Breaking Down the Deal-Funding Gap for Women

CHART OF THE WEEK 📈

By Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau | Read

Startups founded by women continue to be underrepresented in early-stage fundraising. Kingscrowd data on equity crowdfunding (Reg CF) and Reg A+ deals offers a unique lens through which to examine this phenomenon. Unlike traditional institutional raises, equity crowdfunding platforms provide full transparency on both the proportion of startups seeking capital with at least one female founder and the share of capital these startups receive. This is where the data becomes revealing: despite a stable share of women-led deals, these startups consistently secure less capital than their share of deals would suggest. Let’s explore why.

Want the full story and takeaways? To view the complete analysis, read the full article for free on Kingscrowd HERE.

INVESTMENT ROUNDTABLE

By Sam Fiske / Watch

This week, we explore Hamilton Lane and Republic’s exciting new fund opening private equity infrastructure investing to retail investors, plus analyze crowdfunding progress and gaps for women-founded startups in celebration of Women’s History Month.

UPCOMING WEBINAR: ASSET-BASED SECURITIES

Looking to diversify your portfolio and explore innovative investment opportunities beyond traditional fixed income?

Join Kingscrowd’s Chris Lustrino and Percent’s President, Prath Reddy, for an exclusive webinar on asset-based securities (ABS). You'll gain valuable insights into why ABS is gaining momentum, how it compares to other asset classes, and practical strategies for integrating ABS into your investment approach.

Webinar Details:

• Date: Wednesday, April 2nd

• Time: 12pm ET

PITCH REVIEW 💸

By Teddy Lyons \ Deal Report

Brief: SoundSelf aims to revolutionize mental wellness through technology-driven, immersive experiences. The company offers a “digital psychedelic” – a VR-enabled biofeedback platform that induces meditative, psychedelic-like states without drugs, aimed at enhancing mental health therapy. By combining ancient practices (like vocal toning meditation) with cutting-edge immersive media, SoundSelf positions itself at the intersection of wellness, tech, and experiential media, providing therapists and patients with a novel tool for deeper emotional healing. The company originally released its software on Steam and Meta for VR users (14,000 downloads) but has since shifted to focusing on selling hardware/software packages to clinicians to use with patients in a more holistic setting where it can be combined with other treatments. SoundSelf is VC-backed, with Mystic Ventures investing in the company multiple times.

Key People: SoundSelf is led by Robin Arnott (Co-founder & CEO). Prior to SoundSelf, he was CEO of Andromeda Entertainment, a startup focused on publishing transformational games/VR experiences. His background also includes being the lead developer of the original SoundSelf concept (which started as an indie project around 2013) and authoring The Technodelic Manifesto, a treatise on technology-induced mystical experiences. He is joined by Dr. Sandeep Prakash, PhD (Co-founder & Chief Scientific Officer), who is a psychologist trained at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in psychedelic studies. CIIS is renowned for its program on psychedelic therapy research, so Sandeep is one of a relatively small number of experts formally educated in this field. As CSO, he leads SoundSelf’s research strategy and its efforts to integrate into clinical practice.

Here's what we like: SoundSelf’s technology is backed by numerous studies, including a recent independent clinical trial by Nadine Causey, DNP, which found that combining SoundSelf with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; a pilot EEG study by Dr. Jeff Tarrant and Fabiola Einhorn showing that SoundSelf induces brainwave patterns associated with psychedelic states and altered consciousness; and a six-week mixed-methods study by co-founder Dr. Sandeep Prakash demonstrated improvements in mental health, mindfulness, and psychological well-being through regular use of SoundSelf. Having such strong clinical data is quite differentiating when evaluating the MedTech investment landscape, most of which do not have patient data. So far, the company has deployed in beta to 80+ therapeutic practitioners with 450 on the waitlist, showing at least strong interest in the technology from medical providers.

Here's what we don't: While SoundSelf has generated considerable interest with 450+ practitioners on the waitlist, it remains to be seen how many will actually adopt the product and integrate it long-term. Indeed, interest does not always translate to revenue. Therapists and clinic owners are cautious with new tools, and the concept of “digital psychedelics” is unproven as a business – there is a risk it could be seen as a niche novelty. SoundSelf will need to educate the market and prove ROI for clinics (e.g., does it help attract more patients? Improve outcomes enough to justify the cost?). If the adoption curve is slower than expected, SoundSelf’s financial traction could fall short, necessitating more capital or leading to business stagnation. Additionally, the company has very low runway at the moment and will need a large injection of capital to scale in any meaningful way.

STAFF PICKS 🌶️

Yummy Future

Yummy Future is an AI and robotics company transforming the food industry by automating labor-intensive and high-stress tasks. Its robots help food businesses boost profitability while easing workloads for human employees, promoting a more sustainable and satisfying work environment. With two operational locations and a third launching in April 2025, the company is on track to reach profitability that same year.

• Valuation Cap: $66.7 million

• Minimum Investment: $100

SorbiForce

SorbiForce has developed the world’s first non-metal sustainable battery for the circular economy. SorbiForce batteries are made using activated carbon, technical carbon, iodine, bromine, zinc salts, and water and will be a game-changer for the energy storage industry. Google has recognized the business with grant support, awarded by VentureWell, and supported by GIST and the US Department of State. Serhii Kaminskyi and Oleg Sheremeta founded SorbiForce in August 2022.

• Pre-Money Valuation: $20 million

• Minimum Investment: $501

Presearch

Presearch is a decentralized, community-powered search engine focused on user privacy. Unlike traditional search engines, it anonymizes every search and routes queries through a decentralized network, ensuring no tracking or data collection. With 150,000 monthly users and acceptance into the Nvidia Inception Innovation Program, Presearch is positioned for growth. The platform offers a ready-to-scale alternative for users seeking a private, censorship-resistant search experience.

• Valuation Cap: $15 million

• Minimum Investment: $250

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