Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund II closes first closing with 26 million euros

The VC fund Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, which focuses on female founders, has announced the first closing of its second fund. A total of 26 million euros was raised. This is over a third more than its predecessor fund from 2021 (19 million euros). The European Investment Fund (EIF) was acquired as the anchor investor. Other investors include Aurum Impact, Cherry Ventures, Speedinvest and numerous family offices, business angels and founders from all over Europe. A remarkable signal in the still male-dominated venture capital sector: more than 50% of the limited partners are women.

Female founders in the early phase remain

The Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund II invests exclusively in early-stage start-ups in Europe with at least one female founder who holds at least 20% of the shares. The fund follows a value-based, partnership approach and positions itself as a bridge between innovative female founders and the traditional VC world.

Our model is based on trust, transparency and teamwork.

Dr. Gesa Miczaika, Co-Founder and General Partner

The aim is to make underrepresented talent visible and drive systemic change in the startup ecosystem.

EIF sends a clear signal for diversity in VC

The participation of the European Investment Fund (EIF) underlines the growing importance of gender-diverse investment strategies."Diversity and financial returns can go hand in hand," says EIF Managing Director Marjut Falkstedt. Studies show: Start-ups founded by women often perform better in key performance indicators, but continue to receive disproportionately little capital.

The fund therefore hits a nerve and at the same time offers a differentiated investment opportunity in a fragmented market.

Three investments already made from Fund II

Three start-ups have already been financed from the new fund:

• Emidat - develops a climate data infrastructure for the construction industry
• Resolutiion - offers an AI-supported platform for resolving commercial disputes
• Stanhope.ai - works with a novel, neuroscience-inspired framework on real-time learning processes for machines

All three companies exemplify Auxxo's aspiration to invest not only in start-ups, but also in the potential for change in entire industries.

Female founders on their collaboration with Auxxo

Founders from the portfolio emphasize the fund's value orientation and partnership approach.

The decision to work with Auxxo was a strategic one. Their personal approach, their values and their enthusiasm for bold ideas were a perfect fit.

Fay from Resolutiion

Since the launch of the original Auxxo Beteiligungen GmbH in 2019, Auxxo has become a relevant player in the European VC market for female founders. The team combines over 25 years of experience in the VC and startup sector and maintains a close network of investors, mentors and co-investors.

More than half of our LPs are women. That's not just a number - it's a sign of the future of the industry.

Bettine Schmitz, Co-Founder and General Partner

Auxxo was founded by Bettine Schmitz and Dr. Gesa Miczaika. Both have many years of operational and investment experience. Schmitz worked at the Axel Springer Plug & Play Accelerator, among others, while Miczaika helped shape the international growth of Blacklane and is a former deputy chairwoman of the German Startups Association.