We are beyond excited to announce Gesa Miczaika as a special guest in the Evangelistas’ Super Angel Program! A true pioneer in the European venture capital scene, Gesa is renowned for her dedication to fostering diversity and empowering women in entrepreneurship. As the co-founder and managing partner of the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, she has been a driving force behind increasing access to capital for female founders, ensuring that diversity in tech isn't just a conversation, but a reality.

Meet Gesa Miczaika: A Trailblazer for Women Founders

Gesa’s impressive career journey reflects her passion for entrepreneurship and commitment to addressing the gender gap in venture capital. Before launching Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, Gesa co-founded Evangelistas together with Bettine Schmitz, Fabiola Hochkirchen and Julia Dous, our vibrant European community of today +350 female angel investors empowering women to actively participate in tech investments. With a background as both an operator, angel and now a venture capitalist, Gesa brings an unparalleled wealth of experience to the table.

Through the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, Gesa is tackling one of the biggest issues in the venture space: the lack of representation and funding for female-led startups. The fund specifically targets female founders or mixed-gender founding teams, investing in early-stage startups and giving them the resources they need to scale. Auxxo is not only making capital accessible to women entrepreneurs but is also helping build a network of female investors who are actively shaping the future of tech.

With over 45 investments under her belt, Gesa's track record speaks for itself. Her focus on backing female-led startups is making a significant impact, especially in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), with ambitions to expand across Europe.

Exclusive Session Topic: Building a Diverse Portfolio

We are thrilled to announce that Gesa will be leading an exclusive session on:

"Building a Diverse Portfolio: The Power of Backing Female-Led Startups and Creating Inclusive Investment Strategies"

In this session, Gesa will delve into:

1. Identifying Female-Led Investment Opportunities: Practical insights on how to spot and evaluate female-led startups, particularly in markets where women founders are underrepresented.
2. The Business Case for Diversity: Exploring how diverse founding teams can outperform, bringing both social and financial value. Gesa will share data and examples from her own portfolio to demonstrate the return on investment in female-led ventures.
3. Breaking Bias in Due Diligence: Techniques to recognize and overcome unconscious biases that can impact investment decisions, ensuring a more equitable evaluation process for all founders.
4. Collaborating with Female Angels: Strategies for building strong networks with other female investors, sharing resources, and fostering a supportive community.

This session promises to provide actionable advice and unique perspectives, making it a must-attend for anyone interested in creating a more inclusive venture capital ecosystem.

Interview with Gesa Miczaika: Insights from a Super Angel

We had the privilege of speaking with Gesa about her experience in venture capital, her approach to investing, and her advice for budding angel investors.

Q: Can you tell us about your deal track record?

Gesa: I’ve made 47 investments so far. My focus has not always been on female co-founded startups. As angel investors, we received overwhelming feedback both from diverse teams and venture capital funds with regards to us bridging the gap between these two parts of the market. Out of this, we created the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund. Our mission is to support diversity in the startup ecosystem.

Q: What is your superpower when it comes to supporting entrepreneurs?

Gesa: My superpower is giving founders a safe space to open up and truly express their vision and challenges. I am also a very good connector, bringing them together with the right people in the VC world who can help accelerate their journey.

Q: What have you learned from your Anti-Portfolio?

Gesa: There are too many learnings to mention! But one of the key ones is to always trust your gut. For example, when I passed on Edurino, my gut told me to invest, but my head interfered. It’s a reminder to balance intuition with due diligence.

Q: What’s the biggest difference between angel investing and now running Auxxo?

Gesa: As a VC, I have to be much more thorough and diligent. When managing a fund, being a good steward of the capital entrusted to you is crucial, which requires sticking closely to our investment thesis. There’s less flexibility compared to angel investing, but it also makes the process more focused and deliberate.

Q: How do you collaborate with other angels?

Gesa: I frequently exchange deal flow, ask for help with due diligence, and share insights from working with portfolio companies. Building a strong network is essential, and I try to be as helpful as possible to other investors—whether that’s providing introductions or sharing insights from my own experience.

Q: What will convince you to invest in a startup?

Gesa: For me, it’s all about the team and the market. The founding team needs to be very knowledgeable in their domain, have all the most relevant skills combined, and display ambition and resilience as well as passion with regards to what they are building. Passion is contagious, and it’s vital that founders have the ability to excite those around them—whether it’s their team, investors, or customers.

Why Gesa Miczaika is the Perfect Fit for the Super Angel Program

Gesa’s hands-on approach, deep commitment to gender diversity, and vast experience as both an entrepreneur and investor make her an invaluable addition to the Super Angel Program. Her philosophy aligns perfectly with our mission: to empower women in the venture capital space and create an inclusive environment where founders can thrive.

She has shown that it is possible to challenge the status quo in the venture world by supporting diverse teams, creating opportunities for women to access capital, and fostering a network of female investors. Her upcoming session on building a diverse portfolio will provide attendees with practical tools and insights to make a meaningful impact in the startup ecosystem.

Final Thoughts from Evangelistas’ Co-Founder, Julia Dous

"As someone who is deeply passionate about creating diverse cap tables, I am thrilled to have Gesa Miczaika as part of our Super Angel Program. Her track record and insights are invaluable to our mission of empowering more women to become active angel investors. With leaders like Gesa, we are taking concrete steps toward making venture capital more inclusive across Europe.”

Join Us and Shape the Future of Venture Capital

We are proud to bring together investors like Gesa who are reshaping the landscape of venture capital. If you’re interested in becoming an active angel investor and contributing to a more inclusive future for tech, we invite you to join us.

Learn more about the Super Angel Program:: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/the-evangelistas_womenintech-angelinvesting-superangelprogram-activity-7238788285542641664-7aJX

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