unlock VC (previously WVC:E)

What unlock VC (previously WVC:E) does

unlock VC (previously WVC:E) is a community platform and event business for women in venture capital, founded in 2022 by Sophie Winwood (CEO) and Ruth Foxe Blader (Chair) and headquartered in London with operational roots in Paris. The company serves a community of 1,000+ members including GPs, LPs, VC investors, angel investors, founders, and operators, with a stated focus on addressing underrepresentation of women in VC, peer support, parental leave challenges, and access to deal flow and co-investment opportunities.

The core product is the annual unlock VC Summit, a three-day flagship event bringing together 400+ female GPs, LPs, investors, founders, and operators; Summit 2026 is scheduled for 7-9 October at Norrsken House Barcelona. The platform layers on a paid unlock+ annual membership (€750/year) providing discounted summit tickets, training programmes, peer dialogue series, AMA sessions, member-only WhatsApp group and directory, and priority news sharing. Additional offerings include the MaternityInVC industry research report (launched 2024), a Women in VC Jobs Board (Notion), Female VC Speakers directory, board training, monthly local events across Europe, and the Founders Connect deal-sourcing program. Technology infrastructure is lightweight — built on Squarespace for the website, Airtable for membership applications, Lu.ma for event calendars, Notion for resources, and external ticketing via Ticket Tailor — with no proprietary platform or AI components.

The business model combines recurring subscription revenue (unlock+ membership), transactional revenue (summit ticket sales), and likely sponsorship revenue from a tier-1 sponsor roster that includes Cooley, Deloitte, HSBC, Microsoft for Startups, British Business Bank, Embankment, Harmonic, NatWest, EIF, and PER+. The company operates with a lean team of 11 employees, a community-led go-to-market anchored on peer referrals and events, and a bootstrapped ownership structure with no disclosed external funding.

Name

unlock VC (previously WVC:E)

Legal name

unlock VC

Website

https://unlock-vc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

unlock VC is a community platform and event business for women in venture capital, founded in 2022 by Sophie Winwood and Ruth Foxe Blader. It operates a 1,000+ member network, a flagship annual summit (400+ attendees), a €750/year unlock+ membership, and the MaternityInVC research report, serving female GPs, LPs, investors, and operators primarily across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership (unlock+): €750 annual membership paid upfront, offering 20-25% discounts on training programs, discounted summit tickets, exclusive events access, member-only WhatsApp group, directory, priority news sharing, and content co-creation opportunities.
2. Summit Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for the annual unlock VC Summit (€150 discounted member rate mentioned). Summit brings together 400+ female GPs, LPs, investors, founders and operators for three-day event.
3. Training & Networking Programmes: Board training and professional development programs offered to community members at 20-25% discount for unlock+ members. Additional paid programmes for non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

unlock VC operates a subscription-based membership community (unlock+ at €750/year) and an annual flagship summit for women in venture capital. It delivers networking, training programmes (including board training), peer dialogue series, Founders Connect sessions, monthly local events, the MaternityInVC research report, and a jobs board and speakers directory to support its 1,000+ member base of GPs, LPs, investors, founders, and operators.

Product overview

unlock VC is a community platform for women in venture capital, previously known as WVC:E. The offering consists of a flagship annual summit (unlock VC Summit), premium unlock+ membership programme, industry research (MaternityInVC Report), job board resources, training programmes (board training), networking events, and a newsletter. The platform connects over 1,000 members including GPs, LPs, VC investors, and angel investors through events, resources, and peer dialogue. Founded in 2022 by Sophie Winwood and Ruth Foxe Blader, the core value proposition is facilitating meaningful connections within the women in VC community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MaternityInVC: Industry-first report on maternal experiences in venture capital covering parental leave, return to work, and workplace boundaries

Products and services

• unlock+ Membership Premium annual individual membership for women in venture capital, priced at €750/year, providing 20-25% off training programmes, discounted summit tickets, guaranteed access to monthly local events across Europe, peer dialogue series, AMA sessions with LPs and GPs, member-only WhatsApp group, directory, and priority news/opportunity sharing.
• unlock VC Summit Annual flagship in-person summit bringing together 400+ female GPs, LPs, investors, founders, and operators for three days of curated networking, workshops, and intimate conversations. Summit 2026 scheduled for Barcelona at Norrsken House on 7-9 October.
• MaternityInVC Report Industry-first research report examining women's challenges related to parental leave, returning to work, and setting boundaries in venture capital, published in 2024.
• Women in VC Jobs Board

