Updated 2026-10-19: removed performance figures and statistics we could not source to a primary publication. The listings below are limited to each fund's name, what it invests in, and a link.

When I started building NUVC, I spent weeks Googling "investors who back women founders" and getting the same recycled lists from 2019. Half the funds had stopped deploying. The other half were US-only with no path for Australian founders.

So I built the list I wish I'd had. Every entry below was verified in March 2026 — active fund, accepting applications or deal flow, with a clear thesis that includes women founders. Not "might consider" — actively looking for you.

This is built from NUVC's database of 24,000+ verified investors plus original research. Bookmark it. Share it with a founder who needs it. Come back when you're ready to raise.

How to Use This List

Don't spray and pray. Here's the approach that actually works:

Find your stage — Pre-seed, seed, or Series A+ determines which section to start with
Pick 3-5 from Track 1 (women-focused funds) — these are your momentum builders
Pick 5-10 from Track 2 (generalist funds with female GPs) — these write the bigger cheques
Layer in 2-3 programs (accelerators, grants) — these give you credibility and warm intros
Approach Track 1 first — a term sheet or strong interest from a women-focused fund creates urgency that pulls generalists in

Women-Focused VC Funds in Australia & New Zealand

These funds exist specifically to back women founders. Your gender is a tailwind here, not a headwind.

Scale Investors (Melbourne) — Pre-Seed to Series B

What: Women-led venture fund and angel investment group backing women-led startups
Cheque size: Previously $50K-$250K via angel syndicate, now scaling with fund vehicle
Best for: Australian women founders at any early stage. Strong mentoring culture
Apply: scaleinvestors.com.au

Alice Anderson Fund / LaunchVic (Melbourne) — Seed

What: Victorian Government co-investment fund targeting women-led startups
Cheque size: $50K-$300K (co-invests 3:1 with private capital)
Note: LaunchVic is being consolidated into Breakthrough Victoria. The fund is still accepting applications (next IC meeting May 2026, deadline 14 April 2026) — but check status before applying
Apply: launchvic.org

ALIAVIA Ventures (US-Australia) — Pre-Seed & Seed

What: California-based fund investing in early-stage female founders in the US and Australia
Focus: B2B and B2C tech — health tech, fintech, edtech, HR tech, media
Best for: Australian women founders who want access to US networks. A cross-border women-focused fund
Apply: aliavia.vc

Women-Focused VC Funds Deploying Globally in 2026

If you're raising from international investors — or planning to expand — these are the funds actively writing cheques right now.

Pre-Seed & Seed (US$500K-$2M rounds)

Female Founders Fund (New York) — Seed stage, e-commerce, platforms, media
Halogen Ventures (Los Angeles) — Focus on consumer tech and the "Future of Family" category, including childcare. halogenvc.com
Chloe Capital (New York) — Seed stage with gender and diversity lens. Climate, health, workforce tech. Runs a Founder Fellowship. chloecapital.com
How Women Invest (San Francisco) — Unique angle: engages women limited partners as investors. howwomeninvest.com
Golden Seeds (US, nationwide) — Angel network with chapters across the US. goldenseeds.com
SoGal Ventures (US-Asia) — Pre-seed and seed for women and diverse founders. sogalventures.com

Series A+ (US$3M+ rounds)

Cowboy Ventures (Palo Alto) — Seed through growth. Not women-only but strong thesis backing women founders. cowboy.vc
BBG Ventures (New York) — Consumer tech focus, women-led companies
Backstage Capital (US) — Backs underrepresented founders (women, people of colour, LGBTQ+). backstagecapital.com

Climate & Impact

Buoyant Ventures (Chicago) — Digital climate solutions (energy, transport, agriculture, water, built environment). Preference for gender and ethnically diverse founders. buoyant.vc
True Wealth Ventures (Austin) — Invests in women-led companies improving environmental or human health. truewealthvc.com
Portfolia (US) — Sector-specific funds (FemTech, Active Aging, Food & AgTech, Climate) with female LP base. Multiple fund vehicles allow sector targeting

Generalist Funds With Female GPs Who Back Women Founders

These investors won't invest because you're a woman — they'll invest because you're building something exceptional. But they won't penalise you for it either. That matters more than most founders realise.

