Early-stage investors are one of the primary pillars of any advanced economy. They ensure the expansion of markets, job creation, and the addition of products into the economy. Startup success also plays a crucial role in establishing economic balance and improving everyone’s living standards. However, all the good things aren’t possible minus the equal representation among the players. A prominent early-stage investor, Steph Korey, highlights the underrepresentation challenges and how to eliminate them. Steph regrets the fact that women form the majority of the underrepresented startups.
Korey explains various factors contributing to female startups’ under representation. She says the problems result from avoidable practices that have been in use for years. One of the most critical issues lies in the creditors’ biased perception. Various statics show that most early-stage investors believe that males have better leadership skills than their female counterparts.
Steph Korey argues that the situation worsens if the assessors include possession of technical skills in their evaluation. Instead of judging everyone fairly, early-stage investors believe that men can lead successfully even without any technical background. On the other hand, there’s a wrong perception that women without technical skills can’t be good leaders. Steph stresses that good leadership doesn’t depend on one’s sex but rather their capabilities. She recommends equal treatment during the investment assessment sessions to achieve the desired outcomes.
The venture capitals sector is a significant funding source for startup entrepreneurs. The industry provides financial support to several upcoming businesses worldwide. However, women startups can’t qualify easily for the funding due to underrepresentation in the sector. Records indicate that males dominate the venture capitals business, thus giving them an upper hand.
Steph describes the males’ domination in venture capitals as a recipe for women’s failure. She calls for an immediate fix for success to prevail. Additionally, Steph Korey encourages more females to invest in venture capital firms to provide a long-term solution for the imbalance. Training and empowering the underrepresented will also bring numerous benefits, and Steph looks forward to making it happen.