investment, so this page does not list AI portfolio companies. Founders with AI companies should check the current portfolio directly before pitching.
Sources disagree. StartupIntros says the firm invests from pre-seed to Series B, while a profile of managing partner Julie Castro Abrams says seed, Series A and Series B. Capboard lists seed and Series A. Reported check sizes vary: $100,000 to $500,000 (WaveUp), $100,000 to $750,000 (Capboard), $0 to $500,000 (StartupIntros), and an average of $50,000 to $200,000 (VCSheet). A 2020 Crunchbase News article gave an average check of $50,000 to $75,000, and VCSheet notes a $25,000 minimum on early funds.
- howwomeninvest.com/thesis
- linkedin.com/company/howwomeninvest
- prnewswire.com/news-releases/how-women-invest-fund-announces-first-clo
- news.crunchbase.com/venture/how-women-invest-a-new-fund-announces-firs
- crunchbase.com/organization/how-women-invest
- crunchbase.com/organization/how-women-invest/profiles_and_contacts
- crunchbase.com/organization/how-women-invest/recent_investments
- hub.waveup.com/funds/how-women-invest
Investing activity
How Women Invest is listed on Lounge as a venture capital investor based in San Francisco, United States. The deals desk records Series A and later AI rounds and seeds over $10M, so smaller checks may not show here yet.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about How Women Invest
When was How Women Invest founded?
Crunchbase lists the firm as founded in 2020. Its first fund, Fund I, was announced in August 2020.
What AI investments has How Women Invest made?
Public sources reviewed did not identify any AI-labelled investments. The firm focuses on women-founded, tech-enabled companies across several sectors, so confirm fit with the team before pitching.
What is the How Women Invest portfolio?
Profiles name companies such as BabyQuip, Hello Alice, Statusphere and GrayMatter Analytics among its investments. The firm's own portfolio page should be checked for the current list.
What stages and check sizes does How Women Invest use?
Sources differ on stages, with pre-seed to Series B the widest range cited. Reported check sizes range from about $50,000 to $750,000 depending on the source.
Does How Women Invest only back women-founded companies?
Its thesis page says it focuses exclusively on women-founded companies. LinkedIn describes the firm as investing in U.S.-based, female-led and female-majority owned companies.
Where is How Women Invest based?
How Women Invest is based in San Francisco, United States.
How can founders reach How Women Invest?
Founders on Lounge can see How Women Invest's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add How Women Invest to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.