Generalist Funds

Floodgate — Seed stage
Forerunner Ventures — Consumer and commerce
Acrew Capital — Data, security, community-activated tech. Runs a Diversify Capital Fund aimed at diversifying cap tables
Conviction — AI-native investing

Accelerators With Strong Female Founder Cohorts

Startmate (Australia/NZ) — Consistently strong female cohort ratios. Fellowship and accelerator programmes. Strong alumni network across ANZ
Antler (Global, offices in Sydney and Melbourne) — Co-founder matching + investment. Active gender diversity targets in cohorts
Techstars (Global) — Multiple programmes across sectors
Entrepreneur First (London, Singapore, Bangalore) — Pre-team, pre-idea. Good for technical women founders who want a co-founder

The Multiplier: Beyond The Billion

Beyond The Billion is a global consortium of VC funds that invest in women-founded companies.

Check its member list for funds that match your stage and sector.

beyondthebillion.com

Grants and Non-Dilutive Funding for Women Founders in Australia

Before you give up equity, check whether you qualify for these:

NSW Investing in Women Program — State government funding for women-led businesses. Applications typically open annually (check nsw.gov.au)
Boosting Female Founders (federal) — Grants up to $400K for women-founded startups with innovative ideas and growth potential. Check current round status on business.gov.au
R&D Tax Incentive — Not women-specific but critical. Up to 43.5% refundable offset for eligible R&D. Most early-stage tech companies qualify. Talk to a specialist accountant — this is often worth more than a seed cheque

Networks and Communities for Women Founders

Capital is one thing. The right network is often worth more.

SBE Australia — Scale, Bankability and Enterprise programme. Mentoring, board readiness, investment preparation for women founders
Rare Birds — Australian network connecting women entrepreneurs. Events, mentoring, community
Heads Over Heels — Introduces high-growth women founders to corporate leaders who become customers, mentors, and investors
Women in AI Australia — For founders building in AI/ML. Growing community with regular events
Australians Investing in Women (AIIW) — Impact initiative directing philanthropic and investment capital to women and girls

The Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet

Screenshot this. Save it. Send it to a founder who needs it.

Raising under $500K? Start with Golden Seeds, Scale Investors, or Alice Anderson Fund. Layer in an accelerator (Startmate, Antler) for warm intros to institutional capital
Raising $500K-$2M? Lead with Halogen, Chloe Capital, SoGal, or ALIAVIA. Use a term sheet from any of these to create urgency with generalist funds
Raising $3M+? You need a generalist lead (Forerunner, Cowboy, Acrew). Use women-focused fund interest to demonstrate competitive demand
Building in climate or health? Buoyant Ventures and True Wealth Ventures are the two funds specifically built for you
Not sure where to start? Check Beyond The Billion's member list for funds that match your stage and sector

For the full tactical playbook on how to run a two-track fundraising process, read our companion guide: Fundraising as a Woman Founder: A Tactical Guide (Not a Pep Talk).

Your Next Move

Upload your pitch deck to NUVC. Our matching engine cross-references your stage, sector, and thesis against our database of 24,000+ investors — including the women-focused funds listed above. Score 7.0+ and you unlock direct contacts with personalised outreach talking points.

Get matched with women-focused investors — minutes from upload to personalised matches.

Or share this list with a founder who needs it. That's how ecosystems actually work.

Every fund and programme in this article was verified in March 2026. If you spot something that's changed, let us know — we update this list quarterly.

Every Women-Focused Fund, Accelerator & Program in Australia and Beyond (2026)