Accelerating the next generation of women-led, gender-smart fund managers

A solution to catalyse systemic change

In 2021, we reflected on key lessons from the first years of the 2X Challenge. We identified persistent inequalities and systemic barriers limiting the volume and impact of capital flowing towards gender-smart funds and underrepresented founders.

Through a series of intensive workshops with over 120 industry experts across emerging and frontier markets, we concluded that the smartest way to unlock inclusive capital at scale is to invest in women/diverse-led fund managers with gender-smart investment strategies.

That’s what 2X Ignite is: a holistic solution to accelerate the next generation of women-led, gender-smart fund managers - and to fund underrepresented founders.

Based on fund managers’ needs

2X Ignite has three pillars: I. Capacity Building & Access to Networks, II. Shared Services, Working Capital & Warehousing Capital, and III. Anchor Capital.

  • The first pillar focuses on supporting the next generation of fund managers and building their networks and knowledge. This aims to foster a new generation of gender-smart fund managers investing with both an aim of profitability and ESG and impact goals.

  • The second pillar will accelerate the launch of gender-smart investment vehicles by providing essential services and the working capital for a successful raise and de-risking emerging fund managers through a warehousing facility.

  • The final pillar is anchoring emerging fund managers with mission-aligned LPs. This will build a global continuum of capital for gender-smart investors and investees.

These solutions on their own deliver a positive impact, and together, aim to catalyse systemic change. As such, the activities under each pillar are designed to complement and strengthen the realisation of one another.

Global Community of Practice

The “one-stop shop” for peer learning, resource sharing, networking, and connecting with LP investor networks through 2X Global. We offer live 45-minute monthly sessions for the community in two time zones, one for peer learning (How I Did It) and one for LP networking (Meet the LP). With the support of Strategy Tools, the team also hosts regular Masterclasses developed based on their needs. All masterclasses are hands-on workshops with bespoke tools that help new fund managers prepare for their journey.

2XI Digital Academy

Free, self-paced, practical and modular online training course with basic, intermediate, and advanced-level content on the A to Z of fund management. All our courses and programs are built on real-world experience on fund management and developed with industry experts.

2XI GP Sprint

The world’s leading accelerator programme designed to boost the fundraising journey of fund managers. This is a 6-month programme focused on supporting 8-12 women-led or gender-balanced fund managers with gender-smart investing strategies to better position themselves for a successful fundraising journey with their investment vehicles. The GP Sprint is designed in a very hands-on and practical way to accelerate the GPs in real time on their fundraising journey to a first or subsequent close.