Quantifiable outcome

• ~80% of respondents felt there was room for improvement in their return-to-work process following maternity leave
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cooley LLPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Legal partner for Summit 2026. Provides expertise in US capital markets with Partner Courtney Thorne speaking at the event. Core sponsor supporting the unlock VC community event.
• DeloittecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Professional services partner for Summit 2026. Core sponsor of the annual unlock VC summit.
• HSBCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Banking partner for Summit 2026. Core sponsor supporting the unlock VC community event.
• Microsoft for StartupscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Technology partner for Summit 2026. Core sponsor supporting the unlock VC community event.
• British Business BankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026UK government-backed development bank partner for Summit 2026. Core sponsor of the annual unlock VC summit.
• EmbankmentcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate relations partner for Summit 2026. Core sponsor supporting the unlock VC community event.
• HarmoniccoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Technology partner for Summit 2026. Core sponsor of the annual unlock VC summit.
• NatWestcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Banking partner for Summit 2026 and listed partner on Partners page. Core sponsor supporting the unlock VC community.
• European Investment Fund (EIF)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026European investment fund partner for Summit 2026. Core sponsor supporting the unlock VC community event.
• Norrsken House BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Venue partner for Summit 2026. Norrsken House Barcelona hosts the three-day summit for 400+ attendees. Strategic venue partnership enabling the annual event.
• PER+coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner for Summit 2026. Listed as core sponsor of the annual unlock VC summit.
• AffinityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024CRM platform partner for MaternityInVC report. Supporter of the research initiative on maternal experiences in VC.
• CartaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Cap table and equity management platform supporter of the MaternityInVC research report 2024.
• Balderton CapitalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024VC firm supporter of the MaternityInVC research initiative.
• Google CloudminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Technology partner supporter of the MaternityInVC report 2024.
• J.P. MorganminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Financial services partner supporter of the MaternityInVC research initiative.
• Diversity VCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Diversity organization listed as supporter of the MaternityInVC report, collaborating on improving equity in VC.
• Future VCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Future VC organization listed as supporter of the MaternityInVC research report.
• Included VCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Included VC organization listed as supporter of the MaternityInVC research initiative.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Pipeline Angels: Pipeline Angels is a network of women and non-binary angel investors focused on changing the face of angel investing. It is comparable to unlock VC in its women-in-investing focus and member-based community model, though it emphasizes angel investing rather than institutional VC.
• The Folklore: The Folklore is a B2B marketplace and community connecting global brands with Black and minority-owned suppliers. While not a direct VC community, it shares unlock VC's model of building a curated, membership-based community for an underrepresented group in a specific industry.
• The Bigger Conversation: The Bigger Conversation is a UK-based community and events platform focused on supporting and connecting women in venture and startups. It is comparable to unlock VC in its UK/European focus, member-led model, and emphasis on women in the venture ecosystem.
• SoGal: SoGal is a global community and venture fund for diverse entrepreneurs and investors, with active chapters across the US, Asia, and Europe. It is comparable to unlock VC in its women-in-finance/venture focus and community-driven model, though it spans a broader scope (founders + investors) and is more venture-oriented.
• Female Founders Fund: Female Founders Fund is an early-stage venture fund investing in women-led companies. While primarily a fund, it overlaps with unlock VC on the women-in-venture ecosystem and is a recognized brand in the women-in-VC/startup community that unlock VC's members likely engage with.

Direct peers

• All Raise: All Raise is a US-based nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the success of women in venture capital through community, programming, and research. It is the most direct comparable to unlock VC in mission, structure, and offerings (annual summits, membership, and research), serving the same women-in-VC niche but primarily in the US market.
• Included VC: Included VC is a UK-based nonprofit focused on increasing Black and ethnic minority representation in venture capital. It shares unlock VC's mission of diversifying VC and operating as a community platform for underrepresented investors, and was also a supporter of the MaternityInVC report.
• Diversity VC: Diversity VC is a nonprofit driving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the VC industry through research, a standard for VC firms, and community programming. It overlaps with unlock VC on the women-in-VC and broader diversity-in-VC mandate, and was a listed supporter of unlock VC's MaternityInVC report.
• Future VC: Future VC is a community organization supporting emerging and underrepresented fund managers in venture capital. It overlaps with unlock VC's mission of diversifying the investor base and was a listed supporter of the MaternityInVC research initiative.

Regional players

• Global Invest Her: Global Invest Her is an international network supporting women in VC and private equity across Europe and beyond. It is comparable to unlock VC as a community for women in VC with events and training offerings, and operates in overlapping European geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unlockvc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about unlock VC (previously WVC:E)