The Invest in Women Taskforce has surpassed its fundraising ambitions in a major boost for female entrepreneurship, announcing that it has now convened £635 million in commitments, more than double its original £250 million target set at launch in 2024.
The milestone includes confirmation that Nationwide and the British Business Bank will join Barclays and M&G as anchor partners in the targeted £130 million first close of the groundbreaking Women backing Women Fund of Funds, subject to final terms and approvals.
The fund, managed by Bootstrap4F and believed to be the largest female-led fund of funds in the world, represents the first initiative of its kind in the UK dedicated to deploying capital directly into female-founded companies and gender-balanced VC teams.
The Taskforce’s first Annual Report, published today, reveals that more than £70 million was deployed in 2025 across 15 founders and funds, with a strong pipeline now emerging as momentum accelerates. The funding pool has become the largest coordinated effort globally to reshape the investment landscape for female entrepreneurs.
A sector still facing a deep investment gap
Despite the rapid progress, female founders continue to face stark funding disparities. Research by Beauhurst and the Taskforce shows that fully female-founded businesses receive just 2% of UK equity investment. At the current rate of change, the Taskforce estimates it will take at least a decade to reach funding parity between all-male teams and female or mixed teams.
The House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee recently echoed this call for urgent action, urging the government and industry to invest more decisively in female entrepreneurship.
Government backing and economic case
Speaking ahead of a Downing Street reception to mark the launch of the Annual Report, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said supporting female entrepreneurs was central to the government’s economic agenda.
“Growth is this Government’s number one mission, and I am backing female-powered business not only because it’s critical for our economy but because it is the right thing to do,” she said.
“As the first female Chancellor, I am committed to improving economic outcomes for women, from lifting the two-child cap to breaking down barriers that stop women from starting, scaling and investing in British businesses.”
‘A commercial imperative, not just a moral one’
Hannah Bernard, Barclays executive and Taskforce co-chair, emphasised the economic potential of backing women-led businesses.
“Female-led businesses deliver 35% higher returns than male-led businesses,” she said. “This is not only the right thing to do, it is a commercial imperative. We must urgently rebalance investment committees and capital deployment.”
Debbie Wosskow OBE, entrepreneur and co-chair of the Taskforce, said the fund’s progress should serve as a wake-up call to the wider VC industry.
“Reaching first close will be a huge milestone. We’ve worked tirelessly to build the world’s largest funding pool for women, but about 80% of UK venture capital still goes to all-male teams,” she said. “The evidence is clear: diverse teams deliver stronger returns. So what are we waiting for?”
The Taskforce continues to call on institutional investors, pension funds and corporates to join the initiative and help close the UK’s persistent gender funding gap.
