this is me at five years old shortly before jumping into this
shortly before jumping into this
shortly before jumping into this beautifully still pool of water I soon
beautifully still pool of water I soon
beautifully still pool of water I soon find out the hard way that this pool is
find out the hard way that this pool is
find out the hard way that this pool is completely empty
completely empty
completely empty because the ice-cold water is near
because the ice-cold water is near
because the ice-cold water is near freezing and literally takes my breath
freezing and literally takes my breath
freezing and literally takes my breath away even though I already know how to
away even though I already know how to
away even though I already know how to swim I can’t get up to the water’s
swim I can’t get up to the water’s
swim I can’t get up to the water’s surface no matter how hard I try that’s
surface no matter how hard I try that’s
surface no matter how hard I try that’s the last thing I remember trying to do
the last thing I remember trying to do
the last thing I remember trying to do before blacking out
before blacking out
before blacking out turns out the lifeguard on duty had been
turns out the lifeguard on duty had been
turns out the lifeguard on duty had been chatting with two girls when I jumped in
chatting with two girls when I jumped in
chatting with two girls when I jumped in and I was soon underwater so he couldn’t
and I was soon underwater so he couldn’t
and I was soon underwater so he couldn’t actually see or hear me struggle I was
actually see or hear me struggle I was
actually see or hear me struggle I was eventually saved by a girl walking near
eventually saved by a girl walking near
eventually saved by a girl walking near the pool who happened to look down and
the pool who happened to look down and
the pool who happened to look down and see me the next thing I know I’m getting
see me the next thing I know I’m getting
see me the next thing I know I’m getting mouth-to-mouth and being rushed to the
mouth-to-mouth and being rushed to the
mouth-to-mouth and being rushed to the hospital to determine the extent of my
hospital to determine the extent of my
hospital to determine the extent of my brain loss if I had been flailing at the
brain loss if I had been flailing at the
brain loss if I had been flailing at the water’s surface
water’s surface
water’s surface the lifeguard would have noticed and
the lifeguard would have noticed and
the lifeguard would have noticed and come to save me I share this near-death
come to save me I share this near-death
come to save me I share this near-death experience because it illustrates how
experience because it illustrates how
experience because it illustrates how dangerous things are when they’re just
dangerous things are when they’re just
dangerous things are when they’re just beneath the surface today I study
beneath the surface today I study
beneath the surface today I study implicit gender bias and startups which
implicit gender bias and startups which
implicit gender bias and startups which I consider to be far more insidious than
I consider to be far more insidious than
I consider to be far more insidious than mere overt bias for this very same
mere overt bias for this very same
mere overt bias for this very same reason when we see or hear an investor
reason when we see or hear an investor
reason when we see or hear an investor behaving inappropriately towards an
behaving inappropriately towards an
behaving inappropriately towards an entrepreneur we’re aware of the problem
entrepreneur we’re aware of the problem
entrepreneur we’re aware of the problem and at least have a chance to do
and at least have a chance to do
and at least have a chance to do something about it but what if there are
something about it but what if there are
something about it but what if there are subtle differences in the interactions
subtle differences in the interactions
subtle differences in the interactions between investors and entrepreneurs that
between investors and entrepreneurs that
between investors and entrepreneurs that can affect their outcomes differences
can affect their outcomes differences
can affect their outcomes differences that we’re not conscious of that we
that we’re not conscious of that we
that we’re not conscious of that we can’t directly see or hear before
can’t directly see or hear before
can’t directly see or hear before studying startups at Columbia Business
studying startups at Columbia Business
studying startups at Columbia Business School I spent five years running and
School I spent five years running and
School I spent five years running and raising money for my own startup I
raising money for my own startup I
raising money for my own startup I remember constantly racing around to
remember constantly racing around to
remember constantly racing around to meet with prospective investors while
meet with prospective investors while
meet with prospective investors while trying to manage my actual business at
trying to manage my actual business at
trying to manage my actual business at one point I joked that I had reluctantly
one point I joked that I had reluctantly
one point I joked that I had reluctantly pitched each and every family member
pitched each and every family member
pitched each and every family member friends colleague angel
friends colleague angel
friends colleague angel Buster and vici this side of the
