#33: Gender investment gap: Its origin, impact and ways to bridge it - Lucy Chow, Vera Futorjanski, Medea Nocentini, Katie Wachsberger

All-women startup teams receive less than 3% of the venture capital globally whilst male-led startups collect 89% of it. And as if this statistic wasn’t depressing enough, the trend is negative. It’s getting worse every year.

Venture capital investors share their views on the reasons behind such disparity. What are its consequences? What are we as a society missing out if this gap perpetuates? And how can we possibly bridge it?

Collective vs Individual

The effort to bridge the gender investment gap is not solely focused on achieving gender equality between women and men, but rather on acknowledging that women bring unique qualities and perspectives to the table. In a world where individual success is no longer sufficient, women's ability to uplift others while achieving their own goals is very important. Amidst the pressing global challenges, the inherent quality that women possess becomes a vital asset that the world truly needs at this moment. Pulling others while succeeding is making a difference. Through their innate strength, women contribute to shaping a future that embraces inclusivity and collective well-being.

Where does the investment gap come from?

One of the reasons for the gender investment gap is that there are very few women among angel investors and VCs. Women have limited disposable income, risk awareness, lack of confidence in making investment decisions, and lack of financial education opportunities tailored specifically for women. Speakers address a critical issue of access to investment opportunities, with important conversations often taking place in male-dominated environments such as golf courses. Together, speakers explore how these barriers can be overcome which will empower more women to enter the world of angel investing.

“We don't need to engineer the numbers. We need to engineer the culture.”

Speakers offer different perspectives on gender quotas for women in the venture capital world. From one side, quotes can potentially undermine individual achievements, but from another side quotes address an existing gender imbalance in leadership positions in venture capital firms. Quotas are needed to counter the existing network-based selection process that often excludes women from high-level positions. In the end, quotas are essential for opening doors and creating opportunities for qualified women.

The conversation also touches on the importance of fostering a culture that values diverse perspectives and considers the impact on the economy and society as a whole. The cultural shift will bring the shift in statistics we are all looking for.

About speakers:

Lucy Chow is the General Partner at the World Business Angels Investment Forum and a member of the steering committee of the movement 2022 Female Angels. Lucy has been recently recognized by Arabian Business as one of 50 Inspiring Female Business Leaders 2022.

Katie Wachsberger is the Co-Founder of DANA Global, an Abu Dhabi based venture builder and investment platform for women-led startups in desert tech, including agritech, foodtech, renewable energy, water solutions, and circular economy.

Medea Nocentini is Senior Partner at Global Ventures, an international venture capital firm. She is also the Founder of Companies Creating Change (C3), a UAE-based social enterprise helping impact-driven entrepreneurs in the Middle East and Africa to unlock their growth potential and maximize their positive impact on the community.

Vera Futorjanski is the CEO & Founder of Veritas Ventures, a global strategic advisory firm. She is also an investor at Launch Africa Ventures. Vera is on the steering committee of the 2022 Female Angels. She is a serial entrepreneur and is currently building a community for female leaders.

About this episode:
This episode was recorded at the Women’s Empowerment Convention organised by the Women’s Empowerment Council. WE Council is dedicated to empowering women to achieve their goals, ambitions, and dreams. The event took place in the Dubai Opera on March 8, 2023. The next Women's Empowerment Convention will take place on November 11-12 in Dubai.