Inside the Funding Gap: What Every Founder Needs to Know This April

Hi there,

This month, I’ve been thinking a lot about power: who holds it, how it flows, and what it means for women founders building right now.

From the gender imbalance behind Project Europe to the latest VC data in the U.S., it’s clear we’re still navigating a system that wasn’t built with us in mind. But here’s the thing: that’s not where the story ends.

Across Europe and beyond, women are responding with clarity, creativity, and community. They’re building new capital models, rethinking how we grow, and choosing investors who align with their values, not just their valuation.

Inside this month’s issue:

• Project Europe’s diversity blind spot and how women in VC are pushing back
• What February’s U.S. VC funding data means for early-stage founders
• A retreat that’s all about rest, creativity, and connection
• An upcoming session on alternative capital (this one’s important!)
• Plus: grants, tools, events, and a podcast to help you scale smarter

Let’s get into it.

The Diversity Blind Spot Project Europe

There’s been a wave of conversation recently around Project Europe, a new initiative led by Harry Stebbings and backed by over 150 investors across Europe. It’s ambitious in scope and fast-moving. But here’s the issue: very few of those investors are women.

Unfortunately, that’s not shocking. It’s a reflection of how the venture world still works. Projects that start without diverse leadership almost never end up funding diverse teams. In this case, the fund is male-led, backed by mostly male LPs.

And that matters because where capital flows, opportunity follows.

Still, what’s encouraging is how many women in the European investment ecosystem are using this moment to speak up and push for something different.

Sophie Winwood, co-founder and CEO of Unlock VC, shared three clear actions that women investors across Europe are exploring to push for real change:

• Redirecting capital toward women-led collectives like Alma Angels, Sie Ventures, The Evangelistas, and Sigma Squared Society
• Backing women building their own funds — because it’s often easier to start something new than to change something that wasn’t built with you in mind
• Creating new, inclusive structures from scratch — ones designed for equity, not just scale

I’m not an investor (yet!) myself, but I’m paying close attention to how women in Europe are leading these conversations and building what’s next. And founders have a role to play, too in choosing who they raise from, who they partner with, and what kind of ecosystem they want to grow in.

What the Latest US VC Report Tells Us About the State of Funding

The newest numbers are out and while VC deal activity is showing signs of recovery, the rebound isn’t being felt equally.

Here’s what stood out:

• Total U.S. VC funding hit $5.2B in February, up 14% from January
• The number of deals dropped slightly, meaning bigger checks for fewer startups
• Seed-stage funding saw the largest decline, down 28% from this time last year

What does this mean for women founders?

If you’re raising pre-seed or seed, the bar has gotten higher not just for traction, but for storytelling, differentiation, and distribution. But here’s the flip side: capital is still being deployed. There is money out there. The key is knowing who to approach, how to position your raise, and when it might make sense to pursue alternative paths.

Join Me in France this Summer 

The Village by Sengo – June 2025

I’m so excited to join this year’s Village Retreat in the south of France organized by Ila Corcoran. It’s a space for founders, creatives, and women leaders to unplug, reconnect, and realign.

What to expect:

• Small group sessions around purpose, creativity, and clarity
• Workshops, nature, and intentional rest
• Shared meals, good wine, and honest conversation

I’ll be leading a session for founders during the retreat more details soon but if your soul is craving something quieter, this might be your sign.

Spots are limited! Signup here. 

FundHER Collective: Crowdfunding & Community Capital with Ila Corcoran

Ila Corcoran is joining us next as a guest expert in the FundHER Collective. 

On April 15th, she’ll lead a session on crowdfunding and alternative ways to raise capital — perfect if you’re exploring funding beyond traditional VC.

Not every founder fits the traditional VC mold and that’s a good thing.

This session will cover:

• What alternative capital actually looks like (with examples)
• How to start building your own investor community
• Why equity crowdfunding isn’t just a fallback, it’s a strategy

Whether you’re actively fundraising or just exploring your options, this one’s worth joining.

Sign up here.

💰 Funding & Resources for Women Founders

💸 Capital & Tools

• MatchPlay Group — Syndicate that connects founders with right-fit investors
• MyCofoundr — AI fundraising assistant to help organize outreach, messaging, and pipeline
• Founder Dating Playbook — A clear guide for anyone looking for the right co-founder
• Global VC List - Get access to my curated database of VCs, angel investors, and accelerators investing in women founders

🎧 Podcast Pick: C-Suite Strategies by Stacie Sussman If you’re in the growth stage or thinking about how to scale more sustainably, this podcast is worth a listen.

C-Suite Strategies is hosted by Stacie Sussman, CRO of RevUp Advisory, and it’s designed for founders and execs who are building real businesses — the kind with strong systems, smart strategy, and long-term traction. Stacie dives into the nuts and bolts of scaling: aligning sales and marketing, building predictable revenue, and making decisions grounded in data, not guesswork.

The latest episode, “Proven Strategies for Scaling B2B Sales,” is a masterclass in infrastructure. She breaks down what most founders overlook when trying to grow revenue and how to fix it.

It’s sharp, tactical, and founder-friendly, definitely one to queue up this month.

🚀 Upcoming Events for Founders

🌍 Global Founder Events:

• Women in Tech Global Conference: May 20-25, 2025, Virtual 🌍.
• SXSW London: June 2-7, 2025, London 🇬🇧. A dynamic merger of creativity, culture, and technology. Open for applications from musicians, filmmakers, and speakers!
• South Summit Madrid: June 4-6, 2025, Madrid 🇪🇸. A gathering of global innovators, bold entrepreneurs, leading corporations, and visionary investors. Early bird tickets are now available.
• European Women in Technology: June 25-26, 2025, Amsterdam 🇳🇱. Join 5,000+ women in tech, diversity advocates, and changemakers for this leading digital revolution event.

If this month’s theme had a headline, it would be: Same systems, new energy.

Whether it’s a massive European VC initiative or a U.S. funding rebound that’s still leaving many behind, these stories remind us that change isn’t just possible, it’s already happening at the edges.

Founders are rethinking how they raise. Investors are creating new structures from the ground up. And women across the startup ecosystem are stepping into roles of influence, on their own terms.

So wherever you are in your journey — building, raising, growing, or pausing to rest — know this: you don’t have to do it the old way. And you’re not doing it alone.

Until next time,

Sarah