The Josephine Collective

The Josephine Collective operates as a women-led angel investment group, facilitating early-stage funding for startups across the United States. It employs a unique investment model where individual investors commit capital directly to selected companies, allowing for collective investment in high-potential ventures while appearing as a single entity on a company’s cap table. This structure aims to streamline the investment process for both founders and investors, promoting accessibility to angel financing.

Founded in 2021 by Desiree Vargas Wrigley and Amy Rosenow, CFA, CFP®, the collective emerged from an insight into the need for broader participation and representation within the angel investment landscape. Named after inventor Josephine Garis Cochrane, the organization embodies a spirit of proactive creation. Vargas Wrigley brings experience as a two-time founder and advocate for diverse entrepreneurs, while Rosenow contributes her background as an entrepreneur and financial industry veteran.

The collective primarily serves early-stage founders seeking initial capital, particularly those valuing diverse representation on their investor roster. It also caters to accredited investors, especially women and people of color, enabling them to engage in angel investing. The long-term vision centers on democratizing access to early-stage capital and fostering a more inclusive ecosystem that connects visionary founders with supportive, experienced investors.