Women’s Innovation
Women still face significant obstacles to economic equality and good healthcare. Investing in women is good for families, communities, and economies. We aim to reach at least 80 million low-income women in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa through initiatives that can increase their incomes by more than 30% by 2030.
Our commitment to women’s economic empowerment and women’s health innovation spans all areas of the foundation’s work in agriculture, inclusive financial systems, healthcare delivery, life sciences, and U.S. education. We focus on tech-enabled business innovations that improve women’s digital connectivity, their workforce participation, and their incomes. To improve women’s and girls’ health, we focus on R&D and market innovations to bring affordable health solutions for women in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Investments
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Kaleidofin
Fintech platform unlocking credit markets for women and reimagining the future of microfinance
Investors
Vanessa Bhark
Principal
Seattle
Vanessa Bhark is a Principal at the Gates Foundation’s $2.5 billion Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), the foundation’s venture capital, debt, and guarantee fund. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation in 2021, Vanessa was a member of the investment team at Frazier Healthcare Partners, focused on biopharmaceuticals. Vanessa has also held positions in corporate and business…
Elisabeth Di Domenico
Associate
Seattle
Elisabeth joined the Gates Foundation in March 2026 and serves as an Associate of the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), where she works as a generalist across the Fund’s investment areas. Prior to joining the Foundation, Elisabeth was an Investment Banking Analyst at Morgan Stanley within the Industrials Group in New York City, where she executed…
Julie Frye
Partner
Seattle
While she maintains a diverse portfolio, Julie spends the majority of her time focused on healthcare delivery, which comprises debt, equity, and volume guarantee investments that improve primary healthcare, maternal and child health, and infectious disease. Recognizing that there will never be enough trained medical providers, she focuses on the role that technology-enabled diagnostics, devices,…
Logan Morwick Miller
Associate
Seattle
Logan Morwick Miller joined the Gates Foundation in 2023 and serves as an Associate of the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF). Since joining, Logan has evaluated and structured investments in the biotech, agriculture technology and education technology sectors, as well as volume guarantees supporting new HIV PrEP products. She is the Foundation’s Board Observer for Carnegie…