What VCs Won't Tell You: Negotiating Term Sheets, Raising Smart & Building in Women's Health

Gail Armstrong is one of the UK's most prominent women's health investors and the founder of Lavender Ventures, a platform she built after COVID to combine early-stage investing with mentorship and community. With a background in financial services and four years deep in the femtech ecosystem, Gail has a rare view from both sides of the table, sitting with founders day-to-day while co-investing alongside leading VCs.In this episode, we get into the stuff founders often only hear off the record.We cover:How Gail founded Lavender Ventures and why the combination of capital, mentorship and community matters at the earliest stagesHow the women's health investment landscape has shifted — from a lack of early-stage investors to a growing ecosystem of angels, generalist VCs and dedicated femtech fundsWhy consumer apps are a harder sell to investors right now, and what founders in that space need to think about differentlyThe disconnect between where the investment world is heading (cardiovascular, autoimmune, ovarian health) and where many women still are in their own health education and awarenessWhy VCs and founders have more in common than founders might think — and how understanding a VC's position helps you work with them more effectivelyThe misalignment that can happen when fund timelines create pressure that doesn't always serve the company's best interestsWho should genuinely consider bootstrapping or grants instead of chasing VCGail's practical tips for engaging with investors — from building relationships before you're ready to raise, to keeping meticulous records of feedback and following up when you've addressed itWhy negotiating your term sheet is not only acceptable — it's expected, and what it signals to investors about how you'll run your businessHow to communicate with your investors in a way that brings them on the journey, especially when things are hardWhy transparency about legal or operational issues matters more than founders realise — and what happens when it's missingThe case against using agents to spam investors on your behalf, and a smarter alternativeGail also shares some memorable real-world stories from her own portfolio, including a deal she pulled at the eleventh hour after reading 200 pages of legal documents over a weekend — and what that revealed about founder transparency.Connect with Gail:Website: lavendervc.comLinkedIn: Gail ArmstrongLavender Ventures on LinkedInOur podcast sponsor is Progyny Global. A company that provides best-in-class fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause benefits for the modern global workforce. Progyny Global offers an inclusive platform that connects employees with top experts, clinics, and treatments around the world. To learn more visit: https://progynyglobal.com/#contact or to get in touch with our team directly via email (Sasha.tory@progynyglobal.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.