--- title: "Female Founders in Emerging Markets: Fundraising Challenges & Opportunities" url: https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/female-founders-emerging-markets-fundraising-challenges-opportunities/ --- 1. [HOME](/) 2. [RESOURCES](/content-hub/) 3. [SEEDSTARS LIFE](/content-hub/life/) 4. FEMALE FOUNDERS IN EMERGING MARKETS: FUNDRAISING CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES GLOBAL • SEEDSTARS INVESTMENTS ## Female Founders in Emerging Markets: Fundraising Challenges & Opportunities Seedstars Global MARCH 22, 2022 Access to funding is one of the crucial challenges women face when entering the world of business. Multiple reports show that only around 11% of seed capital in emerging markets goes to companies with a woman in their funding team and female business owners receive on average USD 1 million less than their male counterparts. Gender equality in all areas is one of the crucial steps in achieving a peaceful society and developing full human potential. In honor of International Women’s Month, Seedstars International Ventures organized a panel discussion with [Nataly Yousef](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAB_NwL4BL0YbshYzvEuza40kLLDZE9Kye5Y), Investment Manager at Seedstars who talked with two female founders from the Seedstars Portfolio. [Simona Agolini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAAL0XEBAdsnK13ksoBQ8YtY_6k-arJFYS4), co-founder of [QiDZ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/qidz/)(complete female led venture), and[Yasaman Rajaee](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAABpweV0BD4pTuN0esshWe56TQvEPmJAEkdA) , co-founder of [Maneki](https://www.linkedin.com/company/manekiai/) (co-female led), shared how they overcame fundraising challenges and are now running successful businesses. Nataly has also shared her knowledge from an investor’s perspective. VIDEO GLOBAL INVESTMENT GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT ## More like this [ ![Why Women in Entrepreneurship Isn’t Just a Catchphrase](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/women-empowerment-thumbnail.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER Why Women in Entrepreneurship Isn’t Just a Catchphrase We believe that gender equality shouldn’t just be a buzzword pulled out in March. Find out who this year's winner of the Women Entrepreneur Prize is. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/why-women-in-entrepreneurship-isnt-just-a-catchphrase/) [ ![Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Africa](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/africa_thumbnail.max-320x550.png) AFRICA • OTHER Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Africa Watch now an amazing panel discussion on Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Africa. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/women-empowerment-and-gender-equality-africa/) [ ![Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Asia](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/asia_thumbnail.max-320x550.png) ASIA • OTHER Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Asia Learn more about Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Asia. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/women-empowerment-and-gender-equality-asia/) [ ![Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Latin America](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/latam-thumbnail.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • OTHER Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Latin America Watch now an amazing panel discussion in Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Latin America. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/women-empowerment-and-entrepreneurship-latin-america/) [ ![None](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/women-entrepreneurs.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER The Benefits of Developing Women Entrepreneurship With this report, Seedstars aims to encourage other organizations to develop support ecosystems and invest in women entrepreneurship. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/insights/benefits-developing-women-entrepreneurship/) [ ![Women's Participation in the Asian Economies](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Asian_Economies.max-320x550.jpg) ASIA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER Increasing Women's Participation in the Asian Economies According to ILO publication Transformation of women at work in Asia, Asia is the only region where female labor force involvement rates have been decreasing or remained unchanged even before the global pandemic. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/increasing-womens-participation-asian-economies/) [ ![Seedstars celebrating International Women’s Day](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/International_Womens_Day.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER An equal world is an enabled world. Seedstars celebrating International Women’s Day “An equal world is an enabled world” - this is the slogan of this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/an-equal-world-is-an-enabled-world-seedstars-celebrating-international-womens-day/) [ ![Women in Africa](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Women_in_Africa_Launches_the_4th_Edition_o.max-320x550.png) AFRICA • EDUCATION & CONSULTING Women in Africa Launches the 4th Edition of the WIA 54 Program For the 4th consecutive year, African women entrepreneurs can apply to the WIA 54 program. