Recent research has shown that there is an increasing amount of capital available for funds with a gender lens, that gender-balanced funds are outperforming their peers and that gender balanced portfolio companies are receiving increased valuations. Gender-lens investing is gaining traction in the region and is a key strategy for PE/VC firms looking to support a resilient recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It is with this backdrop that AVPN, a pan-Asian network for social investors, with support from Investing in Women, an Australian government programme, has launched a series of events around Southeast Asia that will highlight the importance of gender lens investing for building resilience in the region following the COVID-19 Pandemic. AVPN is partnering with AusCham Vietnam and AmCham Vietnam to host the latest installment of this series in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss how gender can drive value for investors in Vietnam, from the perspectives of private equity and venture capital (PE/VC) investors.
The session opened with a presentation of IFC’s recent report ‘Moving Toward Gender Balance in Private Equity and Venture Capital’ and was followed by a panel from leading PE/VC funds in Vietnam. Panelists discussed why and how they incorporate gender considerations into their investment processes, portfolios and teams and how this has impacted their funds’ performance, be it through increased returns, better risk management, or access to new sources of capital. These fund managers shared their ‘aha’ moments when they realised the benefits of using a gender lens and provided actionable advice for others to follow suit.