Buster and vici this side of the
Buster and vici this side of the Mississippi well in the process of
Mississippi well in the process of
Mississippi well in the process of speaking to all these investors I
speaking to all these investors I
speaking to all these investors I noticed something interesting was
noticed something interesting was
noticed something interesting was happening I was getting asked a very
happening I was getting asked a very
happening I was getting asked a very different set of questions than my male
different set of questions than my male
different set of questions than my male co-founder I got asked just about
co-founder I got asked just about
co-founder I got asked just about everything that could go wrong with the
everything that could go wrong with the
everything that could go wrong with the venture to induce investor losses while
venture to induce investor losses while
venture to induce investor losses while my male co-founder was asked about our
my male co-founder was asked about our
my male co-founder was asked about our ventures homerun potential to maximize
ventures homerun potential to maximize
ventures homerun potential to maximize investor gains essentially everything
investor gains essentially everything
investor gains essentially everything that could go right with a venture he
that could go right with a venture he
that could go right with a venture he that asked how many new customers we
that asked how many new customers we
that asked how many new customers we were gonna bring on well I got asked how
were gonna bring on well I got asked how
were gonna bring on well I got asked how we were gonna hang on to the ones we
we were gonna hang on to the ones we
we were gonna hang on to the ones we already had well as the CEO of the
already had well as the CEO of the
already had well as the CEO of the company I found this to be rather odd in
company I found this to be rather odd in
company I found this to be rather odd in fact I felt like I was taking crazy
fact I felt like I was taking crazy
fact I felt like I was taking crazy pills but I eventually rationalized it
pills but I eventually rationalized it
pills but I eventually rationalized it by thinking maybe this has to do with
by thinking maybe this has to do with
by thinking maybe this has to do with how I’m presenting myself or it’s
how I’m presenting myself or it’s
how I’m presenting myself or it’s something simply unique to my startup
something simply unique to my startup
something simply unique to my startup well years later I made the difficult
well years later I made the difficult
well years later I made the difficult decision to leave my startup so I could
decision to leave my startup so I could
decision to leave my startup so I could pursue a lifelong dream of getting my
pursue a lifelong dream of getting my
pursue a lifelong dream of getting my PhD it was at Columbia that I learned
PhD it was at Columbia that I learned
PhD it was at Columbia that I learned about a social psychological theory
about a social psychological theory
about a social psychological theory originated by Professor Tori Higgins
originated by Professor Tori Higgins
originated by Professor Tori Higgins called regulatory focus which
called regulatory focus which
called regulatory focus which differentiates between two distinct
differentiates between two distinct
differentiates between two distinct motivational orientations of promotion
motivational orientations of promotion
motivational orientations of promotion and prevention a promotion focus is
and prevention a promotion focus is
and prevention a promotion focus is concerned with gains and emphasizes
concerned with gains and emphasizes
concerned with gains and emphasizes hopes accomplishments and advancement
hopes accomplishments and advancement
hopes accomplishments and advancement needs while a prevention focus is
needs while a prevention focus is
needs while a prevention focus is concerned with losses and emphasizes
concerned with losses and emphasizes
concerned with losses and emphasizes safety responsibility and security needs
safety responsibility and security needs
safety responsibility and security needs since the best case scenario for
since the best case scenario for
since the best case scenario for prevention focus is to simply maintain
prevention focus is to simply maintain
prevention focus is to simply maintain the status quo this has us treading
the status quo this has us treading
the status quo this has us treading water just to stay afloat while
water just to stay afloat while
water just to stay afloat while promotion folks focus instead has a
promotion folks focus instead has a
promotion folks focus instead has a swimming in the right direction it’s
swimming in the right direction it’s
swimming in the right direction it’s just a matter of how far we can advance
just a matter of how far we can advance
just a matter of how far we can advance well I had my very own Eureka moment
well I had my very own Eureka moment
well I had my very own Eureka moment when it dawned on me that this concept
when it dawned on me that this concept
when it dawned on me that this concept of promotion sounded a lot like the
of promotion sounded a lot like the
of promotion sounded a lot like the questions posed to my male co-founder
questions posed to my male co-founder
questions posed to my male co-founder while prevention resembled those
