💸 Inspired Capital Launches $330M Third Fund
FemWealth Issue #149
Hi FemWealth Friends,
In today’s edition: Alexa von Tobel and Penny Pritzker’s Inspired Capital launched its third fund with $330M in capital commitments; Kristen Valdes’ b.well Connected Health secured $40M in Series C; Clémence Lejeune and Jeanne Theuret’s Sorella raised €5M in Seed funding to provide hybrid health clinics for women; and more in women-led startups and VC.
Get in touch at femwealth@substack.com.
In the Spotlight 💸
Co-founded and led by Alexa von Tobel and Penny Pritzker, Inspired Capital, a New York-based early-stage venture firm launched its third fund with $330 million in capital commitments. The firm’s total assets under management are ~ $900 million.
“We look for founders who are fearless, reject the status quo and believe the world deserves better. Entrepreneurs who want to do things that matter know that we are here, and ready and waiting to be their partners and their teammates. In some ways, it’s like going back to the studs of what venture really is.” - Alexa von Tobel, Founder and Managing Partner at Inspired Capital
Inspired Capital leads Pre-Seed to Series A rounds in companies across AI transformation, healthcare, fintech, and more. The ticket sizes range between $1 million and $15 million.
The firm’s portfolio has 50 companies, including proptech startup Habi (valued at over $1 billion) and employee ownership company Teamshares.
Lucy Deland is also a General Partner at the firm.
Read more: Inspired Capital secures $330M fund to take venture capital ‘back to the studs’
FemWealth Favourites ❤️
Startups: b.well Connected Health raises $40M to scale platform unifying patient data - Founded and led by Kristen Valdes, US-based b.well Connected Health provides a platform that unifies patient data. It secured $40 million in Series C funding. Leavitt Equity Partners led the round.
29-year-old self-made millionaire Lucy Guo follows up her unicorn Scale AI with a $40 million Series A for new creator economy venture, Passes (Fortune $) - Founded and led by Lucy Guo, Passes is an LA-based creator platform for “super fans”. It raised $40 million in a Series A funding round led by Bond, and joined by Abstract Ventures, Michael Ovitz’s Crossbeam Ventures, and SKIMS co-founders Emma and Jens Grede.
Rec emerges from stealth to modernize Parks & Rec management and booking - Co-founded by Rachel Williams, Rec aims to improve the local recreation experience. The US startup announced $6.2 million in early funding from NFX, Precursor Ventures, Long Journey Ventures, and angel investors from Uber, Google, The Athletic, and more.
UK-based Sitehop secures £5m seed funding to revolutionise cybersecurity - Co-founded and led by Melissa Chambers, Sitehop develops encryption hardware for telecommunication networks. It secured £5 million in Seed funding. Amadeus Capital Partners and Manta Ray Ventures led the round, with additional support from Mercia Ventures, and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
Sorella Raises €5M to Establish Its Hybrid Women’s Health Care Model in France - Co-founded by Clémence Lejeune (CEO) and Jeanne Theuret (COO), Sorella, a Paris-based startup providing hybrid health clinics for women, raised €5 million in Seed funding. Blisce led the round, joined by Vorwerk Ventures and angel investors.
Sway Launches Seaweed Pellets to Replace Single-Use Plastics at Scale, Following $5M Funding Round - Co-founded and led by Julia Marsh, Sway is a cleantech startup creating biodegradable, seaweed-based alternatives to plastic, starting with flexible packaging. The US startup raised a $5 million Seed round led by Third Nature Investments. The Helm, Alante Capital, BAM Ventures, Superorganism, and other investors also joined.
The Race to Build the Best Generative-AI Platform for Fashion Design (Business of Fashion $) - Founded and led by Cheryl Liu, Raspberry AI enables fashion brands and retailers to understand consumer demand and create unique designs. The New York-based startup raised $4.5 million in Seed funding co-led by Greycroft and Khosla Ventures.
FamilyWell Health Secures $4.3M Seed Funding to Advance Maternal Mental Health Care - Founded and led by Dr. Jessica Gaulton, FamilyWell is a tech-enabled behavioral health company that integrates mental health services directly into obstetric practices to support families through pregnancy and early parenthood. The US startup raised a $4.3 million Seed round led by 406 Ventures, with additional support from GreyMatter Capital, and Mother Ventures.
“I had difficulty finding support when I experienced postpartum depression and have cared for countless new moms struggling to access mental health care during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. My experience, both as a survivor and as a practicing neonatologist, inspired me to start FamilyWell to provide equitable, affordable, and accessible mental healthcare for new mothers.” - Dr. Jessica Gaulton, Founder and CEO of FamilyWell
Former Twitter engineers are building Particle, an AI-powered news reader - Co-founded by Sara Beykpour, Particle.news offers a personalized, “multi-perspective” news reading experience that leverages AI to summarize the news, while also aiming to compensate authors and publishers. The US startup raised $4.4 million in Seed funding from Kindred Ventures, Adverb Ventures, and angel investors.
