Initiate Ventures, a women-led firm specializing in early-stage health tech and life sciences, has successfully closed its debut fund at $45 million. This firm joins nearly 50 other women-led funds that collectively raised $1.44 billion in the first half of the year, aiming to match the previous years’ totals of $3 billion. Founded by Jessica Owens and Iana Dimkova in 2020, Initiate began fundraising in November 2021, ultimately securing $36 million from 38 investors by November 2022. The firm focuses on sectors such as biopharma tech and precision medicine, with investments in companies like Cornerstone AI and Delfi Diagnostics.