Invest in Equity: advancing gender equity in life science investment
In this blog, Elisa Petris, Partner at Syncona Investment Management Limited, and Emma Johnson, Senior Investment Manager – Life Sciences at the British Business Bank, write in their capacity as Co-founders of Invest in Equity. They share why they launched the initiative, the urgency of improving gender diversity in life science investment, and how a more inclusive ecosystem can drive stronger returns and better outcomes for patients.
Every life‑changing scientific breakthrough has one thing in common: someone chose to fund it. In life sciences, that “someone” is often a venture capital investor. Now, imagine a future where the next breakthrough in cancer treatment, regenerative medicine, or AI-powered diagnostics exists but it never gets funded.
Why? Because decisions about how to allocate capital remain in the hands of a small, homogenous group of venture capital investors, we risk overlooking innovation without better representation of diverse perspectives at the top. This lack of diversity among decision-makers means that promising breakthroughs may never receive funding. Not because they lack merit, but because they don’t fit established patterns or biases. This isn’t hypothetical; it is happening right now as investors weigh risks and rewards for both technologies and individuals.
Earlier this year, we launched Invest in Equity, an international initiative on a mission to accelerate gender equity in life science investment to the benefit of diversity of thought in investment teams, and expanding networks to reduce those unknown entities. We’re building a community of investors and industry influencers who believe that inclusive leadership isn’t only about good ethics, but it’s good business. Our founding and advisory team share a single conviction: a more diverse investment ecosystem will not only deliver stronger returns but will also shape the future of medicine for the better.
📊 The data speaks and it speaks loudly
Right now, women hold just 24% of investment roles in Europe (European Gender Diversity Report 2024, Level 20). That means three-quarters of investment capital is being deployed by predominantly non-diverse teams.
In life sciences, where investment decisions shape which medicines will reach patients, that lack of diversity is a lost opportunity for better outcomes for patients.
The evidence is there:
- Top-quartile gender-diverse boards are up to 27% more likely to deliver above-average financial returns (McKinsey, 2023).
- Gender-diverse executive teams? Up to 39% more likely to financially outperform their peers (McKinsey, 2023).
And there’s a domino effect at play. BIA's Women in Biotech Leadership report found that investor and board influence is the biggest challenge to female CEO tenure and progression in the biotech space. In an industry where the Board composition of early-stage companies is largely comprised of Investor Directors, increasing the representation of women in these positions should have a knock-on effect and result in greater representation of women in life science leadership positions within industry (Kauffman Fellows Research Center, 2020). Anecdotally, this is exactly what we have seen in our own portfolio companies where diversity of the C-Suite and the board room is an attraction that draws in further diverse candidates at both levels.
The message is clear: changing the face of investment leadership will change the face of the industry.
🚀 Our mission at Invest in Equity
We are here to champion women’s careers in investment roles across the industry.
Our mission is to build avenues for change through:
- Advancing women in life science investment at every career stage.
- Expanding career growth opportunities and access to capital networks.
- Elevating diverse perspectives to unlock better decision-making.
- Supporting women-led funds that fuel innovative science.
Through mentorship, training, and an inclusive network, we aim to see more women in senior investment roles and more women shaping the future of Biotech, Medtech, and Healthtech.
🤝 How you can get involved
Our network is dedicated to the life science investment community, bringing together professionals from across Biotech, Medtech, and Healthtech, to unite around the common goal of advancing women in investment. Whether you're:
- An early-stage venture capitalist
- A growth equity investor
- A corporate investment team member
- A Limited Partner seeking new investment prospects
… our community offers a space to connect with others and be part of the growing movement.
We host a range of events, from intimate roundtable discussions to dynamic panel conversations, where we discuss how to move change beyond conversation into action. We run programs across the UK, Europe, and online, so geography isn’t a barrier.
We have just launched our first investor mentorship program to connect female investors with senior leaders in the field. Training opportunities will follow, designed to equip women with the tools and relationships to thrive in high-stakes investment environments.
And if you can’t make it in person? Our Substack keeps our community in the loop with event summaries, insights, and resources you can use to advance equity where you work.
📩 Join the movement
The future of life science will be built by the people who decide what gets funded. Let’s make sure those decision-makers reflect the diversity of the world they serve.
If you want to be part of shaping that future, reach out to us at [email protected].
