This episode features an enlightening discussion with Marcia Dawood, a prominent advocate for women in business and impact investing.

The central theme revolves around the critical need to amplify the voices of women entrepreneurs and address the substantial funding gap they face in securing investments.

Marcia, a seasoned investor and author, shares her compelling insights on how women-led ventures are essential in tackling significant global challenges, including women's health.

Throughout the conversation, we explore the importance of building supportive networks and fostering relationships with potential investors long before seeking funding. As we delve into various strategies for bridging the funding gap, listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of investment in women-led businesses and the vital role they play in shaping a prosperous future.

Takeaways:

• Marcia's journey illustrates the significance of early-stage investment in women-led enterprises and the challenges they face in securing funding.
• Listeners are encouraged to build relationships with potential investors long before seeking funding to enhance their chances of success.
• The discussion highlights the biases women face in securing investment and the need for more women in decision-making roles in finance.
• The episode underlines the diversity of women-led initiatives, particularly in healthcare, which have historically received insufficient funding.
• Marcia shares effective strategies for women founders to bridge funding gaps, including crowdfunding and developing investor relationships.

Chapters:

02:56 The Journey to Advocacy in Impact Investing

15:40 Building Relationships for Funding: A Crucial Strategy for Women Founders

18:23 Funding Strategies for Entrepreneurs

29:20 Understanding Equity Crowdfunding vs. Angel Investing

34:59 The Importance of Education in Angel Investing

40:05 Investing in Women's Health: The Joy Lux Story

Burning Questions Answered:

1.Why do women still receive only ~2% of venture capital funding—and what can we do to change that?

2.How can women founders bridge the funding gap, especially without friends-and-family capital?

3.Do you need to be wealthy to become an angel investor?

4.What are the different paths to investing in women-led startups—angel, venture, or crowdfunding?

5.How can aligning with values-aligned investors early unlock success for founders?

Favorite Quotes:

"Investing isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s for anyone ready to make a difference.” - Marcia

“Urgency doesn’t come from pressure tactics. It comes from truth.” - Marcia

Closing Thoughts:

This conversation is a must-listen for any woman founder who’s fundraising—or thinking about it. Marsha breaks down the myths of investing (no, you don’t need to be a millionaire), shares actionable paths to raise capital creatively (hello, crowdfunding and debt platforms), and highlights how crucial early investor alignment is. Whether you're on the founder side or investor side, this episode will reframe what’s possible—and invite you to be part of the change.

Offers & Contact Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciadawood/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marciadawood/

Website: www.marciadawood.com

TedX Talk: