text: Gender lens investing is an increasingly popular approach for impact-focused investors. In just the last few years, the number of firms investing with a gender lens has exploded, and these firms have gone from raising $1.1 billion in capital in 2017 to $4.8 billion in 2019. On top of that, the global 2X Challenge recently announced it would raise $15 billion for gender lens investing after securing more than double its original $3 billion target.
  This is great news, especially since the gender financing gap remains huge—$320 billion just for women entrepreneurs in low- to middle-income countries. By embedding gender-focused outcomes into their strategies and decision making, investors can have a positive impact on women and girls while generating financial returns for their portfolios. But many investors don’t know where to start.
  Root Capital seeks to improve the lives of rural farmers by connecting them with the formal economy. Root Capital invests in the growth of agricultural enterprises so they can transform rural communities.