🔎 🙋♀️ Deep tech has a gender problem
Less than 3% of VC funding goes to women, meaning 97%, goes to men; only 10 % of investors are women. Just to drop a few numbers to get your attention 😉
As a MINT-trained woman, working with scientists, and founders of deep tech start-ups, I am passionate about encouraging and enabling more women to start their own businesses or achieve whatever they want to achieve.
🙅♀️ But do we really need all these leadership courses, entrepreneurial mindset seminars, and resilience workshops… specifically made for women?
I work with scientists every day, and to my knowledge, women do not need extra training. The women I am working with are perfectly equipped to achieve their goals, being their authentic selves.
𝐒𝐨, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤?
🐘 The elephant in every room: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 (just a small example)
▶ Women are asked more frequently about potential risks, men are asked more frequently about chances
▶ Women's appearance (outfit, posture) is judged more than that of men
▶ Women are often considered weaker, and less business-oriented, however, if a woman is self-secure and knows her numbers, she is often considered unlikeable
Today is such a day, where these facts are in the center of everyone's attention. We are showcasing brave women; which we should be doing, don't get me wrong! Just a bit more often, and not because they are women but because they are badass people, awesome entrepreneurs, and inspiring leaders.
While there's been progress in the representation of women, outdated stereotypes linger. But the positive note here: change is underway. Let us celebrate everyone today who relentlessly works towards this chance. Thank you! 🙏
As more women enter the ecosystem, we're moving toward a future where 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭!
Congratulations Soumya, well deserved!