InvestHer Podcast

Anne Ravanona: entrepreneur, funding expert, women's advocate and podcaster

InvestHer Podcast is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding and get funded faster, and for investors and ecosystem players who want to learn more about what it's really like for female founders in the world of funding today. It's a behind the scenes look at the funding tactics and strategies that really work, to give women founders more confidence to get the funding you deserve to take your business to the next level. Each episode will be short, energetic and action-oriented, giving you lots of practical funding tips, so that you can get investor-ready, get the funding you need and back to building your business, FASTER. Join entrepreneur, consultant, TEDx speaker and women's advocate, Anne Ravanona, as she shares how to put the fun back into funding for female founders, with real truths about what it's like for women entrepreneurs in the funding world today, inspiring and practical interviews with the investors who actually do fund women-led companies, as well as key ecosystem players you need to know about. We've got your back! This show is not only about demystifying funding, it's also about understanding what are the key market dynamics and realities that impact HOW investors make decisions on who to fund, the existing biases and paradigms that need changing, and how we can ALL benefit from the biggest untapped resource to boost the global economy - women entrepreneurs. Anne Ravanona created Global Invest Her and is on a mission to help get 1M women entrepreneurs funded by 2030. She is a recognised international keynote speaker who inspires the hearts and wins over the minds of both investors and women entrepreneurs about funding female founders, coaches women-led businesses and helps corporates partner with and serve women entrepreneurs. So, whether you are starting out on your own funding journey, want to learn more about it before jumping in, or are curious about the real funding challenges women entrepreneurs face and the investment opportunity they represent, this podcast is for you! Let's change the funding game, together.

  1. EP 59: with Chloe Guilfoyle, Founder of Avalon

    2d ago

    EP 59: with Chloe Guilfoyle, Founder of Avalon

    "Find your people, find your tribe, find your believers — because they exist."   🏰 The Guild Is Open: Chloe Guilfoyle Rewrites the Rules for Founders!   🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Chloe Guilfoyle, Founder of Avalon, about cooperative entrepreneurship, raising funds as a woman in France, and building a founder community rooted in strategy, well-being, and collective intelligence.   🌍 Discover how Chloe shut down her first venture-backed startup — not from lack of ambition, but from isolation and the absence of aligned support — and channelled every hard lesson into building Avalon, a hybrid entrepreneurial guild with a physical hub in Paris and a growing digital community now 200+ members strong. From leading France's top female investor network, Femmes Business Angels, to bootstrapping her pre-seed round and securing half her 300k target exclusively from women investors, Chloe is proving that cooperation, not competition, is the new competitive advantage.   💡 Don't miss this episode with actionable insights on: • Why Chloe shut down her first startup — and what she'd do radically differently the second time around • The funding biases women face in France: from risk-heavy questioning to being asked about family plans mid-pitch • How leading a 200-person female investor network changed everything about the way she pitches and builds relationships • Why she bootstrapped Avalon for six months before raising — and how arriving "de-risked" changed investor conversations • The power of warm intros and LinkedIn visibility in building a pipeline of aligned, women-led investors • What makes Avalon different from accelerators, incubators, and co-working spaces — and why "no selection committee" matters • Her vision to bridge Paris, London, and Casablanca into one decentralised, cooperation-first entrepreneurial ecosystem   Learn how to build a fundable, scalable business — and a life you don't burn out from — on your own terms.   🔗 Listen Now | 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes   About Chloe Chloe Guilfoyle is a Franco-Irish entrepreneur and the Founder of Avalon, a hybrid entrepreneurial guild helping founders build strong companies without burning out. With a background in business law, community building, and startup leadership, she previously founded a travel tech startup, led Femmes Business Angels — France's leading network of 200 female investors — and has helped dozens of women entrepreneurs raise funds and grow with confidence.   🌐 Website: https://www.avalon.fr/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cguilfoyle/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avalon.fr/   About Avalon Avalon is a hybrid entrepreneurial guild for high-performing founders who want to grow their business without burning out. Blending a curated digital platform with a physical hub opening in Paris in October 2025 — and soon expanding to London and Casablanca — Avalon offers strategic guidance, expert mentorship, and a human-centred community built on cooperation, not competition. Membership starts at €49/month, with no selection committee and a clear belief that ambition and well-being are not opposites.   Resources Mentioned 🌐 Avalon: https://www.avalon.fr/ 🏛 Femmes Business Angels: https://www.femmesbusinessangels.org/   Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 https://www.investherpodcast.com/ 📂 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 🗨️ LinkedIn: Anne Ravanona https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/   #WomenFounders #CooperativeEntrepreneurship #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInBusiness #StartupFunding #FemaleFounders #FrenchStartups #CommunityIsCapital #WomenEntrepreneurs #FounderWellbeing #InvestHer #WomenInVC #EuropeanStartups

