To add your firm or company’s voice as a committed signatory, contact us at signatory@startwitheight.com
The statistics about women and venture capital have been widely documented. Only 2% of venture capital funding went to female founders in 2017. Just 8% of partners at the top venture capital firms are women. Only 18 black female founders have raised more than $1M of venture capital for their startups (ever).¹ The data highlights a critical issue, but so far solutions and tangible action have been insufficient.
In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th, we, the undersigned, commit to doing something about these statistics through action. Blog posts about the importance of diversity are a step in the right direction, but don’t do enough to drive progress or change the ratios in a world driven by money and power. The dynamics will change when capital flows equally to any talented founder, no matter his or her gender, race, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. Investing in female-led companies, hiring women for decision-making positions in funds, ensuring diversity on boards, and co-investing with women on cap tables are some of the high impact ways to make a difference.
Startup land is a network-driven place. Raising capital and recruiting talent all start with a meeting, and an opportunity to build a relationship. Access shouldn’t still be a reason for disparity in ratios, but it is. When most of the meetings venture capitalists take are with men, it is no surprise they don’t invest in many female-led companies, appoint many women to boards, push to hire women into C-level positions, or chose female coinvestors. Venture capitalists, founders, executives, and advisors are in a position to make a difference just by acknowledging that networks can be insular and making the conscious decision to broaden their own. Check how many meetings you took in the first two months of 2018 with men versus women. How did you do?
In celebration of IWD, we, the undersigned, commit to action and to taking an important step towards changing the ratios: we will take meetings with 8 women from outside our networks in the month of March. Our long term goal is parity across the ecosystem, but meetings to build relationships are a first step, and that change can happen today.
Please join us in the following:
The lack of diversity in the venture ecosystem is long overdue for change and we believe a focus on networks, action, and respect can be a catalyst. To join us, simply email your firm or company information to signatory@startwitheight.com. We’ll update signatories daily through close of business on March 8, 2018. Once signed, please join the conversation on social media and encourage others to do the same.
Signed,
Investment Firms:
Alpha Edison
Apogee
Flybridge Capital Partners
8VC
Accomplice
Bain Capital Ventures
Cosimo Ventures
First Star Ventures
G20 Ventures
Material Impact
New England Venture Capital Association
Pillar
Rethink Education
Rethink Impact
TenOneTen
Tectonic Ventures
XFactor Ventures
Canaan Partners
Fika Ventures
Foundry Group
Genuine VC
Glasswing Ventures
Brilliant Ventures
The Engine
Breakaway Ventures
Bull City Venture Partners
Inclusion Capital
Sound Ventures
Underscore VC
Oregon Sports Angels
Schooner Capital
Tusk Ventures
Impact Engine
K Street Capital
Project 11 Ventures
Rembrandt Venture Partners
Susa Ventures
Two Sigma Ventures
McKesson Ventures
Oxeon Ventures
Peterson Ventures
Providence Ventures
Scrum Ventures
Ekistic Ventures
LDR Ventures
NextGen Venture Partners
SJF Ventures
Founder Collective
Omidyar Network
CrossCut Ventures
Companies:
Hippo Reads
Silicon Beach Talent
SimpleLegal
The Capital Network
HSBC
AI Foundation
Jayaram Law
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