A guide to investing in first-time women and diverse fund managers

May 2021

Fiduciary duty is often cited as the reason why investors and investment advisors limit the universe of investable propositions to structures and managers that are familiar and considered established. And yet we know that a significant portion of the market – investment in women setting up funds for the first-time – is currently being overlooked. Many of the most innovative funds are from emerging managers.

This guide, produced by GenderSmart’s First-Time (Women and Diverse) Fund Managers Investing with a Gender Lens Initiative, is a tool for asset allocators and advisors, as well as for fund managers. It is designed to help you make the case, be inspired by leading investors who are showing the way, understand the structural solutions to backing more of these funds and structured vehicles, find deal flow, and understand how to diligence and move capital into these innovative managers.