while prevention resembled those
while prevention resembled those questions asked of me as an
questions asked of me as an
questions asked of me as an entrepreneurship scholar I started
entrepreneurship scholar I started
entrepreneurship scholar I started digging into the research on startup
digging into the research on startup
digging into the research on startup financing and discovered there’s an
financing and discovered there’s an
financing and discovered there’s an enormous gap between the amount of funds
enormous gap between the amount of funds
enormous gap between the amount of funds that male and female founders raised
that male and female founders raised
that male and female founders raised although women
although women
although women found 38% of US companies they only get
found 38% of US companies they only get
found 38% of US companies they only get 2% of the venture funding I got to
2% of the venture funding I got to
2% of the venture funding I got to thinking what if this funding gap is not
thinking what if this funding gap is not
thinking what if this funding gap is not due to any fundamental difference in the
due to any fundamental difference in the
due to any fundamental difference in the businesses started by men and women what
businesses started by men and women what
businesses started by men and women what if women get less funding than men due
if women get less funding than men due
if women get less funding than men due to a simple difference in the questions
to a simple difference in the questions
to a simple difference in the questions that they get asked after all when it
that they get asked after all when it
that they get asked after all when it comes to venture funding entrepreneurs
comes to venture funding entrepreneurs
comes to venture funding entrepreneurs need to convince investors of their
need to convince investors of their
need to convince investors of their startups homerun potential it’s not
startups homerun potential it’s not
startups homerun potential it’s not enough to merely demonstrate you’re not
enough to merely demonstrate you’re not
enough to merely demonstrate you’re not going to lose your investors money so it
going to lose your investors money so it
going to lose your investors money so it makes sense that women would be getting
makes sense that women would be getting
makes sense that women would be getting less funding than men if they’re
less funding than men if they’re
less funding than men if they’re engaging in prevention as opposed to
engaging in prevention as opposed to
engaging in prevention as opposed to promotion oriented dialogues why got the
promotion oriented dialogues why got the
promotion oriented dialogues why got the chance to test this hypothesis on
chance to test this hypothesis on
chance to test this hypothesis on companies with similar quality and
companies with similar quality and
companies with similar quality and funding needs across all years that the
funding needs across all years that the
funding needs across all years that the funding competition known as TechCrunch
funding competition known as TechCrunch
funding competition known as TechCrunch Disrupt startup battlefields has run in
Disrupt startup battlefields has run in
Disrupt startup battlefields has run in New York City since its inception in
New York City since its inception in
New York City since its inception in 2010 TechCrunch is widely regarded as
2010 TechCrunch is widely regarded as
2010 TechCrunch is widely regarded as the ideal place for startups o launch
the ideal place for startups o launch
the ideal place for startups o launch with participants including startups
with participants including startups
with participants including startups that have since become household names
that have since become household names
that have since become household names like Dropbox Fitbit and mint presenting
like Dropbox Fitbit and mint presenting
like Dropbox Fitbit and mint presenting to some of the world’s most prominent
to some of the world’s most prominent
to some of the world’s most prominent VCS will despite the comparability of
VCS will despite the comparability of
VCS will despite the comparability of companies in my sample mail that
companies in my sample mail that
companies in my sample mail that startups went on to raise five times as
startups went on to raise five times as
startups went on to raise five times as much funding as a female at once this
much funding as a female at once this
much funding as a female at once this made me especially curious to see what’s
made me especially curious to see what’s
made me especially curious to see what’s driving this gender disparity well took
driving this gender disparity well took
driving this gender disparity well took a while but I got my hands on all the
a while but I got my hands on all the
a while but I got my hands on all the videos of both the pitches and the Q&A
videos of both the pitches and the Q&A
videos of both the pitches and the Q&A sessions from TechCrunch and I had them
sessions from TechCrunch and I had them
sessions from TechCrunch and I had them transcribed I first analyzed the
transcribed I first analyzed the
transcribed I first analyzed the transcripts by loading a dictionary of
transcripts by loading a dictionary of
transcripts by loading a dictionary of regulatory focused terms into the
regulatory focused terms into the
