It’s widely known that women are massively underrepresented among VC investors and VC-backed founders alike. In 2023, only 2% of total capital invested in startups in the US went to female founders and women accounted for less than 15% of venture checkwriters, and many VC firms still lack female representation. When members of a male-dominated industry consistently retreat into the comfort of “betting on somebody that looks like them,” it should come as no surprise that most founders who receive capital are male.
Van Wickle Ventures remains steadfast in our commitment to challenging this stereotype and fostering a more diverse venture ecosystem. Our entirely student-led fund has had the privilege and potential to bring a group of diverse people into VC at an early age and empower budding investors to shift industry norms. Today, 50% of our team and half of our past and present co-directors are female-identifying. Not only that, we are proud that female founders constitute 55% of our portfolio and will continue supporting startups founded by female and other underrepresented founders.
As we celebrate International Women's Day, we believe that student funds across the country should be paving the way for a more inclusive venture ecosystem at large. We have the opportunity to continue educating and training a diverse team of future investors, and we are excited to further fuel the Brown entrepreneurship ecosystem’s culture of diversity.
Happy International Women's Day, today and every day! 🌻