Prosper Women Entrepreneurs

Prosper Women Entrepreneurs

Prosper Women Entrepreneurs was launched in 2015 by Jennifer Ehlen and Cheryl Aguilar, both of whom had prior experience in finance and entrepreneurship. The firm was established to address the capital gap for women founders, particularly those outside coastal venture hubs. Its name and mission reflect a focus on supporting female-led startups through seed and Series A rounds. The firm invests across enterprise software, digital health, fintech, and AI/ML, targeting early-stage companies with a woman on the founding team. Portfolio companies include Sorous, a medical device startup, and Perch, a logistics platform (per public record). Investments are primarily direct equity deals, with a geographic focus on the Midwest and select opportunities across the US. The firm operates as a venture capital fund rather than a single-family office. In 2023, Prosper Women Entrepreneurs closed its second fund at $10M, according to an SEC filing (per SEC filing, 2023). The team includes two managing directors and a small investment committee. The firm also engages with the local startup ecosystem through mentorship and events. A structural differentiator is its sector-agnostic thesis that requires at least one woman on the founding team, a criterion that narrows the deal pipeline but aligns with the firm's mission. The firm's Midwestern base and focus on non-coastal companies provide a sourcing advantage in a region with less venture capital competition.