#3: Debunking the elitist image of startup investment – Svenja Lassen
What are the first steps to start-up investment? How much is needed to invest and where does one find startups to invest in? At first glance, the world of venture capital might seem overly complex and accessible only to a certain income bracket. In her work, Svenja Lassen found that while many women were in fact interested in startup investment, many are simply unsure of where and how to start.
Svenja Lassen is managing director of primeCROWD Germany, a venture capital and private equity firm. She aims to increase the number of female founders and impact investments. She launched Female Investors Network (FIN) and initiated Mission #25to25 to increase the percentage of women in the start-up ecosystem to 25% by 2025. Svenja is now organising the FIN-Academy to share investment knowledge with aspiring business angels.
What’s so special about start-up investment?
Start-up investment is more than just making a profit; it's about making a difference. Svenja tells us more about the opportunities that venture capital offers as opposed to other asset classes and offers practical advice on getting started.
The importance of representation – Why we need more female investors
A joint study with Prof. Dr. Alexandra Wuttig found that 68% of women who want to invest are looking for impact and 62% explicitly want to support female founders. Increasing the number of Female Business Angels therefore translates into more money for female founders and impact investments. This in turn promises fundamental shifts in the entire start-up ecosystem where women are notoriously underrepresented and underfunded.
“More female investors would mean more opportunity for female founders.”