About us
VUKARA is rooted in the word VUKA. In Zulu and Xhosa, it means to “wake up” and “arise”. In Swahili, it is the act of “crossing over”.
Together, they define the most critical stage of the founder’s journey: the transition. Founders are often left to cross this 2–5 year threshold without sufficient resources to build. We see this period as an opportunity for founders and backers to redefine the future together.
Our Goal
100,000 meaningful connections
Our goal is to create 100,000 meaningful founder-backer connections by 2035. Each connection is built around a real business need, so backers are not watching impact from a distance.
Vision
Equal chances for equal humans.
A global community that backs women with expertise, networks, and capital to realise the change we want to see in the world.
Mission
We create pathways where there are none.
Through access to the expertise, networks, and capital needed in the most critical stage of startup failure.
Who We Are
Rebels. Connectors. System Shapers.
Anna, Katty, Cynthia, Simra — The Vukara team
As a registered non-profit in the Netherlands with a team of global citizens, we are building the change we want to see in the world. With diverse backgrounds as explorers by heart, we are global citizens, eager to make a difference in the world.
We’ve Got Your Back
We (Anna and Katty) founded VUKARA based on decades of experience in supporting thousands of entrepreneurs and innovators through our corporate/research careers at global institutions.
“Everything in life is about connection. I have worked, lived, studied and traveled to more than 80 countries and I’m both fascinated and infuriated by how (social) systems work and can be transformed. When I walk through slums it pains me to realize that the course of someone’s life can be altered by having access to things others might take for granted, like education, funding, networks, (mental) support. Because I operate so easily between different worlds I want to create bridges that enable greater opportunity and access.”
Anna & Katty — Co-Founders (Photography by Polina Nasedkina)
WE MAKE TROUBLE Hackathon team (Photography by Polina Nasedkina)
“I was raised by ambitious women, each generation crossing oceans to start their ventures — from China to Taiwan to South Africa. They had access to opportunities that laid the foundation for my research career in Europe. Regardless of where I’ve lived, I see the same patterns: structural inequality that undervalues women’s economic contribution. In my lifetime, for the next generations, I want to shape a different financial system where people can achieve their ambitions through global connections.”
Women (and other underrepresented) founders are structurally and systemically left behind when it comes to building their ventures. But they don't need permission; they need access to expertise, networks, and capital.
From our own backers
“Being one of VUKARA's first Backers has shown me that impact isn't only about investing money – it's about investing your time, expertise, and belief in someone's vision. It has reinforced my conviction that helping founders build a strong foundation in the early stages is often more valuable than funding alone. That's what inspires me most, and why I'm proud to contribute my time to a mission that has the potential to change the future of women entrepreneurship.”
“Working at VUKARA has made me part of a beautiful, talented community full of passion and skill. What motivates me most is contributing to the growth of female-owned startups and having a lasting impact on their success. VUKARA is bold, lively, and supportive at heart.”