FIP 54: Gender-lens Investing with Shloka Nath

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• Why Shloka and her business partner decided to setup a women’s impact fund that addressed the needs of women, what research she did and with who.
• We find out what’s behind the name Sankhya Women’s Fund and the ancient Indian philosophy it refers to.
• Why women make wonderful investors, especially for impact focused companies that require patient capital.
• We elaborate on the meaning of gender lens investing more broadly, because it’s a growing trend in the investment space.
• We discuss what sort of evidence is available that indicates improved performance of companies and investment portfolios that take a gender-positive approach.
• We discuss what businesses can do to stand out more to gender lens investors, and how to ensure their company is a good fit for these kinds of funds.
• We hear what barriers they faced with setting up their fund.
• We hear what advice Shloka gives to women-impact businesses seeking capital for their business or investors wanting to deploy their capital in this way.

• “Out of one lens see the participation, needs and realities of women and the other you see the  participation, needs and realities of men and your vision is optimum only when you have the combination of the two.”

• Goldman Sachs, World Bank Launch $600 Million Fund for Women Entrepreneurs
• Calvert Foundation – Women Investing in Women (WIN-WIN)
• Toniic – Women of Impact
• Go Beyond – Early Stage Investing
• Gender Lens Investing Resources – Criterium institute
• Elevate Network – Invest in Women
• Women Donors Network
• 2020 Women on Boards
• Catalyst – Workplaces that Work for Women
• Golden Seeds – Investing in Women Led Businesses
• 37angels – a community of women investors
• Women’s Venture Capital Fund
• Pipeline Fund

• Shloka on LinkedIn