Comments on: Where are the Women in Canada’s Women in Tech Venture Fund? https://liisbeth.com/where-are-the-women-in-canadas-women-in-tech-venture-fund/ ยค Field Notes for Feminist Entrepreneurs Wed, 31 Jul 2019 17:56:02 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 By: Lori https://liisbeth.com/where-are-the-women-in-canadas-women-in-tech-venture-fund/#comment-278 Thu, 02 May 2019 16:06:52 +0000 https://www.liisbeth.com/?p=6209#comment-278 There are other issues as well, including the 1M sales requirement. Early stage support is not available to create the pipeline for women led companies to scale.

]]> By: Nancy wilson https://liisbeth.com/where-are-the-women-in-canadas-women-in-tech-venture-fund/#comment-276 Thu, 02 May 2019 15:51:03 +0000 https://www.liisbeth.com/?p=6209#comment-276 Increasing the representation of women in the tech sector is a multifaceted issue and there are no easy fixes.

If we want more women role models in the tech sector, then the criteria for funding needs to focus on women in technical roles. If we want to attract and retain women as employees in the tech companies, then we need the criteria to focus on gender diversity metrics (including retention) of tech roles within companies looking for investment. If we want to encourage and support women tech entrepreneurs, then the investment criteria must simply be women tech entrepreneurs.

I think the WIT Fund is a positive step and congratulate the BDC in trying to make a difference. However, I personally disagree with the criteria used to evaluate potential investments.

You can read more about my thoughts on standard criteria for the terms ‘women-led’ in an op-ed published today in the Globe & Mail here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-whats-a-women-led-company-we-need-a-standard-definition/

If you’re not a G&M subscriber, the text of my op-ed is posted on the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce website here: https://canwcc.ca/women-led-company-standard-definition-criteria/

I’m interested in feedback and dialogue around the criteria I propose in the article.

]]> By: E Shirdel https://liisbeth.com/where-are-the-women-in-canadas-women-in-tech-venture-fund/#comment-272 Wed, 01 May 2019 18:01:49 +0000 https://www.liisbeth.com/?p=6209#comment-272 I think that the problem is partially a lack of policy research – and a lack of market research. There were 3000 women founders who applied to 200 spots in the $20 M WEF program. And there is a $200 M WIT Fund that can’t find enough women founders to make the investments that it wants to make.

]]> By: PK Mutch https://liisbeth.com/where-are-the-women-in-canadas-women-in-tech-venture-fund/#comment-271 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 13:23:00 +0000 https://www.liisbeth.com/?p=6209#comment-271 In reply to Caitlin MacGREGOR.

Yes, we noticed. Congrats!

]]> By: PK Mutch https://liisbeth.com/where-are-the-women-in-canadas-women-in-tech-venture-fund/#comment-270 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 11:36:16 +0000 https://www.liisbeth.com/?p=6209#comment-270 In reply to Hannah Griffin.

Yes! We noticed! updated! You got the 3-boob sticker rating! Congratulations! Maybe a profile on Tealbook soon!

]]> By: Caitlin MacGREGOR https://liisbeth.com/where-are-the-women-in-canadas-women-in-tech-venture-fund/#comment-269 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 06:49:40 +0000 https://www.liisbeth.com/?p=6209#comment-269 In addition to having a woman CEO and cofounder, Plum has 50% women employees and 50% women on our board of directors. We are incredibly committed to diversity and inclusion, which is reflected in our diverse staff. Also, our technology is used to help companies increase their diversity and inclusion: https://www.plum.io/diversity

]]> By: Hannah Griffin https://liisbeth.com/where-are-the-women-in-canadas-women-in-tech-venture-fund/#comment-267 Sun, 28 Apr 2019 16:38:32 +0000 https://www.liisbeth.com/?p=6209#comment-267 Great article! Just a note that as well as having a female CEO and Founder, Tealbook has 50% female employees, a 50% female advisory board, and a 75% female board of directors. Additionally, our technology is used to help women-owned businesses connect and work with large corporate partners. We are big champions of women in tech!

]]>