Melinda French Gates Invests $2 Billion in Women-led Funds

Melinda French Gates has committed $2 billion through her family office, Pivotal Ventures, to enhance women's rights and economic mobility, emphasizing the potential for profitable investments in women-led initiatives. This commitment comes amid a broader trend where family offices are increasingly engaging in impact investing, countering a general withdrawal by traditional asset managers. Concurrently, an investment roundtable hosted by Spurt! and the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub will take place on International Women’s Day 2025, aiming to address the funding challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and promote gender inclusion in investment. The summit will launch the Women in Investment Working Group, targeting increased funding flows to women-led enterprises in Africa, which currently receive less than 5% of total venture funding. Additionally, the ongoing Women in Investment Awards aim to celebrate and promote diversity within the investment sector, further driving discussions around improving gender equity in finance. These events collectively reflect a growing commitment to fostering an inclusive investment ecosystem that prioritizes women's leadership and participation.