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/women-africa-launches-4th-edition-wia-54-program/) ## Women Empowerment [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Female Founders in Emerging Markets: Fundraising Challenges & Opportunities In honor of International Women’s Month, Seedstars organized a panel discussion where founders share how they overcame fundraising challenges __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/female-founders-emerging-markets-fundraising-challenges-opportunities/) [ GLOBAL • OTHER Why Women in Entrepreneurship Isn’t Just a Catchphrase We believe that gender equality shouldn’t just be a buzzword pulled out in March. Find out who this year's winner of the Women Entrepreneur Prize is. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/why-women-in-entrepreneurship-isnt-just-a-catchphrase/) [ AFRICA • OTHER Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Africa Watch now an amazing panel discussion on Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Africa. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/women-empowerment-and-gender-equality-africa/) [ ASIA • OTHER Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Asia Learn more about Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Asia. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/women-empowerment-and-gender-equality-asia/) [ LATIN AMERICA • OTHER Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Latin America Watch now an amazing panel discussion in Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Latin America. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/women-empowerment-and-entrepreneurship-latin-america/) [ ASIA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER Increasing Women's Participation in the Asian Economies According to ILO publication Transformation of women at work in Asia, Asia is the only region where female labor force involvement rates have been decreasing or remained unchanged even before the global pandemic. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/increasing-womens-participation-asian-economies/) ## Investment [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Learning & Achievements Seedstars International Ventures Fund 2: One year since launch One year since the launch of Seedstars International Ventures II, let's check some key learnings we’ve picked up along the way. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/learning-achievements-seedstars-international-ventures/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Sustainability over Hacks: How Embracing Growth Partners Can Spark a Startup's Journey Regardless of the industry, business model, geography, or team, all startups have one thing in common: they want to grow fast. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/sustainability-over-hacks-how-embracing-growth-partners-can-spark-startups-journey/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Emerging Venture Capital Fund Managers in Emerging Markets: Unveiling Key Insights From our own data After reviewing decks and speaking with amazing fund managers, we have crunched the numbers to give you a look and feel of these emerging managers. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/emerging-venture-capital-fund-managers-emerging-markets-unveiling-key-insights-our-own-data/) [ AFRICA • INVESTMENT Raising pre-seed and seed capital in Sub-Saharan Africa Raising pre-seed and seed capital in Sub-Saharan Africa. Today, most VC funding (approx. 83%) goes to the Big Four: Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya & South Africa __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/raising-pre-seed-and-seed-capital-sub-saharan-africa/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Female Founders in Emerging Markets: Fundraising Challenges & Opportunities In honor of International Women’s Month, Seedstars organized a panel discussion where founders share how they overcame fundraising challenges __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/female-founders-emerging-markets-fundraising-challenges-opportunities/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Capital is a commodity. Knowing what to do with it is not. Some capital will flow faster than others and investment terms must be considered, but assuming all things are equal, the real value lies beyond the capital. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/capital-commodity-knowing-what-do-it-not/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Seedstars International Ventures Adds Six New Companies To Portfolio Seedstars International Ventures now has 80 companies in it’s portfolio. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/seedstars-international-ventures-adds-six-new-companies-portfolio/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Investing beyond capital with Seedstars International Ventures On top of capital Seedstars portfolio companies get access our Value Creation Platform where they get support in a variety of ways in order to grow sustainably __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/investing-beyond-capital-seedstars-international-ventures/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Future of Finance: Financial inclusion is not the end of the line The last two decades saw billions of dollars invested in financial inclusion which has led to a rise in the percentage of banked adults in developing economies. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/future-finance-financial-inclusion-not-end-line/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Newest Additions to the Seedstars Portfolio Our team has once again selected 8 of the most promising ventures to join the Seedstars Portfolio and to participate in our Growth Program. