Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Halogen Ventures Surpasses 100 Investments in Female-Led Startups
Halogen Ventures, a venture capital fund founded by Jesse Draper, has made significant strides by announcing over 100 investments in female-founded companies since its inception in 2015. This milestone positions Halogen as one of the largest venture portfolios in the U.S. that specifically targets female-led startups. The firm, which focuses on investing in early-stage businesses with at least one woman on the founding team, has built an impressive portfolio valued at more than $15 billion, indicating that investing in women entrepreneurs is not just a charitable act but a lucrative venture.
A remarkable 100% of Halogen's portfolio comprises female-founded businesses, with 85% led by women CEOs. This diverse range of companies spans various sectors including consumer technology, healthcare, fintech, artificial intelligence, and the emerging market known as The Future of Family. This category is noted for its vast estimated global opportunity of around $7.5 trillion, covering areas like childcare, education, healthcare, and workplace flexibility.
Among the standout companies in Halogen's portfolio are Everlywell—an at-home health testing provider valued at $3.5 billion; Babylist—a universal baby registry platform generating over $1 billion annually; and HopSkipDrive, which has facilitated over one million safe rides for students. Other notable investments include sustainable period care brand Flex and Upwards, which is recognized as the largest national childcare solutions platform boasting more than 66,000 affordable childcare options for families. Additionally, Halogen was an early investor in Metropolis, an AI-driven mobility and parking company that raised a staggering $1.6 billion in 2025.
Jesse Draper emphasizes the changing narrative surrounding women in entrepreneurship. Initially faced with skepticism about the viability of investing in female-led startups—often dismissed as a charity—Draper's vision has proven that these companies represent a massive, underexplored market. "When I started Halogen, there were prevalent beliefs such as 'there aren't enough women starting companies' and 'it's not a big enough market.' The investment community was lethargic toward women founders for too long," Draper stated.
One key area of innovation lies within childcare, which is estimated as a $520 billion industry. Despite its significance, the sector has historically been underfunded and remains ripe for innovation. Halogen's investments extend beyond traditional startup hubs, as evidenced by their recent strategic initiative in Alabama. Becoming the first out-of-state venture firm to engage with the Alabama state government, Halogen aims to bolster economic growth and support female entrepreneurs in the state. To date, they've committed to nine local startups focusing on AI, healthcare, fintech, robotics, and clean energy.
In light of these developments, 2025 saw female-founded companies in the U.S. raising a historical total of $73.6 billion, which accounted for 27.7% of total annual deal value. Despite this surge in funding, it is notable that the share of venture capital going to startups solely founded by women still rests at just over 1%, showcasing a persistent funding gap. Halogen's portfolio serves as proof that when women receive funding, the returns are significant.
Jesse Draper highlights, "The most powerful thing we can do to strengthen the economy is to get more capital into the hands of women." The rise of extraordinary organizations spearheaded by women is paving the way for transformative solutions addressing critical societal challenges—ranging from healthcare and childcare to the future of work and consumer products. These female entrepreneurs are not only creating significant social impact but are also on track to build the next generation of trillion-dollar businesses. If one desires change in the world, investing in women-led enterprises is a crucial step forward.
Halogen Ventures remains dedicated to fostering a new era of entrepreneurship characterized by female leadership. As Draper stated, investing in women is not merely a philanthropic endeavor; it is a vital action with profound implications for economic growth and societal advancement.
A remarkable 100% of Halogen's portfolio comprises female-founded businesses, with 85% led by women CEOs. This diverse range of companies spans various sectors including consumer technology, healthcare, fintech, artificial intelligence, and the emerging market known as The Future of Family. This category is noted for its vast estimated global opportunity of around $7.5 trillion, covering areas like childcare, education, healthcare, and workplace flexibility.
Among the standout companies in Halogen's portfolio are Everlywell—an at-home health testing provider valued at $3.5 billion; Babylist—a universal baby registry platform generating over $1 billion annually; and HopSkipDrive, which has facilitated over one million safe rides for students. Other notable investments include sustainable period care brand Flex and Upwards, which is recognized as the largest national childcare solutions platform boasting more than 66,000 affordable childcare options for families. Additionally, Halogen was an early investor in Metropolis, an AI-driven mobility and parking company that raised a staggering $1.6 billion in 2025.
Jesse Draper emphasizes the changing narrative surrounding women in entrepreneurship. Initially faced with skepticism about the viability of investing in female-led startups—often dismissed as a charity—Draper's vision has proven that these companies represent a massive, underexplored market. "When I started Halogen, there were prevalent beliefs such as 'there aren't enough women starting companies' and 'it's not a big enough market.' The investment community was lethargic toward women founders for too long," Draper stated.
One key area of innovation lies within childcare, which is estimated as a $520 billion industry. Despite its significance, the sector has historically been underfunded and remains ripe for innovation. Halogen's investments extend beyond traditional startup hubs, as evidenced by their recent strategic initiative in Alabama. Becoming the first out-of-state venture firm to engage with the Alabama state government, Halogen aims to bolster economic growth and support female entrepreneurs in the state. To date, they've committed to nine local startups focusing on AI, healthcare, fintech, robotics, and clean energy.
In light of these developments, 2025 saw female-founded companies in the U.S. raising a historical total of $73.6 billion, which accounted for 27.7% of total annual deal value. Despite this surge in funding, it is notable that the share of venture capital going to startups solely founded by women still rests at just over 1%, showcasing a persistent funding gap. Halogen's portfolio serves as proof that when women receive funding, the returns are significant.
Jesse Draper highlights, "The most powerful thing we can do to strengthen the economy is to get more capital into the hands of women." The rise of extraordinary organizations spearheaded by women is paving the way for transformative solutions addressing critical societal challenges—ranging from healthcare and childcare to the future of work and consumer products. These female entrepreneurs are not only creating significant social impact but are also on track to build the next generation of trillion-dollar businesses. If one desires change in the world, investing in women-led enterprises is a crucial step forward.
Halogen Ventures remains dedicated to fostering a new era of entrepreneurship characterized by female leadership. As Draper stated, investing in women is not merely a philanthropic endeavor; it is a vital action with profound implications for economic growth and societal advancement.
Topics Financial Services & Investing）
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