Ad Astra Ventures

Ad Astra Ventures is an investment company dedicated to growing and empowering female founders in the early stages of their businesses.

Solana Beach, CA, USA

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Description

Ad Astra Ventures is a San Diego-based investment firm and accelerator exclusively dedicated to empowering and funding female founders. Applications are typically open to female-led high-growth startups.

Online Portal: Founders must fill out a form detailing their business idea, team composition, and growth plan via the Ad Astra Ventures website.
Screening Criteria: Evaluation centers on leadership potential, business scalability, and alignment with the mission of bridging gender bias.

Eligibility

Gender: Must be led by at least one female founder.
Financial Criteria:
- Targeting companies raising a maximum of $1M.
- Valuation typically in the range of $5M to $10M.
- Minimum of $200K soft-circled from at least one other experienced investor.
Geography: Primarily targets startups based in the United States (with a heavy San Diego focus).

Process

The firm employs a multi-stage evaluation and partnership model:

Initial Screening: Digital review of the application and online presence.
Interviews: Multiple rounds of discussions to understand the founder's unique strengths.
Venture Builder: A 6–8 month bespoke program that combines investment with active mentorship to sharpen the company's foundation.
Accelerator (Traditional): A 12-week program focused on building, running, and scaling investable businesses authentically.

What an Applicant can Obtain

Capital: Standard investments of $25,000 at Pre-Seed and $25,000 – $50,000 at Seed & Series A.
Mentorship: Personalized coaching from experienced investors and industry leaders to overcome implicit gender biases.
Fractional Support: Hands-on delivery in areas like marketing, sales plans, and fundraising strategies.