regulatory focused terms into the linguistic inquiry and word count
linguistic inquiry and word count
linguistic inquiry and word count software called Luke this Luke software
software called Luke this Luke software
software called Luke this Luke software generated the frequencies of promotion
generated the frequencies of promotion
generated the frequencies of promotion and Prevention words in the transcribed
and Prevention words in the transcribed
and Prevention words in the transcribed text as a second method I had each of
text as a second method I had each of
text as a second method I had each of the questions and answers manually coded
the questions and answers manually coded
the questions and answers manually coded by the Tori Higgins research lab at
by the Tori Higgins research lab at
by the Tori Higgins research lab at Columbia regardless of the topic at hand
Columbia regardless of the topic at hand
Columbia regardless of the topic at hand an intention can be framed in promotion
an intention can be framed in promotion
an intention can be framed in promotion or prevention let’s take that
or prevention let’s take that
or prevention let’s take that pick of customers I mentioned briefly
pick of customers I mentioned briefly
pick of customers I mentioned briefly earlier a promotion coded question
earlier a promotion coded question
earlier a promotion coded question sounds like how many new customers do
sounds like how many new customers do
sounds like how many new customers do you plan to acquire this year well a
you plan to acquire this year well a
you plan to acquire this year well a prevention coded one sounds like how do
prevention coded one sounds like how do
prevention coded one sounds like how do you plan to retain your existing
you plan to retain your existing
you plan to retain your existing customers during the same time I also
customers during the same time I also
customers during the same time I also gathered background information on the
gathered background information on the
gathered background information on the startups and entrepreneurs that can
startups and entrepreneurs that can
startups and entrepreneurs that can affect their funding outcomes like the
affect their funding outcomes like the
affect their funding outcomes like the startups age quality and funding needs
startups age quality and funding needs
startups age quality and funding needs and the entrepreneurs past experience so
and the entrepreneurs past experience so
and the entrepreneurs past experience so I could use these data points as
I could use these data points as
I could use these data points as controls in my analysis well the very
controls in my analysis well the very
controls in my analysis well the very first thing that I found is that there’s
first thing that I found is that there’s
first thing that I found is that there’s no difference in the way entrepreneurs
no difference in the way entrepreneurs
no difference in the way entrepreneurs present their companies in other words
present their companies in other words
present their companies in other words both male and female entrepreneurs use
both male and female entrepreneurs use
both male and female entrepreneurs use similar degrees of promotion and
similar degrees of promotion and
similar degrees of promotion and prevention language in their actual
prevention language in their actual
prevention language in their actual pitches so having ruled out this
pitches so having ruled out this
pitches so having ruled out this difference on the entrepreneur side I
difference on the entrepreneur side I
difference on the entrepreneur side I then moved on to the investor side
then moved on to the investor side
then moved on to the investor side analyzing this six minutes of Q&A
analyzing this six minutes of Q&A
analyzing this six minutes of Q&A sessions that entrepreneurs engaged in
sessions that entrepreneurs engaged in
sessions that entrepreneurs engaged in with the VCS after pitching when
with the VCS after pitching when
with the VCS after pitching when examining the nearly 2000 questions and
examining the nearly 2000 questions and
examining the nearly 2000 questions and corresponding answers in these exchanges
corresponding answers in these exchanges
corresponding answers in these exchanges both of my methods showed significant
both of my methods showed significant
both of my methods showed significant support for the fact that male
support for the fact that male
support for the fact that male entrepreneurs get asked promotion
entrepreneurs get asked promotion
entrepreneurs get asked promotion questions and female entrepreneurs get
questions and female entrepreneurs get
questions and female entrepreneurs get asked prevention questions in fact a
asked prevention questions in fact a
asked prevention questions in fact a whopping 67% of the questions posed to
whopping 67% of the questions posed to
whopping 67% of the questions posed to male entrepreneurs for promotion focused
male entrepreneurs for promotion focused
male entrepreneurs for promotion focused while 66% of those posed to female
while 66% of those posed to female
while 66% of those posed to female entrepreneurs were prevention focused
entrepreneurs were prevention focused
entrepreneurs were prevention focused what’s especially interesting is that I
what’s especially interesting is that I
what’s especially interesting is that I expected female VCS
expected female VCS