    40 min
  2. Pitch, Bootstrap, Build: Christine Ntim's Funding Masterclass

    Jun 23

    Pitch, Bootstrap, Build: Christine Ntim's Funding Masterclass

    "The moment your name becomes a solution, that's when you know you've won."   🚀 Pitch, Bootstrap, Build: Christine Ntim's Funding Masterclass!   🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Christine Ntim, CEO of Global Startup Ecosystem, about creative fundraising strategies, building a personal brand as a founder, and why pitching is an invitation — not a request for permission.   🌍 Discover how Christine, a Forbes 30 Under 30 Haitian-American and Ghanaian serial entrepreneur, turned a passion for street market economies into a Harvard Business School case study — and then went on to build the world's first and largest digital startup accelerator, supporting 1,000 companies a year across 70–90+ countries. From winning pitch competitions across 90+ applications to raising half a million dollars through equity crowdfunding in 30 days, Christine's funding journey is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and knowing your strengths.   💡 Don't miss this episode with actionable insights on: • How Christine raised $250K in six months purely through pitch competitions — and the exact system she used to track, apply, and follow up across 90+ applications • Why equity crowdfunding works best when you treat it as a campaign, not a form — and how to mobilise ambassadors, build momentum, and gamify your goals • Using event marketing and sponsorships to raise six figures — and how to get venue space, partnerships, and resources without spending a cent • The hidden capital sitting in your Stripe and PayPal accounts right now — and why bootstrapping smarter beats fundraising faster • Why a pitch is an invitation, not a permission slip — and how changing that mindset transforms how investors respond to you • The danger of moulding your mission to chase VC funding — and why doubling down on your natural strengths will take you further, faster • Building a purpose-driven personal brand that outlasts any single business — and why "thought leader entrepreneur" is the identity of the next generation   Learn how to fund your business creatively, build your brand with integrity, and grow on your own terms.   🔗 Listen Now | 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes   ## About Christine Christine Ntim is an award-winning Haitian-American and Ghanaian serial entrepreneur, global speaker, tech ecosystem leader, and personal branding expert on a mission to build the next generation of thought leader entrepreneurs. She has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30, AdAge 40 Under 40, TEDx, Entrepreneur Magazine, Essence, Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine, Inc Magazine, and more. As a three-time founder, Christine has built globally recognised, award-winning businesses and has spoken on stages across the world. **🌐 Website:** https://globalstartupecosystem.com/ **💼 LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinentim/   ## About Global Startup Ecosystem Global Startup Ecosystem (GSE) is home to the world's first and largest digital startup accelerator programme, supporting approximately 1,000 companies per year across 70–90+ countries. GSE helps entrepreneurs take ideas to market by combining world-class startup education with a focus on impact-led, digitally powered businesses. Beyond the accelerator, GSE convenes the global innovation community through tech summits — including the inspiring Haiti Tech Summit — and empowers founders to build not just successful businesses, but lasting legacies.   ## Resources Mentioned 🌐 **Global Startup Ecosystem:** https://globalstartupecosystem.com/ 🏛 **StartEngine (equity crowdfunding platform):** https://www.startengine.com/ 🏛 **Harvard Business School (Vendetti case study):** https://www.hbs.edu/   ## Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 https://www.investherpodcast.com/ 📂 **Funder Directory:** https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 **Buy From Her Directory:** https://www.buyfromher.com/ 🗨️ **LinkedIn:** Anne Ravanona https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/   #WomenFounders #StartupFunding #PersonalBranding #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInTech #PitchCompetitions #EquityCrowdfunding #WomenEntrepreneurs #Bootstrapping #GlobalStartups #BlackFounders #InvestHer

