Jess Hunichen and Emily Ward, the cofounders of influencer talent management agency Shine Talent Group, are launching an angel investment fund for early-stage start-ups in women’s health, in addition to other categories. 

“We’re excited to take a position in daring founders and offer them unique insights concerning the content creation space, together with a built-in marketing microphone, which many other funds don’t have,” said Ward. “We’re searching for ambitious founders which can be exceptional storytellers, with firms featuring strong social proof and community engagement.”

Shine Ventures will reveal a latest category of focus every year. For 2023, it can give attention to investments in the ladies’s health space, with a particular emphasis on all things menstruation through menopause. 

The menopause category is growing as brands look to cater to the 1 billion people who find themselves expected to be in menopause in 2025. In line with a report from the Female Founders Fund, there’s a $600 billion category opportunity.

The founders declined to reveal how much they’re looking to take a position, noting that it can differ from company to company.

But of the categories Shine Ventures is taking a look at, Hunichen said: “We’ve chosen these categories to take a position in due to the proprietary trend data that we now have ongoing access to through Shine Talent Group, which operates in three key markets — USA, U.K. and Canada. We’ve been immersed on this world for nine years and have seen trends come and go, and we understand the markers for those with endurance.”

Shine Talent Group acquired Toronto-based influencer management agency Fourth Floor Management in December 2020. In December 2022, Ward and Hunichen sold The BodCon, the body confidence-centric virtual conference series they cofounded, to the e-commerce group Trafilea. Sale proceeds will help fund future investments.

Shine Talent Group’s roster includes greater than 200 notable social talents between the agency’s Los Angeles, Toronto and London offices.