When Anu Duggal started her first business—a wine bar in Bombay—she entered the hospitality world with zero experience but a bold vision. That same drive eventually led her to launch Female Founders Fund, the trailblazing venture capital firm that invests exclusively in women-led startups. In this episode, Anu joins host Nancy Twine to talk about her entrepreneurial beginnings, fundraising through rejection, and the long-game mindset needed to lead an industry shift.

Anu Duggal is the Founding Partner of Female Founders Fund, a firm managing over $100M in assets and backing breakout companies like Maven Clinic, Rent the Runway, and Billi. As a solo GP, Anu has built one of the most influential portfolios in early-stage VC—advocating for equity in access, capital, and opportunity.

Originally aired: 05/23/2024

Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:43] How female-led startups struggle with funding
[02:09] Why only 2% of venture capital goes to women
[02:49] The inspiration behind Female Founders Fund
[03:30] Transition from entrepreneur to investor
[03:49] Launching India’s first wine bar
[05:10] Entering the tech industry from hospitality
[05:29] The importance of industry disruption
[06:37] Why being new to an industry can be an advantage
[07:02] Overcoming self-doubt as a founder
[07:45] Building confidence despite rejection
[08:44] Why sales skills are crucial in entrepreneurship
[09:31] Balancing risk and investor returns
[10:22] Investing in founders, not just businesses
[11:06] The role of networking in success
[12:04] How to build meaningful connections
[12:58] Why helping others strengthens your network
[13:16] The importance of prioritizing wellness
[13:42] Daily habits that reduce stress
[15:18] The future of gender diversity in venture capital
[16:08] How institutional investors influence funding diversity
[17:30] Advice for launching a venture fund
[18:08] How to develop a strong investment portfolio
[19:07] The mindset needed to overcome setbacks
[19:28] Why resilience is key to long-term success
[20:49] Handling rejection and criticism effectively
[22:18] The role of manifestation in success
[23:45] How vision and persistence shape success
[25:28] How to leverage your network for future growth
[27:06] Favorite success mantra

Resources Mentioned:
Female Founders Fund | https://femalefoundersfund.com/
The Two Percent Podcast | Spotify http://bit.ly/3GqFh6K
The Two Percent Podcast | Apple http://bit.ly/4lycbRJ
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese | https://a.co/d/fD8TFAw

More From Nancy:
https://www.instagram.com/nancytwine/
Website | http://www.nancytwine.com/

More From Makers Mindset:
https://www.instagram.com/makersmindsetspace/

@themakersmindset

Website | https://makersmindset.com/
Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify | https://bit.ly/makersmindset

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