VC’s blind spot? An interview with Global Inclusive Founders Fund (GIFF) on backing Europe’s overlooked founders

A new initiative, the Global Inclusive Founders Fund (GIFF), has launched with the aim of addressing a significant gap in the European venture capital landscape. This dual-structure fund, comprising both a foundation and an investment vehicle, seeks to identify and back high-potential founders who have faced systemic barriers, including disability or neurodivergence. By creating visibility and providing early-stage support through its foundation, GIFF aims to cultivate a pipeline of overlooked talent for its investment arm. GIFF emphasizes deal access over fund size, with the ambition to close its first investments by Q2 2026 across key European ecosystems like London and Munich. The fund will deliberately avoid a purely "impact-only" positioning, instead focusing on a returns-driven thesis that leverages the unique advantages of its target founders. These founders often possess exceptional resilience, unconventional problem-solving skills, and the ability to navigate complex systems, qualities highly valued in venture-scale companies. The active involvement of experienced entrepreneurs and operators within GIFF's "Investment Circle" is central to its strategy. This approach moves beyond a traditional limited partner structure, fostering a founder-backed network designed to actively support portfolio companies. By doing so, GIFF aims to unlock innovative solutions and new markets by tapping into talent pools that have historically been underserved by traditional venture capital.