VC firm Arāya Ventures and female founder-focused accelerator Sie Ventures have raised £7.5 million in a first close for their joint Arāya Sie Fund, targeting women-led startups across the UK and Europe. The fund aims to address persistent gender imbalances in venture capital, with women-led startups receiving only 11% of UK VC funding last year, while mixed-gender teams secured 43%.

The fund has set a target of £27 million for its final close and plans to make 22 investments over the next two years. The launch comes amid what industry observers describe as a "bro renaissance" in tech, with some investors openly questioning diversity initiatives. Sie Ventures co-founder emphasized that women founders remain significantly underfunded despite strong performance data.

The first close attracted support from institutional investors and family offices, signaling growing appetite for gender-lens investing strategies. The joint venture combines Arāya's early-stage investment experience with Sie Ventures' accelerator platform for female founders.