    1h 3m
  3. Flipping the Switch: Tracy O'Rourke's Clean Energy Bet

    Jun 16

    Flipping the Switch: Tracy O'Rourke's Clean Energy Bet

    "Keep your energy on your vision. Not your current problem and not your bank balance. Keep it on your vision, because where you put your energy is where you're ultimately going to grow."   ⚡ Flipping the Switch: Tracy O'Rourke's Clean Energy Bet!   🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Tracy O'Rourke, Founder & CEO of Vivid Edge, about building an award-winning climate tech startup from a financial services background, navigating a funding journey that defied conventional wisdom, and why the right investor fit matters far more than the size of the cheque.   🌍 Discover how Tracy transformed her expertise in aircraft leasing and financial services into Vivid Edge — a pioneering platform that helps commercial organisations eliminate energy waste through fully funded retrofits, with zero capital outlay for customers. After years of bootstrapping through accounting rule changes and a global pandemic, Tracy flipped the switch on her fundraising approach and closed a €555K angel round in just six weeks — through her own network, without ever directly asking anyone for money.   💡 Don't miss this episode with actionable insights on: • How Tracy identified a massive funding gap in energy efficiency — and why it represents 40% of the climate solution that the world is largely ignoring • The innovative risk and funding model behind Vivid Edge that gives customers fully funded energy retrofits with no upfront capital and no obligation until after installation • Why Tracy said no to an investor when the bank account was nearly empty — and why she has never once regretted that decision • The "flip the switch" fundraising moment: how Tracy closed €555K from seven investors in six weeks by telling everyone she was fundraising — without asking anyone directly for money • Thinking of your investor relationship as a marriage: the questions to ask before you sign, from board control and voting rights to timeline alignment and cultural fit • Why regulatory drivers like CSRD and commercial property energy ratings are creating powerful new tailwinds for Vivid Edge — and what that means for investors right now • Tracy's parting wisdom for every entrepreneur in the trenches: keep your energy on your vision, not your bank balance   Learn how to build a fundable, scalable business — on your own terms.   🔗 Listen Now | 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes   About Tracy Tracy O'Rourke is the Founder & CEO of Vivid Edge, a climate tech company that delivers fully funded energy efficiency retrofits to commercial businesses with no capital outlay required. Drawing on her background in financial services and aircraft leasing, she is also a Fellow of the Cartier Women's Initiative and the Barclays Unreasonable global programme for entrepreneurs.   About Vivid Edge Vivid Edge is an Irish-founded climate tech company that helps commercial businesses identify energy waste, access fully funded energy efficiency retrofits, and manage ongoing reporting — all through one comprehensive platform. Vivid Edge removes the financial and operational barriers that have historically slowed energy efficiency adoption. Customers save energy, reduce costs, and cut carbon emissions with no capital outlay, while Vivid Edge manages the entire process as a long-term service partner.   Resources Mentioned 🌐 Vivid Edge: https://www.vividedge.ie 🏛 Enterprise Ireland: https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/ 🌍 Cartier Women's Initiative: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/ 🌍 Barclays Unreasonable Programme: https://www.unreasonablegroup.com/ 📋 CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive): https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en 🏆 Earthshot Prize: https://earthshotprize.org/   Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 https://www.investherpodcast.com/ 📂 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 🗨️ LinkedIn: Anne Ravanona https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/   #WomenFounders #CleanEnergy #EnergyEfficiency #Climatetech #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInClimate #StartupFunding #IrishStartup #WomenEntrepreneurs #SustainableBusiness #ImpactInvesting #InvestHer #FemaleFounders #ClimateAction

