Women as Business Angels: The key to sustainable investments!

Women as Business Angels: The key to sustainable investments!

In the area of ​​corporate financing, female business angels are becoming increasingly important. Conny Hörl, entrepreneur and business angel, highlights that six years ago the proportion of women in this role was only 8%. In today's world, however, it is important for women to present themselves more confidently in a male-dominated scene and to invest their capital in promising start-ups. Men often tend to appear more confident, while women often question themselves.

Hörl argues that supporting a start-up doesn't require a financial professional; Rather, contacts, expertise and life experience are crucial. Creative, artistic training can be beneficial when pitching ideas. These changes come amid a report from EY that says 87% of invested capital is going to companies with all-male founding teams.

New approaches and changes

The entrepreneur believes that women can have a significant impact on the industry as they are more inclined to think more sustainably and be more risk-aware. A McKinsey report also shows that female investors value social and ecological added value in their investments. At the same time, Hörl identifies numerous solutions to current challenges in the areas of environment, climate and medicine, which, however, require additional capital and support.

The risk associated with investing in start-ups should not be underestimated, which is why Hörl carefully evaluates the team and the idea before each investment. Your own investments are not geared towards retirement planning; Rather, she is interested in what she can achieve with her money. On May 15, 2025, she will appear as a keynote speaker at the “Success Soirée” event at Club Balboa in Salzburg.

Research on female investors

As part of a study by the encourageventures e.V. association on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation, the behavior of female business angels was examined in more detail. The study was based on in-depth interviews with 30 investors, including 20 experienced and 10 newbies, as well as an online survey of 84 participants. It was found that 50% of new investors and 40% of experienced investors prefer a female founding team or a female target group for the start-up.

• 40 % der Business Angels investieren nicht in Einzelpersonen.
• 30 % betrachten fehlende Diversität im Gründungsteam als Ausschlusskriterium.
• 80 % der Neuinvestorinnen haben eine persönliche Verbindung oder Expertise zu den Start-ups, in die sie investieren.
• 65 % der erfahrenen Investorinnen und 30 % der Neuinvestorinnen betrachten Rendite als wichtigstes Motiv für ihre Investments.

Female business angels often focus on industries that appeal to female audiences and are often overlooked by male colleagues. While return is considered a necessary but not always sufficient motive for investing, investors' motives are more complex and go beyond financial returns. This could give the start-up scene a breath of fresh air in the future.