Why are Women Funded Less than Men?:a crowdsourced conversation

Pemo TheodoreMedia Producer& Startup Coach

The Unequal Landscape

Women Owned Firms

My Story

• Behind every great success lies a failure

Issues for Women

• Are we slow to adapt to male dominated industries?

• Are we aggressive enough?• Do we listen to others too much?• Can we ask for what we want?• “Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred

Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels.” Faith Whittlesey

Are we risk averse?

• “Someone asked me why women don't gamble as much as men do, and I gave the commonsensical reply that we don't have as much money. That was a true and incomplete answer. In fact, women's total instinct for gambling is satisfied by marriage.” Gloria Steinhem

Pros & Cons

• Trained to care for others• Only sex that can have babies & breastfeed• Great to work for because we care• Can subvert ego• Everything conspires to leave us feeling insecure• “I will feel equality has arrived when we can elect

to office women who are as incompetent as some of the men who are already there.” Maureen Reagan

Self Awareness

• Cost or Benefit?• Women look within, whilst men look without

& energized when rejected• Too much self analysis can undermine• “When I wake up in the morning, I feel just like

any other insecure 24-year-old girl. Then I say, ‘Bitch, you’re Lady Gaga, you get up and walk the walk today.‘” Lady Gaga

Testosterone

• Builds up bone & muscle mass• Possibly builds psychological thick skin?

Estrogen

• Supports female body for fertility & caring for babies

• May also support feminine intuition & sensitivity?

Should we Play like the Boys?

• If we play someone else’s game how can we be authentic?

Asking for Money

• Do we think too small?• Are we afraid of money?• If others depend on us does it increase our

drive & ambition for money?

Work/Life Balance

• Working 24x7 leaves no room for personal life• Can women change startup culture to

incorporate more work/life balance?• Women need to pull each other up• “Some women choose to follow men, and some

women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.” Lady Gaga

Sexual Tension

• How do investors & women deal with sexual tension & chemistry?

• How can female entrepreneurs balance their desires to be attractive with being powerful in their startup & the world?

Sexual Chemistry

• Chemistry is the basis for any creative project between people & does not need to be ignored, acted upon or literalised

• Sexual chemistry comes from our passion & can be channeled into the startup!

Solutions

• Like Homeopathy the solutions lie within the problems

Why Invest in Women?

Conclusion

• “Women bring a holistic sensibility to business that business sorely needs!” Randy Komisar