Female Founders Alliance Rebrands as Graham & Walker, Secures $10M Fund

From Support Group to Investment Fund: Female Founders Alliance Rebrands as Graham & Walker

Initially established as a Facebook-based support network for founders, the Female Founders Alliance has undergone significant development and transformation since its creation. The organization is now announcing a change in its name and the commencement of investments from its inaugural fund.

Equipped with $10 million in capital, the newly named Graham & Walker will concentrate its efforts on fostering “the potential inherent in all women within the business world.” This will be achieved through community development initiatives, strategic investments, and a variety of supporting programs.

Addressing the Funding Gap for Women Founders

The fund faces a considerable challenge, even within a highly competitive investment landscape. Venture capitalist Claire Diaz-Ortiz highlighted in a recent article that only 9% of all venture capital allocated to technology startups reached founding teams with at least one female member.

Furthermore, teams comprised solely of women founders secured a mere 2% of all venture capital funding. While Diaz-Ortiz is not directly affiliated with Graham & Walker, her observations underscore the importance of initiatives like this one, which aim to rectify this imbalance.

“Women founders need the opportunity to tackle complex challenges, both locally and globally,” states Merrie Williamson, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Azure Apps, Infrastructure & IOT – and also an investor in Graham & Walker. “My involvement in this fund is a testament to the capabilities and potential of all women.”

The Significance Behind the Name: Graham & Walker

The name “Graham & Walker” may initially evoke images of traditional partnerships from a bygone era. However, this is a deliberate choice designed to challenge preconceived notions.

The firm is not named after its founders or investors, but rather pays tribute to influential women throughout history. Leslie Feinzaig, founder and managing director, explains: “We anticipate that many will initially assume ‘Graham & Walker’ refers to two men, reminiscent of an old-fashioned law firm.

However, a deeper understanding of our organization and its mission will prompt a reevaluation of that initial assumption. The ampersand itself is symbolic, representing connection – you and me, our community.”

Honoring Pioneering Women

Specifically, the firm’s name honors Katharine Graham – the publisher of The Washington Post and the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company – and Madam C. J. Walker, an African American entrepreneur recognized as the world’s first self-made female millionaire.

A Broader Vision for Supporting Women

“A key driver behind this rebrand is our evolving perspective, moving away from a binary view of ‘founders’ versus ‘non-founders’ and recognizing our shared identity,” says Feinzaig. “It’s about empowering women who are committed to taking control of their professional journeys.”

“Graham & Walker is designed to support women at every stage of their career – not only as founders, but also as investors, advisors, corporate leaders, and board members.”

Early Investments and Investor Diversity

The fund began making investments in early 2021. Initial investments include PairTree, a platform for adoption facilitation; Health in Her Hue, a culturally sensitive telehealth marketplace; Brightly, a community focused on eco-friendly living; and Datacy, a data marketplace.

Investors in the fund include Bank of America, Carta, and a diverse group of individual investors. Over 100 investors contributed to the $10 million fund.

Graham & Walker reports that approximately two-thirds of its investors are women, one-third are people of color, and nearly half are first-time fund investors.

Note: This article was updated on [Date] to correct the fund size from $9M to $10M, following clarification from a Graham & Walker spokesperson.