Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

• What is the Women in AI Venture Club?

  A private, invite-only circle for investors who want to allocate capital into artificial intelligence through a woman capital allocator — not just headlines about the space. The Club covers the full AI stack, from foundation models and applied enterprise AI to infrastructure and wearables, and deal sourcing is not limited to women-founded companies. It’s not a networking mixer — it’s a working investment committee.

• Who curates the Club?

  Sophia Zhao, Partner at Alumni Ventures’ AI, Blockchain, and Women’s Funds. She brings 15+ years of finance and startup experience across fintech, consumer, AI, and crypto in Canada and the US, has led capital raises and institutional partnerships across three continents, and mentors and judges at Yale’s Tsai City, Berkeley’s Blockchain Xcelerator, and Techstars.

• Who is it for?

  Investors ready to deploy real capital into AI through a woman capital allocator; executives, operators, and finance leaders building venture judgment; and those who want direct access to AI deal flow — not panels or podcasts — and a peer group that pressure-tests thinking rather than just applauds it.

• How do the sessions work?

  One 60-minute session per month — a real deal review using the same memos AV’s Funds use internally. Members prepare in advance and pressure-test the opportunity together, guest founders join directly for confidential Q&A, and each member submits a written invest/pass rationale: real reps, real judgment.

• What is the community like?

  An intimate cohort of 15–20 investors serious about AI, meeting over monthly Zoom sessions plus periodic in-person gatherings, with direct access to AV’s AI investing team and select founders — a room built on trust, candor, and real capital at stake.

• What kinds of companies and co-investors are involved?

  Members see live AI deals across companies like Bluesky, Cohere, Groq, Lambda, Rigetti, Circle, Oura, SonderMind, Axiom Space, RapidSOS, humans&, and Canton, alongside established VC lead investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia, NEA, Kleiner Perkins, USV, Bessemer Venture Partners, Y Combinator, Founders Fund, and Khosla Ventures.

• What's expected of members?

  Show up prepared, compete with ideas rather than ego, keep investment amounts private, and keep what’s shared in the room in the room. Investments are made individually (not through pooled vehicles); allocations may be limited and are not guaranteed; and passing on a deal is acceptable — thoughtful engagement is expected. Repeated non-attendance or disengagement will result in the seat being recycled.

• How do I join?

  Membership is by invitation. Share your interest to get started. All Club members must demonstrate accredited investor status prior to viewing any investment opportunities.