expected female VCS to behave similarly to male VC’s given
to behave similarly to male VC’s given
to behave similarly to male VC’s given its prevalence in the popular media and
its prevalence in the popular media and
its prevalence in the popular media and the venture funding literature I
the venture funding literature I
the venture funding literature I expected the birds with other theory of
expected the birds with other theory of
expected the birds with other theory of homophily to hold here
homophily to hold here
homophily to hold here meaning that male VCS would favor male
meaning that male VCS would favor male
meaning that male VCS would favor male entrepreneurs with promotion questions
entrepreneurs with promotion questions
entrepreneurs with promotion questions and female VCS would do the same for
and female VCS would do the same for
and female VCS would do the same for female entrepreneurs but instead all
female entrepreneurs but instead all
female entrepreneurs but instead all VC’s displayed the same implicit gender
VC’s displayed the same implicit gender
VC’s displayed the same implicit gender bias manifested in the regulatory focus
bias manifested in the regulatory focus
bias manifested in the regulatory focus of the questions they posed to male
of the questions they posed to male
of the questions they posed to male versus female candidates so female these
versus female candidates so female these
versus female candidates so female these these asked male entrepreneurs promotion
these asked male entrepreneurs promotion
these asked male entrepreneurs promotion questions and then turned around and
questions and then turned around and
questions and then turned around and asked female entrepreneurs prevention
asked female entrepreneurs prevention
asked female entrepreneurs prevention questions just like the male VC’s did so
questions just like the male VC’s did so
questions just like the male VC’s did so given the facts that both male and
given the facts that both male and
given the facts that both male and female VCS are displaying this implicit
female VCS are displaying this implicit
female VCS are displaying this implicit gender bias what effect if any does this
gender bias what effect if any does this
gender bias what effect if any does this have on startup funding outcomes my
have on startup funding outcomes my
have on startup funding outcomes my research shows it has a significant
research shows it has a significant
research shows it has a significant effect the regulatory focus of investor
effect the regulatory focus of investor
effect the regulatory focus of investor questions not only predicted how well
questions not only predicted how well
questions not only predicted how well the startups would perform at the
the startups would perform at the
the startups would perform at the TechCrunch Disrupt competitions but also
TechCrunch Disrupt competitions but also
TechCrunch Disrupt competitions but also how much funding the startups went on to
how much funding the startups went on to
how much funding the startups went on to raise in the open market those startups
raise in the open market those startups
raise in the open market those startups who are asked for dominantly promotion
who are asked for dominantly promotion
who are asked for dominantly promotion questions went on to raise seven times
questions went on to raise seven times
questions went on to raise seven times as much funding as those asked for
as much funding as those asked for
as much funding as those asked for venturing questions but I didn’t stop
venturing questions but I didn’t stop
venturing questions but I didn’t stop there I then moved on to analyze
there I then moved on to analyze
there I then moved on to analyze entrepreneurs responses to those
entrepreneurs responses to those
entrepreneurs responses to those questions and I found that entrepreneurs
questions and I found that entrepreneurs
questions and I found that entrepreneurs are apt to respond in kind to the
are apt to respond in kind to the
are apt to respond in kind to the questions they get meaning a promotion
questions they get meaning a promotion
questions they get meaning a promotion question B gets a promotion response and
question B gets a promotion response and
question B gets a promotion response and a prevention question B gets a
a prevention question B gets a
a prevention question B gets a prevention response now this might make
prevention response now this might make
prevention response now this might make intuitive sense to all of us here but it
intuitive sense to all of us here but it
intuitive sense to all of us here but it has some unfortunate consequences in
has some unfortunate consequences in
has some unfortunate consequences in this context of venture funding so what
this context of venture funding so what
this context of venture funding so what ends up happening is that a male
ends up happening is that a male
ends up happening is that a male entrepreneur gets asked a promotion
entrepreneur gets asked a promotion
entrepreneur gets asked a promotion question granting him the luxury to
question granting him the luxury to
question granting him the luxury to reinforce his association with the
reinforce his association with the
reinforce his association with the favorable domain of gains by responding
favorable domain of gains by responding
favorable domain of gains by responding in kind while a female entrepreneur gets