    45 min
  4. From Serial Fundraiser to VC: Melinda Wittstock's $20M Journey

    Jun 9

    From Serial Fundraiser to VC: Melinda Wittstock's $20M Journey

    "There's a lot of education that needs to be done to get women more comfortable with investing." 🎙 From Serial Fundraiser to VC: Melinda Wittstock's $20M Journey 🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Melinda Wittstock, Founder & CEO of Podopolo, about her journey raising $20 million across multiple tech ventures—and why she's now on a mission to change the venture capital game for women founders. 🌍 Discover how Melinda built Podopolo, an AI-powered podcasting platform, while navigating one of the most challenging funding climates for women in tech. She shares candid insights from her serial entrepreneurship journey, the reality of keeping momentum alive during delayed funding rounds, and why she's now stepping into the investor role as a junior partner at a VC focused exclusively on backing women. 💡 Don't miss this powerhouse episode packed with actionable insights on: • What it really takes to raise $20 million across multiple ventures as a woman in tech • The harsh realities of fundraising delays—and how to maintain company momentum when capital calls stretch for months • Why tech fundraising is uniquely difficult for women founders compared to consumer product or female-focused industries • The shift from founder to investor—and how Melinda is working to close the funding gap from the other side of the table • Why women make better CEOs and how to educate more women to become comfortable with investing Learn what it takes to not only survive the funding journey—but come out the other side ready to lift other women up. 🔗 Listen Now 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶ Full Show Notes Resources Mentioned 🌐 Podopolo: https://podopolo.com Connect with Melinda 🌐 Website: https://podopolo.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/melindawittstock Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 investherpodcast.com 📁 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 💬 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/ #WomenFounders #PodcastTech #AIInnovation #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInTech #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #WomenEntrepreneurs #SerialEntrepreneur #InvestHer #WomenInVC

    1h 18m
  5. From Basement to Boardroom: How Shena Brien Built Ireland's Most Customer-Obsessed Telco

    Jun 4

    From Basement to Boardroom: How Shena Brien Built Ireland's Most Customer-Obsessed Telco

    "If you have an idea and you feel passionately about it, you will not fail. If you have enough dedication, and you believe in your product, you believe in yourself — you will not fail." 🏢 From Basement to Boardroom: How Shena Brien Built Ireland's Most Customer-Obsessed Telco! 🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Shena Brien, Co-Founder & CEO of IPTelecom, one of Ireland's leading cloud communications companies. Shena shares what it really takes to bootstrap a tech company from scratch, grow it organically for over a decade, and then make the leap to private equity — all while building one of the most gender-diverse teams in Irish tech. 🌍 Discover how Shena and her co-founder, Brian Chamberlain, turned a house basement, second-hand servers, and a shared passion for customer service into a 40-person, PE-backed scale-up now targeting a place in Ireland's top five telcos. With a 50/50 gender split across the company, Shena is rewriting what leadership in the telecom sector looks like. 💡 Don't miss this episode with insights on: Why staying self-funded for 13 years gave IPTelecom the structure and stability to attract the right investor — at the right time How Shena "interviewed" potential investors just as hard as they interviewed her, and what made Development Capital stand out Building a gender-diverse, multinational team (15 nationalities!) in a male-dominated industry — without a quota in sight The "telecom in a box" concept that powered an international proof-of-concept in South Africa — and what it signals for IPTelecom's global future Why zero downtime and customer centricity aren't just values — they're a competitive moat Hard-won founder wisdom: direct debit billing from day one, outsourcing HR until you're ready, and why your employee handbook is your Bible Her message to every woman who hesitates to walk into a room full of men: you belong here Learn how to build a fundable, scalable business — on your own terms. 🔗 Listen Now 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes Resources Mentioned 🏢 IPTelecom: iptelecom.ie 🏛 Enterprise Ireland: enterprise-ireland.com 💼 Development Capital (investors): developmentcapital.ie Connect with Shena 📧 Email: shena@iptelecom.ie (Shena with one 'e'!) 🌐 Website: iptelecom.ie 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iptelecom_ireland/ 🐤 Twitter (X): https://x.com/iptelecom Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 investherpodcast.com 📂 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 🗨️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/ #WomenFounders #IrishTech #Telco #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInSTEM #Bootstrapped #PrivateEquity #ScaleUp #WomenInBusiness #CustomerFirst #WomenEntrepreneurs #InvestHer #FemaleFounders #StartupFunding

