Kristina Simmons

Founder of Overwater Ventures

Hi Matt,

I wanted to reach out because I work with the founder of a VC firm who used to be a partner at a16z and Khosla Ventures. Her firm primarily invests in femtech startups, which are historically underfunded but lately have been hitting record numbers. She’d love to share how she built a standout firm in a particularly difficult industry.

Meet Kristina Simmons, founder of Overwater Ventures and former partner at a16z and Khosla Ventures. After freezing her eggs, Kristina saw firsthand how expensive, time consuming and inaccessible the process is – a growing problem in the industry.

With 1 in 8 women experiencing infertility, more freezing their eggs, and millions fighting menopause symptoms, you’d think VCs would be eager to invest in women’s health startups.

… And you’d be wrong.

Receiving only $100 million in 2013, women’s health startups are underfunded, largely because the industry is 90% male. In fact, it’s so hard for women-led femtech startups to get funding, that many bring their husbands to meetings to be taken seriously by male investors.

Seeing the opportunity, Kristina started her own VC firm – that raised $20M in its first round – to finally give funding to companies opening doors for women like herself to control their fertility and menopause experience.

Kristina would love to share how she’s revolutionizing a tough industry, and why femtech is a hidden gem to invest in. She can speak to:
-- What her egg freezing journey taught her about the need for accessible fertility care
-- Why it’s worth it to go against the grain and invest in femtech
-- How she raised $20M for her debut fund as a pregnant solo-GP when the industry as a whole only raised $100M ten years prior
-- The advice she'd give to femtech founders seeking funding

If you’d like to have Kristina on Startup Hustle, I’d be happy to set it up!

Best,
Christina