The future is women-funded. The51 is at the forefront.

The51 Ventures Inc. is a venture fund and Financial Feminist™ platform where current and aspiring investors and entrepreneurs come together to democratize access to capital for women and gender-diverse founders.

By driving capital and commercialisation, The51 builds mutual wealth and social/environmental impact, shares knowledge and experiences and practices intersectional feminism through financial action. Our community of influential feminist investors, innovators, and consumers are building the Financial Feminist™ economy.

(*when we say “women” we mean all individuals who identify as women. Transgender women are women. The51 is built by women for everyone.)

We know we’ve tapped into something significant because our movement, community and impact continues to grow:

Capital Activated*

$47M

Ventures Funded*

35

Community

25,000+

*Includes pre-fund, Fund I + the Food and AgTech Fund.

By connecting the nation-wide movement of women accredited investors, women entrepreneurs and the larger community of voices eager to support them, we’re powering new wealth creation, and bringing about essential social change. 

Meet Our
Founders

Shelley Kuipers
Co-Founder, CEO

Shelley Kuipers is investing in the world she wants to live in. As an activist in business, entrepreneurship and investment, Shelley likes to take on the status quo, and seek out democratized business models and platforms.

Previous to co-founding The51, Shelley founded crowdsourcing company Chaordix and technology and marketing firm, Stormworks. She was also the co-founder of IOVIA, based in London, UK. Shelley also collaboratively runs her family office Adventure Capital, with her partner and two sons. Shelley has had the opportunity to live and work in Canada, US, Germany and the UK, as well as lead global commercialisation efforts across markets in the US, UK/Europe, SE Asia/Australia and Africa.

Shelley has been early-stage investing for more than 20 years. Her investment experience started in oil and gas, but she quickly diversified her investments into the tech sector with a focus on innovation-driven companies across many sectors. To date their family office has made +30 early-stage investments.

Shelley’s most notable investment was Solium, which was acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2019 for $1.1B. Shelley supports many founders, and ventures as an advisor, board observer and director, including Bobbie Racette Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus.