You led Zinc’s first funding round while pregnant with your first child, what was going through your mind at the time, and how did you prepare yourself mentally for such a high-stakes period?
The funding round was an incredibly intense and emotional period of my life. Leading Zinc’s first funding, with my partner and co-founder, Luke, while pregnant with our first child, meant juggling both immense professional pressure and deeply personal challenges. What was going through my mind? Honestly, a mix of exhaustion, determination, and resilience. We were coming off the back of a long and painful fertility journey and had just experienced another miscarriage during our funding outreach. At the same time, the economy had taken a nosedive, the tech bubble had burst, SVB and Credit Suisse collapsed during our due diligence phase, and investor confidence was incredibly low. Very few firms were writing cheques, especially for first-time founders.
Mentally preparing for that period meant taking things one day at a time. I had to keep showing up and projecting confidence even when I felt physically unwell and emotionally drained. There wasn’t much room for vulnerability, but I learnt to compartmentalise and stay focused on why we were doing this in the first place.
You don’t come from an Oxbridge or FANG background. How much did that shape how you were perceived by investors, and how did you work around any assumptions or biases?
Not having an Oxbridge or FANG background absolutely influenced how we were perceived. We didn’t have the kind of credentials or networks that often give founders a head start in fundraising. That meant we faced more scrutiny, more rejections, and had to work harder to earn credibility. But we leaned into our strengths: deep insight into the problem space, clarity of vision, and a strong, mission-driven approach. Over time, that started to break through the biases.
Looking back, I’m proud of how we pushed through. Just in 2023 alone, we raised £5M, had a baby, and moved house – not a combination I’d recommend, but I am so proud to say that we made it through.
You’ve spoken about deciding when to tell investors you were expecting. Can you walk us through how you made that decision and what reactions you got, if any, when you shared the news? Did you feel pressure to conceal your pregnancy or “power through” symptoms like morning sickness in order to appear resilient or investor-ready? Were there moments during the fundraise where you felt your identity as a woman, or an expectant mother, influenced how you were treated, even subtly?
Deciding when to tell investors I was pregnant was something I thought about a lot. I was still in the first trimester during the due diligence phase, dealing with morning sickness and the physical strain but also carrying the emotional weight of our fertility journey and past losses. That made it hard to know the “right” time to share. We ultimately decided to wait until the second trimester, when we felt more confident in the pregnancy and thankfully, when we did tell our investors, they were incredibly supportive. It was actually very reassuring and reconfirmed something in us that we had chosen the right partner in AVP.
That said, I definitely felt pressure to power through the symptoms and present myself as strong and unshakeable. There’s still so little visibility or open conversation around what it’s like to fundraise while pregnant. It often feels like it’s something you’re supposed to keep quiet, or work around as though being pregnant and being a founder can’t fully coexist.
As a female founder, I noticed both subtle and more overt dynamics at play. On one hand, I think some investors were actively looking to back more diverse teams, and that may have helped us in some rooms. But from a personal perspective, trying for a baby while fundraising and managing loss made everything much harder. There were definitely moments where I felt the unspoken pressure to “manage” my identity as an expectant mother so it does not appear as a distraction or a risk.
There just isn’t enough support around this. Society likes to say women can do both build companies and grow families but the reality is far messier and harder than people acknowledge.
What kind of support or resources do you think founders who are mothers need that simply aren’t available right now?
Support for founder-mothers needs to start with open and honest conversations between men and women, founders and investors, about pregnancy, motherhood, and the reality of needing time to step back and care for a new baby. These are natural, important parts of life and should be recognised and celebrated, not treated as awkward or taboo. Talking about starting a family shouldn’t feel like dropping a bomb on your business plan – it’s not a death knell for your company.
I’ve been fortunate to be part of a founder network that includes parents of all genders, and that community has offered valuable support. But not everyone has access to that kind of environment. Many female founders have shared that they felt pressure to return to work quickly after giving birth. That pressure shouldn’t exist. Every founder should feel empowered to make the choice that’s right for them and their family, whether that means stepping away for a while or diving back in without fear of judgment.
Unfortunately, it often feels like women can’t win. We’re judged for returning to work “too soon” and judged again if we take “too long” and are seen as neglecting our baby or our business. It shouldn’t have to be a choice. We need a cultural shift that respects those decisions, encourages flexibility, and provides real support structures, not just platitudes.
You’ve described a disconnect between what society expects from working mothers and the reality. What do you wish more people in the startup ecosystem understood about that experience?
Life is messy – it’s not linear. Becoming a mother has been the most transformative experience for me and my partner (who’s also my co-founder). Our son only just started sleeping through the night at 21 months, so for nearly two years, we’ve been navigating the intensity of sleep deprivation alongside the demands of running a business.
What I wish more people in the startup world understood is that being a mother isn’t something you clock in and out of. It’s 24/7. The pressures of working full-time while also parenting, day and night, take a real toll, not just on your productivity, but on your emotional wellbeing, your clarity, and your confidence.
That’s why vulnerability matters. We need to create space where founders feel safe to say, “I’m exhausted” or “I might make mistakes today.” I’m often the first to admit when I’m running empty; it’s nothing to hide or feel ashamed about. To all the sleep-deprived founder-parents out there: you’re not alone. Be gentle with yourself. We’re doing something incredibly hard and incredibly meaningful. And that deserves both respect and support.
Looking back now, what would you say to another female founder who’s preparing to raise capital while pregnant or navigating early motherhood?
Looking back now, I’d say to any female aspiring founder preparing to raise while pregnant: be prepared – it’s hard, and that’s okay because you can do it. Fundraising is always intense, but when you’re also going through something as physically and emotionally demanding as pregnancy or new motherhood, the challenges multiply. This is such a defining moment not just for your business but for how the world perceives you as a founder.
But what I’d also add is: don’t let your pregnancy stop you. Be honest with yourself about what you need to get through it – support, space, time, and don’t be afraid to ask for it. Trust your instincts on when to share personal news, and surround yourself with people (and investors) who will respect and support you as a whole person, not just a founder. You don’t have to hide the fact that you’re human.
What’s next for Zinc following this fundraise? And how has your experience shaped the kind of company culture you want to foster as a leader?
The next step for Zinc is growth with intention. Following the fundraise, we’re focused on transforming the background-checking industry across multiple sectors. And our priority is staying close to our customers through continuous feedback, so we can keep building a product that genuinely simplifies life for both customers and candidates. We’re also working to increase brand awareness, making sure more people know who Zinc is and understand the value we bring. To support these ambitions, we’re also planning to almost double the size of our team this year.
In terms of culture, my experience has really shaped the kind of company I want to build. For me, vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. I believe in leading with openness and clear communication because clarity is a form of kindness, and it builds trust. I try to motivate through shared experiences and even through adversity because we’re all working toward the same goal. That means celebrating both the wins and the setbacks and taking time to learn from both so we come out stronger and more resilient as a team.
Ultimately, I believe in setting clear, achievable goals. When everyone knows what they’re working toward and why, it creates alignment, purpose, and momentum. That’s the kind of environment I want to foster at Zinc – one that’s supportive, focused, and mission-driven.