GMC coLABS Funding for Women-Focused Enterprises

Gray Matters Capital (GMC) is a private operating foundation founded by Bob Pattillo with a vision of enabling education that leads to more purposeful lives for women across the globe. Headquartered in Atlanta, GMC has established itself as a strong advocate for market-driven solutions and entrepreneurial approaches that create large-scale social impact. Its mission is to improve the lives of 100 million women worldwide by the year 2036, believing firmly that empowering women through education catalyzes broader societal progress. Over the past decade, GMC has invested nearly $160 million in initiatives spanning microfinance and education, with a strong presence in South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Through its various portfolios, GMC nurtures innovative ventures and provides the resources necessary to build sustainable impact. coLABS, one of its core initiatives, is designed as a dedicated platform for supporting bold ideas and entrepreneurs who challenge existing limitations and reimagine solutions for underserved women and girls. GMC’s philosophy combines capital, mentorship, and partnerships to help emerging enterprises scale effectively, fostering long-term transformation in communities. With its strong commitment to impact-driven investment, GMC continues to champion ventures that align financial sustainability with measurable improvements in women’s lives.

coLABS is GMC’s early-stage investment portfolio, created to support pioneering social enterprises that can significantly improve the lives of women and girls. The program is designed to go beyond traditional funding by providing not only investment capital but also guidance, strategy, and ecosystem support for long-term success. The core belief driving coLABS is that investing in entrepreneurs with innovative, scalable solutions creates the strongest foundation for change. By adopting a gender-lens investment approach, coLABS strategically directs resources toward ventures where women are central—whether as leaders, stakeholders, or key beneficiaries. This model recognizes the critical role women play in driving community growth and sustainability. The grant terms are structured around revenue-share capital, with the expectation of generating healthy returns within 3 to 5 years of investment. Through coLABS, GMC is particularly interested in businesses that offer fresh ideas, have validated their sustainability, and are prepared to expand into new markets. The grant prioritizes enterprises that can grow rapidly, bring something unique to the market, and address challenges disproportionately affecting women and girls. Overall, the coLABS grant aims to combine financial return with measurable social progress, ensuring that enterprises can scale impactfully while transforming lives at the grassroots level.