May 18, 2021
It Borski Fund raised an investment from LIOF, the regional development company for Limburg, which supports innovative entrepreneurs with advice, network and financing. A nice win-win situation with extra venture capital for Borski to invest in female entrepreneurs and various teams in Limburg, an opportunity for LIOF to stimulate diversity within companies in the start-up and scale-up phase. You can read more about it in the press release below.
-press release-
LIOF invests in Borski Fund, a fund with a focus on diversity and technology
LIOF invests in Borski Fund, a fund that invests with venture capital in female entrepreneurs and various teams. By participating in this fund, LIOF wants to stimulate diversity within companies in the start-up and scale-up phase. Earlier, by signing the diversity statement #FundRight, LIOF set itself the goal of increasing diversity within its portfolio within 3 years. This investment contributes to achieving this goal.
Why invest in diversity?
Research shows that only 5% of all venture capital investments are provided to mixed teams of men and women. Only 1% will be invested in female-only teams and 94% of the Venture Capital investments will be invested in male-only teams. Gaby Zandbergen, investment manager at LIOF explains: “Various teams bring other innovations to the market and companies with various teams present better financially. In addition, diversity and inclusion are no longer a vision but a necessity. For us as an investor, in addition to a moral appeal, it is also a financially correct decision to invest more in various teams. ” In addition, with this investment, LIOF increases the opportunity to come into contact with companies with a diverse team and thereby co-invest in these companies. And LIOF will actively work to offer female entrepreneurs in Limburg access to existing networks.
Research shows that only 5% of all venture capital investments are provided to mixed teams of men and women. Only 1% will be invested in female-only teams and 94% of the Venture Capital investments will be invested in male-only teams. Gaby Zandbergen, investment manager at LIOF explains: “Various teams bring other innovations to the market and companies with various teams present better financially. In addition, diversity and inclusion are no longer a vision but a necessity. For us as an investor, in addition to a moral appeal, it is also a financially correct decision to invest more in various teams. ” In addition, with this investment, LIOF increases the opportunity to come into contact with companies with a diverse team and thereby co-invest in these companies. And LIOF will actively work to offer female entrepreneurs in Limburg access to existing networks.
Quick wins for companies in LimburgStart-ups and scale-ups in Limburg with a diverse team will benefit from the partnership between Borski Fund and LIOF. Think of joint events where investors share their expertise and where you expand your business network. The collaboration also offers companies the opportunity to participate in the so-called online coffee hour in which investment opportunities are discussed. You can register here.
LIOF wants to make an impact
Diversity and inclusion (D&I) are high on LIOF's agenda. The focus is increasingly on social impact and investments are not only looking at economic returns, but also at the effects on the transitions energy, circularity, health and digitization and D&I. Together with entrepreneurs and partners, LIOF is working towards a smarter, more sustainable and healthier Limburg. That is the ambition for the coming years.
Diversity and inclusion (D&I) are high on LIOF's agenda. The focus is increasingly on social impact and investments are not only looking at economic returns, but also at the effects on the transitions energy, circularity, health and digitization and D&I. Together with entrepreneurs and partners, LIOF is working towards a smarter, more sustainable and healthier Limburg. That is the ambition for the coming years.
About Borski Fund
Borski Fund is an innovative venture capital fund that invests in technology companies with a diverse team. We believe in diversity, gender equality and fair opportunities. That is why we encourage more diversity in companies, more women who do business in a risk-bearing manner and more women who invest in a risk-bearing manner. This is the only way to create a diverse Dutch entrepreneurial landscape and a balanced situation of women in top positions. We help entrepreneurs realize their ambitions by leveraging our entrepreneurial experience and sharing our extensive and diverse network with them. Success has no gender.
More about Borski Fund.
Borski Fund is an innovative venture capital fund that invests in technology companies with a diverse team. We believe in diversity, gender equality and fair opportunities. That is why we encourage more diversity in companies, more women who do business in a risk-bearing manner and more women who invest in a risk-bearing manner. This is the only way to create a diverse Dutch entrepreneurial landscape and a balanced situation of women in top positions. We help entrepreneurs realize their ambitions by leveraging our entrepreneurial experience and sharing our extensive and diverse network with them. Success has no gender.
More about Borski Fund.
About LIOF
LIOF is the regional development agency for Limburg and supports innovative entrepreneurs with advice, network and financing. We are there for every start-up, scale-up and SME with an innovative idea, a business plan or a financing request and for (foreign) entrepreneurs who want to establish themselves in Limburg. We also help with cross-border cooperation and international business. Together with entrepreneurs and partners, we are working towards a smarter, more sustainable and healthier Limburg by focusing on the transitions of energy, circularity, health and digitization.
More about LIOF.
LIOF is the regional development agency for Limburg and supports innovative entrepreneurs with advice, network and financing. We are there for every start-up, scale-up and SME with an innovative idea, a business plan or a financing request and for (foreign) entrepreneurs who want to establish themselves in Limburg. We also help with cross-border cooperation and international business. Together with entrepreneurs and partners, we are working towards a smarter, more sustainable and healthier Limburg by focusing on the transitions of energy, circularity, health and digitization.
More about LIOF.
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