in kind while a female entrepreneur gets
in kind while a female entrepreneur gets asked to prevention question and
asked to prevention question and
asked to prevention question and inadvertently aggravates her association
inadvertently aggravates her association
inadvertently aggravates her association with the unfavorable domain of losses by
with the unfavorable domain of losses by
with the unfavorable domain of losses by doing so these responses then trigger
doing so these responses then trigger
doing so these responses then trigger venture capitalists subsequent bias
venture capitalists subsequent bias
venture capitalists subsequent bias questions and the questions and answers
questions and the questions and answers
questions and the questions and answers collectively fuel a cycle of bias that
collectively fuel a cycle of bias that
collectively fuel a cycle of bias that merely perpetuates the gender disparity
merely perpetuates the gender disparity
merely perpetuates the gender disparity pretty depressing stuff right well
pretty depressing stuff right well
pretty depressing stuff right well fortunately there’s a silver lining to
fortunately there’s a silver lining to
fortunately there’s a silver lining to my findings those plucky entrepreneurs
my findings those plucky entrepreneurs
my findings those plucky entrepreneurs who managed to switch focus by
who managed to switch focus by
who managed to switch focus by responding to prevention questions with
responding to prevention questions with
responding to prevention questions with promotion answers went on to raise 14
promotion answers went on to raise 14
promotion answers went on to raise 14 times more funding than those who
times more funding than those who
times more funding than those who responded to prevention questions with
responded to prevention questions with
responded to prevention questions with prevention answers
prevention answers
prevention answers so what this means is that if you’re
so what this means is that if you’re
so what this means is that if you’re asked a question about defending your
asked a question about defending your
asked a question about defending your startup’s market share you’d be better
startup’s market share you’d be better
startup’s market share you’d be better served to frame your response around the
served to frame your response around the
served to frame your response around the size and growth potential of the overall
size and growth potential of the overall
size and growth potential of the overall pie as opposed to how you merely plan to
pie as opposed to how you merely plan to
pie as opposed to how you merely plan to protect your sliver of that pie so if I
protect your sliver of that pie so if I
protect your sliver of that pie so if I could ask this question
could ask this question
could ask this question I would say we’re playing in such a
I would say we’re playing in such a
I would say we’re playing in such a large and fast-growing market that’s
large and fast-growing market that’s
large and fast-growing market that’s bound to attract new entrance we plan to
bound to attract new entrance we plan to
bound to attract new entrance we plan to take increasing share in this market by
take increasing share in this market by
take increasing share in this market by leveraging our startups unique assets
leveraging our startups unique assets
leveraging our startups unique assets I’ve just subtly redirected this
I’ve just subtly redirected this
I’ve just subtly redirected this dialogue into the favorable domain of
dialogue into the favorable domain of
dialogue into the favorable domain of gains now these results are quite
gains now these results are quite
gains now these results are quite compelling among startups that launched
compelling among startups that launched
compelling among startups that launched at TechCrunch but field data can merely
at TechCrunch but field data can merely
at TechCrunch but field data can merely tell us that there’s a correlational
tell us that there’s a correlational
tell us that there’s a correlational relationship between regulatory focus
relationship between regulatory focus
relationship between regulatory focus and funding so I sought to see whether
and funding so I sought to see whether
and funding so I sought to see whether this difference in regulatory focus can
this difference in regulatory focus can
this difference in regulatory focus can actually cause funding outcomes by
actually cause funding outcomes by
actually cause funding outcomes by running a controlled experiment on both
running a controlled experiment on both
running a controlled experiment on both angel investors and ordinary people
angel investors and ordinary people
angel investors and ordinary people simulating the TechCrunch Disrupt
simulating the TechCrunch Disrupt
simulating the TechCrunch Disrupt environment
environment
environment I had participants listen to four
I had participants listen to four
I had participants listen to four six-minute audio files of ten
six-minute audio files of ten
six-minute audio files of ten question-and-answer exchanges that were
question-and-answer exchanges that were
question-and-answer exchanges that were manipulated for promotion and prevention
manipulated for promotion and prevention
manipulated for promotion and prevention language and then ask them to allocate a
language and then ask them to allocate a
