Portfolia

Portfolia is a venture capital firm that builds and manages thematic investment funds focused on sectors where women drive market demand and innovation. Founded by Trish Costello, who co-founded the Kauffman Fellows Program in 1994, Portfolia was established in response to a systemic gap in traditional venture capital: the consistent underfunding of women's health companies and startups led by underrepresented founders. The firm has grown into the number one investor in women's health globally, with over 165 investments across more than 15 funds and a community of more than 2,000 investors.

Portfolia's fund portfolio spans several high-growth thematic areas, including women's health, longevity, active aging, fintech, greentech, and companies founded by or serving people of color. The firm currently operates multiple open funds, including Women's Health Fund IV, which targets emerging technologies, products, and services designed to improve women's health and wellness across all life stages, and Rising America Fund III, which backs high-growth innovative companies founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs. Each fund typically invests in 8 to 14 companies, ranging from seed-stage to pre-IPO.

The firm differentiates itself through a community-driven model that allows investors to engage directly with portfolio company founders, participate in pitch calls, conduct due diligence, and contribute domain expertise from their own industries and consumer experience. This approach makes venture capital more accessible and collaborative than traditional closed-door fund structures. Portfolia is frequently invited into deals specifically because female investor endorsement provides a valuable layer of market validation for founders targeting women consumers.

Portfolia's venture partners bring deep domain expertise across biotech, life sciences, femtech, healthcare entrepreneurship, longevity science, and legal strategy. The firm's investment thesis centers on backing companies with strong return potential that also address needs and markets that conventional venture capital has historically overlooked or avoided. The firm's first two funds launched in 2016 and 2017 rank in the top quartile of venture funds from those vintage years.

Portfolio highlights include investments in companies such as Gameto and YourChoice, with three unicorn-level companies among its backed startups. Portfolia also hosts regular founder funding sessions, giving entrepreneurs direct access to the investment team and clarity on the firm's criteria and process. The firm targets both female and male-led executive teams, with a preference for gender-balanced leadership.