Loula, a Y Combinator-backed startup, has officially launched with a mission to expand access to doula care by helping providers accept health insurance. The software platform and national doula network also manages credentialing, contracting, and billing, streamlining operations so doulas can focus on patient care. Since its launch in February, the company has expanded from 30 to 135 doulas, served 400 families, and facilitated over 2,000 doula visits. It is experiencing growth of over 50% month-over-month, according to its founder, Lindsey Redd. Supporting Doulas Doulas are trained professionals who give
The British Business Bank (BBB), the UK Government’s economic development bank, has announced a new £500 million ($674 million) economic package to back diverse and emerging fund managers. The initiative aims to address the significant gap in venture capital investment for underrepresented founders and investors, which is often attributed to industry biases, closed networks, and limited diversity among investors. Investing in women-led funds Investing in female and ethnic minority-led businesses could add 13% to the value of the UK equity market, according to the 2025 The Investing in Women Code report. Additionally,
Aruwa Capital Management, a Nigerian investment firm, has raised $35 million towards its $40 million target for its second fund. The firm is set to reach its final close of $50 million, with a hard cap of $60 million within the year. The total fund exceeds Aruawa Capital’s first fund, which closed in 2022 at just over $20 million. The second fund includes new and returning investors such as the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund (MFAGF), Visa Foundation, global family offices and HNIs, and new LPs such as the Bank
Ulu Ventures, reportedly the largest Latina-led fund in the US, has raised $208 million for its fourth fund. The fund supports seed-stage tech startups in the US using an inclusive, data-based approach that seeks to limit cognitive bias without shutting out any demographic group. This strategy has led to a more diverse portfolio than traditional venture investments. “Ulu is a beacon for the most talented entrepreneurial teams because we reduce bias by applying impartial methods of assessing risk and the same criteria to all people,” CEO, Co-founder, and Managing Director
Funding for female-led and female-founded ventures in Africa reached a five-year low in 2024, ‘Africa: The Big Deal’ reported. A five year low for Women-led ventures These figures are the lowest they’ve been since 2019, as female CEOs received only $48 million in funding in 2024. That number is four times less than in 2023. In contrast, $2.2 billion went to their male peers in 2024. Additionally, female CEOs only received 2% of the total invested last year. Funding for gender-diverse teams was slightly better as they received $123 million in
BBG Ventures, the New York-based venture capital firm known for supporting female founders, has raised a new $60 million fund. Co-founders Susan Lyne and Nisha Dua, who launched BBG Ventures in 2014 with a vision of investing in women-led startups, announced that the fund’s focus now includes founders from diverse backgrounds across race, income, and age. Meeting Market Needs in a Challenging Economy Amid a significant decline in venture funding for underrepresented groups, BBG Ventures’ decision to diversify its founder support comes at a critical time. In the first half
Ovom Care, a pioneering German startup in the fertility sector, recently closed €4.8 million ($5.1 million) in seed funding to expand its services across Europe, according to Tech Funding News. Led by an all-female founding team, Ovom Care is at the forefront of integrating empathetic reproductive healthcare by using a combination of generative AI and computer vision. This investment round, led by Alpha Intelligence Capital and supported by Ananda Impact Ventures and Merantix, makes the company’s total funding €6.1 million ($6.5 million). The startup is set to open its first clinic in Portugal by late 2024,
