Naschitz Brandes Amir hosted a meetup titled “Empower and Invest: Unleashing Potential through Gender Lens Investing” on August 7, 2023, in collaboration with the Israeli Forum for Impact Economy (IFIE) and impact.51.
The event brought together prominent voices in the fields of technology, finance, and women's empowerment to shed light on the transformative power of gender lens investing. Vanessa Kacherginsky, CEO of IFIE, set the stage by providing an overview of the current landscape of women in the tech industry and investments in women-led initiatives. Noga Devecseri Spira, Co-head of Hi-Tech Practice at the firm, ignited intellectual sparks by elaborating on the concept of Gender Lens Investing. Elah Alkalay, Head of Corporate Responsibility at IBI Investment House and IFIE Board Member, underscored the significance of gender lens investing and its potential to drive change. Michal Shalem, Co-founder and CEO of impact.51, emphasized the importance of nurturing women-led initiatives in the health sector as she presented the organization's innovative model for accelerating women's health innovation.
A fireside chat moderated by Michal Lebenthal Andreson, Co-founder and CEO of impact.51, delved into how investing with a gender lens can foster women's entrepreneurship and create a lasting impact. Topics ranged from considering gender lens investing as a form of impact investing to exploring the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and the role of investors in driving paradigm shifts.
The speakers shared their invaluable insights:
- Iyore N. Olaye, an award-winning technology executive, investor, world-renowned speaker and philanthropist, and Co-CEO & Managing Partner of Covered by Group (CBG), presented an interesting perspective on how women are often encouraged to seek impact investments. She elaborated that while this approach may offer networking opportunities within the impact sphere, it can pose challenges when women seek traditional investor funding later on. Olaye emphasized the importance of women having access to diverse forms of capital, and she indicated that starting with an impact investor is acceptable, provided it's complemented by sustained investment from traditional sources.
- Iredia Olaye, an executive, scientist, and philanthropist, currently serving as the Co-CEO & Managing Partner of Covered By Group, emphasized the importance of integrating gender-lens investments throughout the portfolio of funds or investors, rather than treating it as a separate and niche endeavor. She proposed that this approach to investing demands a holistic perspective on key performance indicators (KPIs), extending well beyond mere profit margins.
- Victor Mochkofsky, an entrepreneur, speaker, facilitator, and professor specializing in innovation, sustainability, new economies, and regeneration, highlighted the significance of establishing environments that foster connections between entrepreneurs and investors, reshaping perspectives on the global landscape. He underscored that effecting change requires inclusive participation, emphasizing the importance of engaging everyone in the process.
The meetup emphasized the role of gender lens investing in promoting equity among entrepreneurs. Investors find reassurance when their peers invest alongside them or in similar domains. The investment landscape can often be exclusive, underscoring the need for female entrepreneurs and investors need to create a supportive network, sharing information, success stories, and opportunities. Collaborative efforts hold the potential to transform the entire field.