Bootstrap 4F, manager of the Women Backing Women Fund, has announced its first capital deployments following the fund’s £130 million first close in March 2026. These initial commitments have been directed towards three distinguished UK-based venture capital funds: Evertrue Capital I LP, Seedcamp VII LP, and Seedcamp Nation II LP. This move marks the beginning of the fund's active investment phase, aimed at empowering female-led fund managers across the nation.
A Strategic Initiative for UK Venture Capital
The Women Backing Women Fund was designed as a catalyst to transform how capital is allocated within the United Kingdom's investment ecosystem. It is supported by four prominent anchor limited partners, including Barclays, the British Business Bank, M&G Investments, and Nationwide. These deployments are the first of an anticipated 20 to 25 investments, reflecting significant market demand with over 90 funds expressing interest.
Inaugural Investments in Diverse Leadership
The first commitment supports Evertrue Capital I LP, a pre-seed fund that is 100% female-owned and led by its founder, Yvonne Bajela. An investor with over a decade of experience, Bajela has a notable track record that includes backing breakout companies like Wise, Moove, and Marshmallow. Her fund represents the high-potential emerging managers that Bootstrap 4F aims to support, bringing fresh perspectives to early-stage investing.
Bootstrap 4F has also invested in two funds managed by the established firm Seedcamp, co-founded by Reshma Sohoni. The first, Seedcamp VII LP, is an oversubscribed seed fund, while Seedcamp Nation II LP is a select strategy focusing on Series B investments within its existing portfolio. Notably, Seedcamp Nation II features a 100% female investment committee, aligning perfectly with the fund's core mandate.
Championing Performance and Parity
Stephanie Heller Galantine, managing partner at Bootstrap 4F, highlighted the exceptional quality of these first commitments, which span the venture capital spectrum. The strategy deliberately balances established managers like Seedcamp with high-potential new names such as Evertrue Capital. This approach underscores a dual focus on achieving strong commercial returns while rigorously applying a gender-focused investment mandate.
The fund managers have welcomed the partnership, with Yvonne Bajela praising the initiative for expanding access to institutional capital for emerging managers. Similarly, Reshma Sohoni of Seedcamp noted that the investment signals the ecosystem is finally building the necessary infrastructure to support diverse founders at scale. Both leaders expressed excitement for the future of company building driven by this new wave of capital.
These initial deployments from the Women Backing Women Fund represent a significant milestone in promoting gender diversity within UK venture capital. By backing a carefully selected portfolio of high-performing female-led funds, Bootstrap 4F is not only seeking strong financial returns but also actively reshaping the investment landscape. This first step signals a powerful and unyielding commitment to ensuring transformative capital reaches the industry's most deserving leaders.