    53 min
  6. The Monadd Story: Venture-Backed PropTech with Jessica Mendoza

    Jun 1

    The Monadd Story: Venture-Backed PropTech with Jessica Mendoza

    "Founders really need to know themselves in this journey, and know where their thresholds are and what their limits are. I am now at the point where I am setting the boundaries and the rules. It's not up to investors to determine the timeline — if you're not there during that timeline, then you're out." 🏠 The Monadd Story: Venture-Backed PropTech with Jessica Mendoza! 🎙 In this episode of the InvestHer Podcast, host Anne Ravanona speaks with Jessica Mendoza, founder of Monadd (since acquired by Bunch), about building and scaling a venture-backed, data and AI-powered proptech startup — and what it really takes to raise funding, build with ethics, and grow a business that makes a real difference. 🌍 Discover how Jessica transformed a personal frustration with moving house into a residence management platform now reaching a third of all UK households. She shares her journey from idea to raising venture backing, ranking in the top 💡 Don't miss this episode with actionable insights on: Why founders have more power than they think when choosing investors Building AI and data ethics into your startup from day one Pivoting from B2C to B2B and unlocking commercial scale Navigating the UK vs. US investor landscape — and why Jessica flipped her company to a US domicile Turning rejection into rocket fuel — and setting your own rules Learn how to build a fundable, scalable business — on your own terms. 🔗 Listen Now 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ▶️ Full Show Notes Resources Mentioned 🏛 Open Data Institute (UK): theodi.org 🏛 Alan Turing Institute: turing.ac.uk ⚖️ Mishcon de Reya (AI & data law specialists, London): mishcon.com 🌐Bunch: https://the-bunch.co.uk/ Connect with Jessica Website: jessgmendoza.me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagmendoza/ Connect with Anne & Global Invest Her 🌐 investherpodcast.com 📂 Funder Directory: https://funderdirectory.globalinvesther.com/ 🛍 Buy From Her Directory: https://www.buyfromher.com/ 🗨️LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneravanona/ #WomenFounders #PropTech #DataEthics #AIEthics #InvestHerPodcast #WomenInTech #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #WomenEntrepreneurs #VentureBackedStartup #InvestHer

    1h 1m
5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

InvestHer Podcast is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding and get funded faster, and for investors and ecosystem players who want to learn more about what it's really like for female founders in the world of funding today. It's a behind the scenes look at the funding tactics and strategies that really work, to give women founders more confidence to get the funding you deserve to take your business to the next level. Each episode will be short, energetic and action-oriented, giving you lots of practical funding tips, so that you can get investor-ready, get the funding you need and back to building your business, FASTER. Join entrepreneur, consultant, TEDx speaker and women's advocate, Anne Ravanona, as she shares how to put the fun back into funding for female founders, with real truths about what it's like for women entrepreneurs in the funding world today, inspiring and practical interviews with the investors who actually do fund women-led companies, as well as key ecosystem players you need to know about. We've got your back! This show is not only about demystifying funding, it's also about understanding what are the key market dynamics and realities that impact HOW investors make decisions on who to fund, the existing biases and paradigms that need changing, and how we can ALL benefit from the biggest untapped resource to boost the global economy - women entrepreneurs. Anne Ravanona created Global Invest Her and is on a mission to help get 1M women entrepreneurs funded by 2030. She is a recognised international keynote speaker who inspires the hearts and wins over the minds of both investors and women entrepreneurs about funding female founders, coaches women-led businesses and helps corporates partner with and serve women entrepreneurs. So, whether you are starting out on your own funding journey, want to learn more about it before jumping in, or are curious about the real funding challenges women entrepreneurs face and the investment opportunity they represent, this podcast is for you! Let's change the funding game, together.