FAQ´s
How and when was WA4STEAM founded?
WA4STEAM was established in 2018 as an international association of women Business Angels with the dual objective of increasing the number of female entrepreneurs in STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Architecture and Maths) and boosting the number of women investors in the early stages of the business lifecycle.
We believe that one of the reasons why there are fewer female entrepreneurs is the difficulty they face in accessing funding, and WA4STEAM is created to facilitate that access.
Our ultimate goal is to increase the number of female role models in STEAM areas so that future generations value these areas and entrepreneurship as a career option.
What sets WA4STEAM apart from other business angel associations?
Our association is unique within the Business Angels ecosystem for several reasons.
We are the only association comprised solely of women investors, investing exclusively in projects co-founded by women, with a specific investment focus on the STEAM area.
WA4STEAM members, in addition to providing seed capital, offer all their experience and network of contacts to entrepreneurs selflessly, aiming not only for investment profitability but also to become strategic partners supporting companies and their founders throughout the entire process until they move to the next growth phase.
Where do you have a presence?
WA4STEAM is currently present in 9 countries in Europe – Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium, and Portugal , in the Americas – the USA and Argentina – and in the Middle East – Jordan and Dubai.
Can the association be considered an investment fund?
No, WA4STEAM is not an investment fund; it is an association of women investors in which each member decides on which projects to invest in and the amount individually.
What is the process that entrepreneurs must go through before receiving funding?
We first pre-screen the projects we receive to ensure they meet the association’s minimum requirements, namely, that there is a female co-founder and that the start-up is in the STEAM field.
After the pre-screening and a preliminary analysis, the entrepreneur is invited to present the project to all members. If there is a significant number of interested members, a team of volunteer members is appointed to carry out the analysis or Due Diligence process. If the company successfully passes this stage, the negotiation of investment terms and conditions begins, and the investment is closed with the support of the association’s legal team, also composed of volunteers.
Once the investment has been closed, another team monitors, controls, and supports the entrepreneur and her company until the exit of the WA4STEAM business angels, usually with the entry of institutional investors who will accompany the start-up to its next growth phase.
In what sectors are the start-ups your members invest in?
Our members always invest in STEAM sectors. Every two years, we review our priority segments. Examples of current priority sectors for our members include Deep Tech – AI & Big Data, Blockchain, Cyber & Crypto -; Energy; Sustainable Technology; AgroTech and FoodTech; Biotech; Robotics; Health, among others.
What is your value proposition for entrepreneurs?
Our value proposition for female founders is summarised in this 6 points:
- Established brand as an investor in the ecosystem.
- Patient capital.
- Wide range of skills among members available to the entrepreneur.
- Commitment to follow-up rounds.
- Expertise of our members in STEAM areas generated through our commitment to exclusively fund start-ups in this sector.