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/newest-additions-seedstars-portfolio/) [ GLOBAL • FINANCIAL SERVICES How Diversification Helped Switzerland During the Pandemic Switzerland has one of the most stable and prosperous economies in the world. Their diverse partnerships helped them out during the pandemic as well. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/how-diversification-helped-switzerland-during-pandemic/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT What does startup growth mean and how do you achieve it? 8 game-changing tips from Seedstars growth mentors When lighting a fire in a windy setting, one should always start small, get close to the flames and be attentive. Throwing wood too early or not paying attention to it will only result in going back to square one. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/what-does-startup-growth-mean-and-how-do-you-achieve-it-8-game-changing-tips-seedstars-growth-mentors/) [ CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • INVESTMENT How to support impact investment in CEE and what chess to do with it | Olena Boytsun Olena leads Luminate's funding activities in Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Georgia, and the Baltics. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/how-t-support-impact-investment-in-cee/) [ GLOBAL • FINANCIAL SERVICES How to Raise $1.2m in Funding (Mesfix Case) As Mesfix raised its latest round of $1.2million, Seedstars wanted to get back in touch with Felipe Tascon, co-founder and CEO of Mesfix, and get the inside scoop! __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/how-raise-12m-funding-mesfix-case/) [ AFRICA • INVESTMENT What’s Your Why: Salum Awadh What kind of startups, Salum, CEO of SSC Capital from Tanzania, is looking as an investor and entrepreneur? __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/whats-your-why-salum-awadh/) [ MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • INVESTMENT How Kenza Traveled the World to Find Her Calling and Started an African VC Fund | Kenza Lahlou Kenza was born in Morocco, but has quite a rich international experience: from France and Singapore, all the way to the USA. At some point, she found her calling and decided to go back to her home country. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/how-kenza-traveled-world-find-her-calling-and-started-african-vc-fund-kenza-lahlou/) [ CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • INVESTMENT Winning Marathons and Advising Billionaire Impact Investors | Tenke Zoltani From a Hungarian refugee family who emigrated to the United States, Tenke Zoltani is running fast as part of the Hungarian national running team. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/winning-marathons-and-advising-billionaire-impact-investors-tenke-zoltani/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Fundraising Strategy for an Early-Stage Startup From A to Z The article is based on the training we provide for startups during the Growth Programs . __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/learning-resources/fundraising-strategy-early-stage-startup-z/) [ AFRICA • FINANCIAL SERVICES Future bright as african tech startup funding grows Africa has long lagged behind the rest of the world when it comes to investment, even in the continent’s most exciting tech areas. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/future-bright-african-tech-startup-funding-grows/) [ CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • INVESTMENT "The Goal Is to 'Cure' a Slightly Sick Investment Fund Sector," Bas Godska What does it take to be an investor? How venture capitalists choose companies and make their investment decisions? To get answers to these questions, we interviewed one of the most recognized investors in Eastern Europe — Bas Godska,. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/goal-cure-slightly-sick-investment-fund-sector-bas-godska/) [ GLOBAL • INVESTMENT "To Become a Successful Angel Investor, I Believe the Trick Is Not to Be Independent", - Joseph de Leon How investors are born and where to find them? What to ask when you meet one and what they are looking for in your startup? __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/become-successful-angel-investor-i-believe-trick-not-be-independent-joseph-de-leon/) [ LATIN AMERICA • FINANCIAL SERVICES RedCapital: Fostering Growth of Small Businesses in Latam Through Crowdlending RedCapital is a leading crowdlending platform for small business loans in Chile and Peru. Lenders obtain attractive returns while small and medium businesses get loans or invoice discounting at a fair rate. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/redcapital-fostering-growth-small-businesses-latam-through-crowdlending/) [ MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • INVESTMENT MENA exit valuations hit 3B USD MAGNiTT’s latest research reveals 60 startup exits across the MENA region over the last 5 years aggregating to over $3BN in exit valuations. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/mena-exit-valuations-hit-3b-usd/) [ GLOBAL • FINANCIAL SERVICES The future is in emerging markets Emerging markets are centres of innovation. Nigeria, Colombia, and Indonesia are no longer symbols of corruption, drug wars, or overpopulation, but actual incubators of talented entrepreneurs. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/future-emerging-markets/) --- ## Sitemap - [Sitemap](https://www.seedstars.com/sitemap.md): every public page on this site - [llms.txt](https://www.seedstars.com/llms.txt): what Seedstars does and where to start