AI medical testing spinout Adsilico raises £3.5m - Co-founded and led by Sheena Macpherson, Adsilico aims to redefine medical device innovation with virtual populations and in silico trials. The Leeds, UK-based startup raised £3.5 million in Seed funding from Northern Gritstone and Parkwalk Advisors.
London-based Vitrue Health raises €3.7 million to digitally tackle neck and back pain at work - Co-founded by Alex (Batishcheva) Haslehurst (CTO), Vitrue Health is a digital musculoskeletal (MSK) health platform for workplaces. The London-based startup raised €3.7 million in a funding round co-led by MMC Ventures and Hambro Perks, with participation from Simplyhealth Ventures and Crista Galli Ventures.
Tuned raises $3.2M to scale hearing health benefits (Axios Pro $) - Co-founded by Kate McGinley, Tuned is an employer-focused hearing care platform. The US startup raised a $3.2 million Seed extension round led by Unum Group with participation from Distributed Ventures.
Ema App Raises Nearly $2M in Funding for Its Conversational AI for Women’s Health - Co-founded by Amanda Ducach (CEO) and Karishma Patel (CXO), Ema offers an AI platform that aims to transform women’s health and wellness. The US startup secured a $2 million bridge round of funding from Kubera Ventures, Victorum Capital, and previous investors Hearst Labs, Wormhole Capital, Acumen America, and Techstars.
PawCo raises $2M for plant-based dog food (Axios Pro $) - Founded and led by Mahsa Vazin, PhD, PawCo Foods is a plant-based pet food brand. It raised $2 million in Seed funding led by Elevate Ventures.
Samplico secures $1.8M in funding to advance global expansion - Co-founded and led by Duygu Özgün, Samplico is a UK and Turkey-based consumer experience and insight platform. It raised $1.8 million in a bridge to Series A funding round, led by Eksim Ventures with support from APY Ventures, Arya VC, and Maxis Innovative Venture Capital Investment Fund.
Moonhub secures $1.4M investment for VR interactive training platform - Co-founded by Hannah Sutcliffe, Moonhub offers a VR interactive training platform. The London-based startup secured $1.4 million in funding from Unconventional Ventures, Pi Labs, and Ada Ventures.
Yendou: The Salesforce for life sciences R&D teams, secures $1.3M in pre-seed round - Co-founded and led by Zina Sarif, Berlin-based Yendou raised $1.3 million in Pre-Seed funding to scale its clinical operations automation platform for pharma and biotech companies. b2venture led the round, with participation from Heartfelt, Infinita Fund, and angel investors.
Syrenna’s WaterDrone is the ocean-monitoring ‘underwater weather station’ of the future - Co-founded by Ester Strømmen (CEO) and Becky Wightman (COO), Syrenna is on a mission to provide underwater intelligence. The Oslo-based startup raised over $1 million in private and public investments.
Roga Life Secures Pre-Seed Financing - Co-founded by Alison Smith Ph.D. (CSO), Roga is developing a wearable device designed to reduce anxiety. The Canada and US-based startup raised $1 million in Pre-Seed from Exceptional Ventures, Minded Ventures, and the Angelist Fund.
Former Snap design lead debuts Shader, an AR creation tool that uses AI to generate custom effects - Founded and led by Darya Sesitskaya, Shader provides a no-code AR creation tool that generates custom effects, 2D masks and lenses in minutes. The US startup raised $580,000 from Betaworks, Greycroft, Differential Ventures, Mozilla Ventures, and On Deck.
FAMS Raises $400K in Pre-Seed Funding to Support Parenting with AI-Assisted App - Co-founded by Helene Malyutina (CEO) and Darya Kolkovskaya (COO), FAMS is an app designed as a supportive copilot for parents. It raised $400,000 in a Pre-Seed funding round led by SMOK Ventures and joined by angel investors.
VC: Black Tech Nation Ventures’ diversity thesis undeterred by growing DEI backlash - Co-founded by Kelauni Jasmyn, US-based Black Tech Nation Ventures raised the first $50 million for its debut fund to back Pre-Seed and Seed-stage software startups led by founders that are Black, women or members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Alphabet, First National Bank, and billionaire Mark Cuban are among the firm’s LPs.
Co-founded Ayo Omojola (co-founder of NYC Beach Bus and Snow Bus), US VC Refract Ventures secured around $10 million for its $30 million-targeted debut fund. (per an SEC filing | via Axios Pro $)
ORI Capital Collects $260 Million for Second Life-Sciences Venture Fund (WSJ Pro $) - Founded by Simone Song, ORI Capital, a global life-sciences venture firm, raised a $260 million second fund.
How Thailand’s 2004 tsunami inspired one VC to raise a $50 million fund to invest in sustainability (Fortune $) - Features solo GP Sita Chantramonklasri, founder of Siam Capital
Madeline Darcy May Be The New Kind Of Investor Healthcare Consumers Need - Features Madeline Darcy, Managing Partner at Kaya Ventures
Inspirational Quote ✨
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
— Maya Angelou, African American poet, storyteller, activist, and autobiographer
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Submit a deal, share news tips and feedback, and tell me how I can help you at femwealth@substack.com.
Until next Sunday,
Anamaria
Founder & Writer of FemWealth