Advancing Gender Equality in Venture Capital

Abstract

The Women and Public Policy Program’s Advancing Gender Equality in Venture Capital research project examines how the components of venture capital (VC) industry culture, organizational practices and policies, and patterns of interpersonal interaction affect full gender inclusion in venture capital. Our findings provide evidence-based answers to three questions:

Why is the venture ecosystem still so male-dominated? What are the industry-wide, organizational, and interpersonal barriers to gender equality and inclusion in venture capital? What can VC firms, individual investors, and entrepreneurs do to dismantle these barriers and meaningfully advance gender diversity and equality in venture capital? To answer these questions, we undertook a comprehensive review of existing literature on gender in venture capital; conducted 21 in-depth interviews with venture capitalists in New England (in collaboration with the New England Venture Capital Association); and analyzed over half a million online conversations between entrepreneurs and VCs (in collaboration with Culturintel).