language and then ask them to allocate a sum of funding to each venture as they
sum of funding to each venture as they
sum of funding to each venture as they saw fit well my experimental results
saw fit well my experimental results
saw fit well my experimental results reinforced my findings from the field
reinforced my findings from the field
reinforced my findings from the field those scenarios where entrepreneurs were
those scenarios where entrepreneurs were
those scenarios where entrepreneurs were asked promotion questions received twice
asked promotion questions received twice
asked promotion questions received twice the funding allocations of those were
the funding allocations of those were
the funding allocations of those were entrepreneurs were asked prevention
entrepreneurs were asked prevention
entrepreneurs were asked prevention questions what’s especially promising is
questions what’s especially promising is
questions what’s especially promising is the fact that those scenarios where
the fact that those scenarios where
the fact that those scenarios where entrepreneurs switched as opposed to
entrepreneurs switched as opposed to
entrepreneurs switched as opposed to match focus when they received
match focus when they received
match focus when they received prevention questions received
prevention questions received
prevention questions received significantly more funding from both
significantly more funding from both
significantly more funding from both sets of participants so to my female
sets of participants so to my female
sets of participants so to my female entrepreneurs out there here are a
entrepreneurs out there here are a
entrepreneurs out there here are a couple simple things you could do the
couple simple things you could do the
couple simple things you could do the first is to recognize the question
first is to recognize the question
first is to recognize the question you’re being asked are you getting a
you’re being asked are you getting a
you’re being asked are you getting a prevention question if this is the case
prevention question if this is the case
prevention question if this is the case answer the question at hand by all means
answer the question at hand by all means
answer the question at hand by all means but merely frame your response in
but merely frame your response in
but merely frame your response in promotion and efforts of garner higher
promotion and efforts of garner higher
promotion and efforts of garner higher amounts of funding for your startups the
amounts of funding for your startups the
amounts of funding for your startups the unfortunate reality though
unfortunate reality though
unfortunate reality though is that both men and women evaluating
is that both men and women evaluating
is that both men and women evaluating startups display the same implicit
startups display the same implicit
startups display the same implicit gender bias in their questioning
gender bias in their questioning
gender bias in their questioning inadvertently favoring male
inadvertently favoring male
inadvertently favoring male entrepreneurs over female ones so do my
entrepreneurs over female ones so do my
entrepreneurs over female ones so do my investors out there I would offer that
investors out there I would offer that
investors out there I would offer that you have an opportunity here to approach
you have an opportunity here to approach
you have an opportunity here to approach Q&A sessions more even-handedly not just
Q&A sessions more even-handedly not just
Q&A sessions more even-handedly not just so that you could do the right thing but
so that you could do the right thing but
so that you could do the right thing but so that you can improve the quality of
so that you can improve the quality of
so that you can improve the quality of your decision-making by flashing the
your decision-making by flashing the
your decision-making by flashing the same light on every startups potential
same light on every startups potential
same light on every startups potential for gains and losses you enable all
for gains and losses you enable all
for gains and losses you enable all deserving startups to shine and you
deserving startups to shine and you
deserving startups to shine and you maximize returns in the process today I
maximize returns in the process today I
maximize returns in the process today I get to be that girl walking by the pool
get to be that girl walking by the pool
get to be that girl walking by the pool sounding the alarm that something is
sounding the alarm that something is
sounding the alarm that something is going on beneath the surface together we
going on beneath the surface together we
going on beneath the surface together we have the power to break this cycle of
have the power to break this cycle of
have the power to break this cycle of implicit gender bias and startup funding
implicit gender bias and startup funding
implicit gender bias and startup funding let’s give the most promising startups
let’s give the most promising startups
let’s give the most promising startups regardless of whether they’re led by men
regardless of whether they’re led by men
regardless of whether they’re led by men or women a fighting chance to grow and
or women a fighting chance to grow and
or women a fighting chance to grow and thrive thank you
thrive thank you
thrive thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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